Surf Instructor Course

The ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Course will prepare you to become an ISA Surf Instructor.
The course takes two full days.
The costs are EUR 300,-
You need at least two years of surfing experience before you can take part in this course.

Before you join the ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Course you need to finish the ISA Surf Instructing E-learning course.

How does this work:
1. You register at our website (HSA) for the ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Course, and you pay the fee of EUR 300,-
2. The HSA sends you a voucher code with 50% discount which you can use for the ISA E-learning course.
3. You register for the E-learning course via this link:
https://source.isasurf.org/?academy=112&course=4938, you use the voucher code and pay USD 50,- for the E-learning course to the ISA instead of USD 100,-.
Please note: if you have already purchased the ISA E-learning course for USD 100,- before signing up for a level 1 course the ISA will not reimburse you the difference (and neither can the HSA).

What does the Level 1 Surf Instructor course content:
Aside from theoretical lessons the course contains practical workshops about teaching in a responsible and professional manner, according to the standard of the International Surfing Association. The program contains various assessments. Except for the surf ability test, you cannot prepare for these assessments.

Minimum requirements for the surf ability test:
- paddling out in the right place, taking the venue and the various circumstances in consideration
- demonstrating duck diving or turtle rolling
- show wave negotiation
- performing a bottom turn
- traversing waves, forehand
- traversing waves, backhand
- basic dismount flick-out
- return to shore safely
All above means also that we need to see a quick take off and a controlled ride, instead of a wipeout after a turn or trick.

Also check out this video to get a visual of the surf ability test: https://youtu.be/IrD0M5I2H7U

After the course you have to do an internship of 20 hours with certified ISA instructors. During your internship you keep track of your development in your workbook. You course presenter will review your workbook when your are finished.

You must complete the ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Course within 18 months of following the surf instructor course, in order to get your certificate. This includes the time needed by your presenter to examine your workbook, surf ability etc and correcting your workbook if needed.

To finish your ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor course a valid Watersafety/lifeguard certificate is needed as well.

Please note:
In 2023 only 60% of the participants finished the Level 1 course. This is mainly due to participants not passing the surf ability test and not completing their workbook.

Before signing up: Check out the surf ability requirements and the video above again to see if you will likely pass the test ánd please make sure that you are willing to put effort in your workbook, so we can hand you your certificate in the end :)!

To follow any of our courses you have to be a member of the Holland Surfing Association. If you are not a Dutch citizen we also accept membership of your national surfing association.

ISA/ILS Water Safety Course

The Water Safety Course will give you skills to safely teach surfing lessons.
The course takes two full days or three evenings.
The costs are EUR 250,-

In addition to learning to assess and prevent risks, at the end of the course you will be able to administer First Aid and ensure overall safety in the water during your surfing lessons.
To successfully complete the course the following components are expected of you:
Theoretical part in which the important parts of the course are covered by the instructor via a powerpoint, after which you have to fulfil the assignments from a workbook.
Practical parts of the course consist of: basic water/surfing skills, rescuing a drowning person using a surf/rescue board, first aid, reanimation and emergency care, successfully completing several Surf Fitness Tests.
One of the Surf Fitness Tests consists of the following items to be completed within 5 minutes:
- 100 meters of running.
- Minimum 100 meter swim through the surf.
- 100 meter run.
During this test you have to show that you can handle swimming in the surf and you have to complete the course within the given time in order to pass this part. Besides this test there will be other tests taken as well, which are up to the presenter, but will have similar items.

Before the course starts you need to send the presenter proof of you swimming 200m in a 25m pool within 5 minutes. This needs to be done 14 days before the start of the course the latest.

To follow any of our courses you have to be a member of the Holland Surfing Association. If you are not a Dutch citizen we also accept membership of your national surfing association.

Cancellation policy:

Up until 30 days before the start date of a course: deduction of EUR 25 for administration-and bank fees, the remainder of the course fee will be refunded to you.
Up until 21 days before the start date of a course: refund of 75% of the course fee.
Up until 14 days before the start date of a course: refund of 50% of the course fee.
If cancelled 13 days or less before a course start date: no refund possible.

Cancellation due to illness:

In case of cancellation due to illness, the same conditions as mentioned above apply.
In this case, you may be able to make your own arrangements through your insurance.

Transfer to another course date:
For moving to another course date an administration fee of EUR 25,- will be charged.
Transfer is possible up to 21 days before the starting date of a course.
Transfer is only possible as long as there is availability in another course.