Avalanche Safety Training

Avalanche safety, mountain travel, weather and/or first aid in remote areas training courses are all relevant to improving your mountain skills and ensuring you have a safe and enjoyable day.

Two types of avalanche safety training courses are offered in Quebec: recreational courses, intended for the public, and professional courses.

Avalanche Québec does not offer any courses, but can help you to see more clearly, according to your objectives, in the range of courses on offer. Contact the providers directly for more details and for reservations. To do so, consult our calendar of events and click on the course you are interested in; the provider’s contact details will be displayed.

The courses have been divided into three distinct categories:

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Recreational Training Courses (general public)

Avalanche Québec promotes all avalanche training courses offered in Québec by the various independent course providers accredited by Avalanche Canada. The Avalanche Canada training program offers progression from a basic to an advanced level and is the national standard for recreational training. Contact the providers directly for more details and to book your place.

Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1)

AST1 is the starting point for those who engage in recreational activities in the backcountry. No experience is necessary to take this two-day course. All members of your group should take AST1, as it is the first step to safe travel in the mountains.

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Companion Rescue

The companion rescue skills training is a 100% hands-on, one-day course designed to equip outdoor enthusiasts with the skills they need in the event of an avalanche accident. No prior experience is necessary. This course is intended for skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, snowmobilers, and climbers who want to learn, update, or improve their companion rescue skills. This short training course is also an excellent opportunity to review and regularly practice the techniques and skills required to perform a quick and effective rescue in an avalanche situation.

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Managing Avalanche Terrain (MAT)

PREREQUISITE : AST1

A 100% field course that allows you to deepen your mountain travel techniques. It is aimed at those who have completed AST1 and who wish to improve their terrain assessment skills. Lasting one day, it is the ideal bridge between AST1 and AST2.

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Avalanche Skills Training 2 (AST2)

Prerequisites : AST1 & field experience

AST2 provides a decision-making framework for travel in avalanche terrain. Lasting four days, including three in the field, this course is structured around the daily process , which reproduces the same approach as that used by professionals. It has been developed to meet the needs of people with a moderate level of training and experience. In addition, this course introduces prerequisite knowledge for further avalanche training and presents the Canadian Avalanche Association’s professional training program as the accepted industry standard for pursuing advanced training.

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The AST1 and AST2 courses are regularly offered, but the “Companion Rescue Skills” and “Managing Avalanche Terrain” courses are less so. If you are interested in these courses, let the independent course providers know; demand will certainly boost supply!

Suggested Further Training

To further develop your mountain skills, we recommend these five courses or platforms, all of which are open to the general public and require no prior training.

Avy Savvy

Regardless of your skill level, Avalanche Canada's AvySavvy online platform is a gold mine of information. In addition to informative content, you can do exercises such as route selection and trip planning, as well as quizzes to test your knowledge.

Check out the Avy Savvy

Introduction to Weather Course

First of two weather courses focusing on mountain environments and their interconnections with snow and avalanches. Offered once every two years in person in Quebec (in French, two days) or annually online (in English, over eight weeks).

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Introduction to Avalanche Operations online course

The course covers topics such as mountain weather, snow metamorphosis, snowpack stratigraphy, and avalanche terrain. It has been designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of the topics that will be covered in the Avalanche Operations Level 1 course. The Introduction to Avalanche Operations course is a prerequisite for the Avalanche Operations Level 1 course, but is also available to anyone interested in furthering their knowledge of avalanche safety, particularly in a professional context (ski areas, commercial backcountry activities, transport routes or public services).

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Mountain Ski Training Program (FQME)

Mountain skiing courses provide participants with the tools they need to make their skiing safer by teaching them effective techniques for ascending and descending. Available to all snow sports enthusiasts (skiing, telemark skiing, splitboarding). Offered by the FQME, Level 1 courses last two days and Level 2 courses last four days. (These courses are not listed on our event calendar.)

Learn more (French only)

First aid in remote areas training

Mountains are by definition a hostile and remote environment, difficult to reach by urban emergency medical services. First aid training in remote areas is essential for outdoor enthusiasts to be able to handle emergency situations. Offered by various providers, these courses vary in length from 20 to 40 to 80 hours. (These courses are not listed on our events calendar.)

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Professional-level Training Courses

Your career in the snow and avalanche industry starts here. All professional training courses are developed by the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) and constitute an international standard. Offered in Quebec by bilingual instructors, participants will have to use the course material in English.

Avalanche Search and Rescue 1 (AvSAR1)

Prerequisites : Incident Command System 100 course (ICS 100)

First professional training course introducing the fundamental concepts, techniques, and strategies of search and rescue for responding to avalanche incidents. This four-day course will be offered in Quebec in French from January 9 to 12, 2026, at Forêt Montmorency.

Important: As of winter 2024-2025, the Avalanche Search and Rescue 1 (AvSAR 1) course is a mandatory prerequisite for the Avalanche Operations Level 1 course. Students who have already completed the Avalanche Operations Level 1 course prior to 2024-2025 will not be required to take the AvSAR1 course.

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Avalanche Operations Level 1

Prerequisites : AvSAR 1 & Intro to avalanche operations

Professional-level technical course for anyone interested in working in the snow and avalanche industry. This seven-day training course will be offered in French in the Chic-Chocs from February 9 to 15, 2026.

New since 2024-2025 : New for 2024–2025: The AvSAR 1 course is now a prerequisite for the Avalanche Operations Level 1 course.

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Avalanche Safety Training Course Flowchart

To get a clearer idea of the recreational courses on offer for the general public (Avalanche Canada Training Program) or the professional training on offer (Canadian Avalanche Association curriculum), click on the flowchart.

Youth

Program

Avalanche Québec offers a program of free activities for young people aged 12 to 17. Whether in the classroom or outdoors, contact us to discuss your needs.

Credit: La Semelle Verte