ISA level 1 Surf Instructor Course

ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor

Om je aan te melden voor een cursus heb je je HSA lidnummer nodig. Ben je nog geen lid en wil je graag een opleiding volgen? Meld je dan z.s.m. aan via de oranje knop!

If you want to join a course make sure to fill in your HSA membership number. If you are not yet a member, push the orange "lid worden" button and fill out your info

Upcoming course dates for 2026:

18/19 April Scheveningen (open for registration)

2/3 Mei Castricum (open for registration)

9/10 Mei Katwijk (open for registration)

6/7 Juni Texel (open for registration)

About the 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 need to log in to our member portal ("inloggen" in the upper right corner of this website homepage) There you can register for the ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Course, and pay the fee. If you are not a member you can register first using the orange button "Lid worden"
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 :)!

Foreigners: To follow any of our courses you have to be a member of the Holland Surfing Association.
If you are a foreign national, you can also become a member of the Holland Surfing Association.
We do not accept membership of foreign surf associations.

ISA Surf Level 2 Coaching Course:

upcoming date:

23/24/25 may 2026 Scheveningen

This course is for surf coaches that are working with intermediate to early advanced surfers and coaching surf skills progression and development. The course also touches on athlete development, sport psychology, and surf contest preparation. All ISA Surf Level 2 Coaches MUST have completed and passed an ISA Surf Level 1 Course prior to approval as a Surf Level 2 Coach.

Requirements:

• Previous certification as an ISA Surf Level 1 Instructor
• Demonstration of surfing skills above an intermediate level
• Completion of 40 practical hours recorded in workbook
• Maintain a valid lifesaving/surf rescue award
• Sign the ISA Coach’s Code of Conduct