Education and Training

Vermont is a leader in the ski industry because anyone can excel in their field. Programs across the state offer everything from internships and full-time enrollment to on-the-job work and apprenticeships.

“My wife convinced me to move to Vermont from Louisiana after only visiting once. I was able to enroll in the tramway maintenance apprentice program, which helped me adapt my previous oilfield experience to working on ski lifts. After completing the program and gaining more experience, I began to teach the course to help prepare lift maintenance personnel in Vermont to provide an exceptional experience for the skiing community."

- Joseph Demidow

Tramway Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship Program

A three-year program including 6,000 hours of work experience and classroom instruction.

This three-year program, overseen by the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL), consists of 6,000 hours of work experience including related class instruction of 75 hours for each level, with individuals becoming VT Trade Qualified Tramway Maintenance Technician.

Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA) in conjunction with the Vermont Department of Labor, oversees the classroom portion of the TMTA program. Together with instructors and industry professionals, they continue to update the program curriculum. Any individual 18 years or older working in lift maintenance for a Vermont ski area may participate as a registered apprentice or can choose to take the classroom training as a non-registered individual.

If you're interested in participating contact your ski area employer, look at available ski area jobs, or email info@skivermont.com.

See VT Dept. of Labor Apprenticeship Info Here

Resort & Hospitality Management, B.S.

A fast-track 3-year program at the base of Killington.

Classroom and hands-on learning | Paid work experience at Killington Resort | Network connections to start your career.

In the Vermont State B.S. in Resort and Hospitality Management program, you’ll gain the management and decision making skills you need to excel and make an impact in an exciting and fun field. And you’ll do it in a place of unforgettable natural beauty — Vermont. There’s no better place to dream big than Killington, the largest winter resort in the eastern U.S., and that’s where you’ll get valuable on-mountain experience. A variety of hands-on opportunities will help prepare you to be a leader in resort management and hospitality management careers and to adapt to industry changes. Whether you choose to work on a mountain, in a valley, or somewhere else, you’ll start your career with a great network of connections to support you.

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Mountain Resort Management, A.S.

A 2-year all-aspects management program for the mountain and ski resort industry.

Winter and year-round resort strategies | On-the-mountain and back-of-the-house management | Business and marketing foundations

Vermont State’s associate of science degree in Mountain Resort Management will prepare you to work in all aspects of the mountain and ski resort industry, from on-the-mountain to back-of-the house positions. You’ll learn the skills and strategies to be an effective manager at the winter and year-round mountain resorts where you love to play — in a two-year program designed to jumpstart your career.