A learn-to-skate coaching side hustle in Canada usually means coaching Skate Canada’s CanSkate program at a local club on weekday evenings and weekends through the winter. To start, Skate Canada requires you to be at least 15, a club registrant, past a complete Star 5 assessment, and through two eLearning modules and a 2-day in-person course. Section course fees were $385 in Saskatchewan and $475 in Ontario, and Job Bank lists skating coaches at a $25.00 national median wage. Figures were read on Skate Canada’s, the sections’ and Job Bank’s pages on October 19, 2026.
Related reading: ski or snowboard instructing is the other winter teaching certification, sports refereeing pays per game at the same arenas, and backyard rink flooding sells to the same families.
| Quick fact | Figure (read October 19, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 15 |
| Skill prerequisite | One complete Star 5 assessment |
| In-person course | 2 days; $475 (Ontario), $385 (Saskatchewan) |
| Coach fee 2026-27 | $125.00 + $5.00 Safe Sport |
| Coach insurance (under 65) | $74.50 + tax |
| Skating coach median wage | $25.00 an hour (Job Bank, 2023-2024) |
How do you become a CanSkate coach?
You become a CanSkate coach by meeting Skate Canada’s prerequisites, attending a 2-day in-person course run by your provincial section, and then completing the trained and certified steps within three years. Skate Canada’s NCCP page sets out three statuses:
| Status | What it takes | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| In-training | Prerequisites + 2-day section course | Coach only the CanSkate program in Skate Canada clubs and schools, as a registered coach in good standing |
| Trained | The 2-day course plus Making Ethical Decisions (multi-sport, Locker) and Teaching and Learning (multi-sport) | Same program, trained status |
| Certified | Evaluation portfolio: mentorship interview, coaching philosophy and goals, skater development philosophy, an Emergency Action Plan, one technical video lesson | Certified CanSkate coach |
Skate Canada says the CanSkate course fee varies by section and that course frequency depends on demand. Skate Ontario’s listed 2026 courses were marked complete when read, and it says courses are being planned for 2027. Skate Saskatchewan’s fall 2026 course in Regina cost $385, with online registration closing September 8, 2026, and the eLearning had to be finished at least one week before the course.
What does it cost to start coaching?
Starting costs the section course, the annual Skate Canada coach fees and insurance, and your skates and club registration if you do not already skate. Skate Canada’s 2026-27 fee notice lists:
| Fee (effective August 1, 2026) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Coach fee | $125.00 |
| Safe Sport fee (coaches) | $5.00 |
| Coach Insurance Program, under 65 (liability, accident and weekly indemnity) | $74.50 + tax |
| Coach Insurance Program, 65 to under 75 | $65.05 + tax |
| Coach Insurance Program, 75+ (liability only) | $60.55 + tax |
| Skate Canada registrant fee (skaters) | $30.00 + $5.00 Safe Sport + $0.70 injury benefit |
| Section registrant fee | $25.00 (PE, MB) to $42.50 (SK); Ontario $30.00 |
How much do skating coaches earn?
Skating coaches in Canada earn a $25.00 median hourly wage, according to Job Bank’s figure skating coach page, updated November 19, 2025 (reference period 2023-2024; the occupation group is all coaches, NOC 53201):
| Region | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $16.00 | $25.00 | $43.27 |
| British Columbia | $18.50 | $30.00 | $42.31 |
| Alberta | $18.00 | $25.00 | $45.00 |
| Ontario | $18.00 | $25.00 | $45.00 |
| Quebec | $18.19 | $26.06 | $38.34 |
| Saskatchewan | $17.34 | $26.48 | $40.34 |
| Nova Scotia | $19.68 | $28.17 | $37.25 |
A first-year in-training CanSkate coach is more likely near the low column than the median. Clubs set their own pay or session rates; ask before you take the course.
Illustrative example: when does the first season cover the fees?
This is an illustrative example. Course and coach fees are sourced; the hourly rate and hours are assumptions.
- Sourced up-front costs (Ontario): course $475 + coach fee $125 + Safe Sport $5 + insurance $74.50 = $679.50 before tax on the insurance.
- Assumed rate: $20 an hour, between Job Bank’s $16.00 low and $25.00 median.
- Hours to cover the costs: $679.50 ÷ $20 = 34 hours.
- Assumed schedule: 2 club sessions of 1.5 hours a week = 3 hours a week. 34 ÷ 3 = 11.3 weeks.
| Hours a week (assumed) | Weeks to cover $679.50 at $20 | Weeks at $25 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11.3 | 9.1 |
| 6 | 5.7 | 4.5 |
| 9 | 3.8 | 3.0 |
Over an assumed 20-week season at 6 hours a week and $20: 20 × 6 × $20 = $2,400 gross, or $2,400 − $679.50 = $1,720.50 after first-year costs, before tax. In later seasons only the annual coach fees and insurance repeat (about $204.50 plus tax).
What does a first season plan look like?
A first season plan finishes the eLearning in the fall, takes the section course as soon as one runs, and asks a club for CanSkate sessions.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| September to October | Confirm you have a complete Star 5; complete Part A and Part B eLearning |
| October | Ask your section when the next CanSkate course runs; ask a local club about coaching sessions |
| Course weekend | Attend the 2-day course for in-training status |
| November to March | Coach CanSkate sessions; book the two multi-sport courses for trained status |
| Spring | Start the evaluation portfolio with a mentor coach |
A message you can copy to a club
Subject: CanSkate coaching, 2026-27 season
Hi [club coordinator],
I'm a skater with a complete Star 5 assessment and I've finished the
CanSkate Foundations eLearning. I'm registering for the [section] CanSkate
course on [dates].
Could your club use an in-training CanSkate coach on [days]? What are your
session times and coach pay or rates?
[Name], [phone]Which tax rules apply to skating coach pay in Canada?
If a club pays you as an employee, the pay is employment income on a T4. If you invoice the club or families as a self-employed coach, the income goes on Form T2125, and the coach fees, insurance and course costs are expenses to discuss with a tax professional. GST/HST registration follows the $30,000 small-supplier test on the CRA’s when to register page. This is not tax, legal, or insurance advice.
What can this guide not confirm?
This guide cannot confirm what a given club pays CanSkate coaches, course fees in sections other than Ontario and Saskatchewan, or when your section’s next course runs. Job Bank wages are 2023-2024 data for all coaches, not CanSkate specifically. Coaching hockey skills (Hockey Canada) or private lessons outside a Skate Canada club follow other organisations’ rules, which this guide does not cover. This is not tax, legal, or insurance advice.
Which guides sit next to learn-to-skate coaching?
- Ski or snowboard instructor: the other winter teaching certification.
- Sports refereeing: paid games at the same arenas.
- Backyard rink flooding: rink care for skating families.
- Skate sharpening: $8 to $12 a pair at the same arenas, and what a portable sharpener costs.
- Best winter side hustles: the full winter list.
What are the common questions?
How do I become a CanSkate coach?
Skate Canada requires you to be at least 15, a current club registrant, past one complete Star 5 assessment, and through the Coaching Foundations and CanSkate Foundations eLearning, then attend a 2-day course run by your section.
How much does the CanSkate coach course cost?
It varies by section. Skate Ontario lists $475 and Skate Saskatchewan listed $385 for its fall 2026 course. Skate Canada's 2026-27 coach fee is $125.00 plus a $5.00 Safe Sport fee, and coach insurance is $74.50 plus tax under 65.
How much do skating coaches make in Canada?
Job Bank lists figure skating coaches at a $25.00 national median hourly wage, with a $16.00 low and $43.27 high, based on 2023-2024 data. The B.C. median is $30.00.
How long do I have to certify?
Skate Canada gives coaches three years from the date of the in-training course to certify as a CanSkate coach.
Is skating coach income self-employment income?
It depends on the arrangement. Club employees get a T4; coaches who invoice report business income on Form T2125. This is not tax advice.
Which sources support this guide?
The rules, rates, and platform requirements in this guide are checked against these primary sources. Retail price ranges are labelled as ranges to verify locally, and they are not quotes.
- National Coaching Certification Program — Skate Canada
- Registration Information for 2026-2027 — Skate Canada
- Club Coach - CanSkate Courses — Skate Ontario
- CanSkate Coach Course — Skate Saskatchewan
- Figure Skating Coach in Canada: Wages — Job Bank, Government of Canada
- T2125 Statement of Business or Professional Activities — Canada Revenue Agency
- When to register for and start charging the GST/HST — Canada Revenue Agency