Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the trip. The Heli-Ski Expedition (Northern British Columbia) is formally ACRRM CPD accredited for 2026–2028. ACRRM only accredits activities individually, so other expeditions are submitted for formal accreditation one at a time as each is confirmed.

In the meantime, every expedition's clinical programme is mapped against the ACEM and ACRRM CPD frameworks, so the content, hours and documentation are built to satisfy their requirements. Because the mapping follows established CPD structures, it's likely to satisfy other colleges' requirements too — but if you're not ACEM or ACRRM, it's worth checking with your own college before relying on it. Either way, you'll receive a CPD certificate and full activity log at the end of every programme so you can self-submit.

Clinicians across the acute and frontline spectrum — anyone who regularly makes high-stakes decisions, works in resource-limited environments, or manages undifferentiated sick patients. In practice that means rural and remote GPs, anaesthetic and intensive care consultants, prehospital and retrieval practitioners (doctors and paramedics), senior emergency and critical care nurses, and registrars in the final years of acute specialty training.

The mix is deliberate — a rural GP, a retrieval paramedic and an ICU consultant looking at the same case bring genuinely different perspectives, and that tension is where the best learning happens.

Every current expedition carries 20+ hours of high-level CPD, delivered as small-group evening sessions across the trip — case discussions, field simulations, short presentations and journal club.

You'll receive a CPD certificate and activity log at the end of the programme to submit to your own college or certifying body.

Professional, IFMGA-certified mountain guides who work in the terrain year-round make the daily route and safety calls on the ground — routes, objectives and go/no-go decisions are all guide-led, based on real-time conditions.

OffChartCPD designs and delivers the clinical programme; the guiding is provided by the local specialist operator running each expedition.

Emergency medicine, anaesthesia, intensive care, prehospital and retrieval medicine, and rural and remote general practice, plus senior emergency and critical care nurses and registrars in the final years of acute specialty training.

Programmes are pitched at senior, practising clinicians — advanced trainees are welcome, but the content assumes clinical fluency.

Use the skills self-assessment tool to check your readiness against the physical, technical and experience requirements before you register for a specific expedition.

Experience minimums vary by trip. If you're unsure whether you meet the bar for a particular expedition, contact OffChartCPD directly via the website email before registering.

The most useful preparation is specific, not generic gym fitness: get comfortable walking all day with a moderate pack. Most days on these expeditions involve touring with a loaded pack — typically around 8kg once you've added layers, water, a first aid kit and the day's essentials, on top of the weight of your skis and boots.

If you can walk 5–6 hours through hilly terrain carrying that kind of load without it being a struggle, you're in reasonable shape for the terrain. Start well ahead of departure — regular hill walks with a loaded pack in the months beforehand are the closest dry-land simulation of a touring day, and the single most useful thing you can do to prepare.

Strength training matters just as much as aerobic fitness. Skiing tired legs safely on the last run of a long day depends on leg and core strength, not just cardiovascular endurance — build 2–3 sessions a week of squats, lunges, step-ups and loaded carries into your programme alongside the walking.

Exact daily distances and pack weight vary by expedition, so check the specific trip page or the skills self-assessment tool for details.

It depends on the trip. Heliskiing — skis are provided by the operator, so you only need to bring your own ski boots.

Kyrgyzstan, New Zealand and Chile — these are touring trips, so bring your own setup: skis with a waist width of around 100–110mm and touring (tech/AT) bindings suit the terrain and snow conditions on all three.

Yes. Since these are self-powered touring expeditions rather than lift- or heli-accessed riding, snowboarders need a splitboard set up for touring rather than a solid board.

We recommend a hard-boot setup over soft boots, particularly if the trip involves any boot packing or crampon use — hard boots interface far better with crampons and give more control on firm or technical terrain.

Sometimes — it depends on the destination. New Zealand and Chile — yes, suitable touring rental gear is generally available locally. Kyrgyzstan — reliable rental availability isn't something we can currently confirm, so we strongly recommend bringing your own equipment.

Whichever destination, we always recommend bringing your own ski boots. Boot fit is too important to leave to rental gear you haven't worn in before.

A deposit is required to secure your place, paid directly to the specialist operator running each expedition, and used immediately to hold accommodation, guiding and logistics. In most cases deposits are non-refundable, though partial refunds on later payments may be available depending on how far ahead of departure you cancel — exact terms are provided at the time of booking.

Refunds are governed by the operator's own booking conditions, not OffChartCPD's, and their terms take precedence on matters of cancellation and logistics.

Yes — comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory before your place is confirmed, covering cancellation, trip interruption and curtailment, and emergency medical evacuation. These expeditions travel to remote environments where evacuation can be complex, expensive and time-critical, so this isn't a formality.

Buy your policy when you pay your deposit, not closer to departure — cancellation cover only protects you from the date the policy is active. OffChartCPD doesn't endorse a specific provider, but if you're unsure what level of cover you need, get in touch.

Each expedition's price covers guiding, accommodation, meals, in-country logistics and the CPD programme itself. What's generally not included: international flights, visas, personal travel insurance, and personal technical equipment — though hire is often available.

Exact inclusions vary slightly by destination and operator, so check the individual trip page before booking.

In many cases, high-level CPD is a legitimate professional development expense — but OffChartCPD isn't a tax adviser, and deductibility depends on your individual circumstances, employer arrangements and jurisdiction. Talk to your accountant before booking if this factors into your decision.

We provide a tax invoice and full CPD documentation (certificate and activity log) to support your own claim, but responsibility for what's claimed sits with you.

Yes — all participants complete a Medical Declaration Form before departure, covering relevant medical history and current medications. This isn't about gatekeeping; it's so the clinical team running the trip knows what they're working with if something goes wrong in a genuinely remote environment.

Sometimes. A partner — clinical or non-clinical — who isn't participating in the activity itself can occasionally join, but this depends on the specific trip's logistics, group size and operator capacity.

It isn't a blanket policy across all expeditions, so contact OffChartCPD directly before assuming a partner can attend.

No. All expeditions are designed around solo travellers as the default, so there's no single-traveller surcharge — pricing is the same whether you're travelling alone or as part of a couple or group.

Check before you travel — the legality of personal satellite messengers (Garmin inReach, Zoleo and similar) and drones varies significantly by country, and isn't something OffChartCPD can clear on your behalf. Some destinations require an import permit or licence for satellite communication devices, restrict their use entirely, or treat an unregistered drone as a customs or security matter. Penalties in certain jurisdictions can be severe, including confiscation of equipment, heavy fines, or in rare cases prosecution.

Don't assume a device that's fine to carry at home will be fine on arrival. Check the current import and usage regulations for your specific destination directly with that country's embassy, consulate, or official government travel advisory well ahead of departure. Get in touch if you want to know what we're aware of for a particular expedition, but responsibility for compliance sits with you as the traveller.

Snowcat backup covers days the helicopter can't fly. Guides make the daily call based on conditions and snowpack, and the programme is built around that reality rather than treating it as a disruption.

A snowcat day simply becomes a ski day by a different means, and the evening CPD programme runs regardless of what happened on the mountain that day.

Yes — up to 5 non-skiing partners can join per trip, at $400 AUD per night. They receive the same lodge accommodation, meals and transfers as participants, but not the skiing itself and not the evening CPD sessions, which are participant-only.

The onsite spa is available at an additional cost, and this isn't suitable for children. Enquire the same way as the main trip, via the heliskiing expedition page.