Courses
Professional Sauna Education – One Progressive Qualification System
Professional sauna education should reflect professional responsibility. A sauna guest needs different knowledge from a member of staff responsible for safety. Someone conducting professional Aufguss requires additional competencies. A specialist responsible for wider sauna operations needs broader knowledge again. And advanced responsibility requires a correspondingly advanced qualification.
For this reason, the International Sauna Academy structures its education through the International Sauna Qualification System – ISQS. ISQS provides a progressive learning pathway from informed sauna use to comprehensive professional competence.
The ISQS Qualification Levels
Level 0 – Health-Oriented Sauna User
Understand Sauna – Use It Responsibly
Level 0 is designed for sauna guests and anyone who wants to understand the basic principles of health-oriented sauna bathing. Participants learn how the body responds to heat, cooling and recovery and how a complete sauna session can be organised responsibly. Core topics include:
- heat exposure
- thermoregulation
- sweating
- cooling
- recovery
- individual thermal load
- structure of a complete sauna bath
- basic physiological responses
- common misconceptions about sauna
- responsible sauna practice
Level 0 is not a professional qualification. It provides the foundation for understanding sauna from the perspective of the person using it. For: Sauna guests, beginners and anyone interested in health-oriented sauna practice.
Level 1 – Sauna Safety Assistant
Safety, Health-Oriented Sauna Practice and First-Aid Awareness
Level 1 introduces the basic competencies required to support safe sauna operations. A Sauna Safety Assistant should understand the principles of health-oriented sauna bathing, recognise relevant risks and know how to react appropriately when guests experience problems. Core topics include:
- health-oriented sauna practice
- basic sauna safety
- recognising excessive thermal stress
- guest observation
- risk awareness
- first-aid awareness
- emergency procedures
- communication with guests
- organisation and order within the sauna environment
- responsibilities and limits of the role
The objective is not advanced specialist responsibility. It is the ability to support safe and responsible sauna operations. For: Sauna attendants, spa employees, hotel and wellness staff and employees supporting sauna operations.
Level 2 – Sauna Infusion Specialist
Professional Sauna Infusions, Guest Guidance and Safe Heat Management
Level 2 focuses on the professional performance of Aufguss and related sauna infusion procedures.
An Aufguss is not simply water on hot stones and towel movement. Professional infusion practice requires an understanding of thermal load, humidity, air movement, fragrances, guest response and the working conditions of the employee conducting the procedure. Core topics include:
- principles of sauna infusion
- preparation and organisation
- water quantity
- humidity
- perceived heat
- heat management
- air movement
- towel and waving techniques
- guest guidance
- fragrances and essential oils
- safe fragrance application
- employee heat exposure
- safety criteria
- recognising excessive thermal load
- modification or termination of an infusion when necessary
The objective is to create an enjoyable sauna experience without losing control of the thermal and safety conditions. For: Sauna attendants, Aufguss professionals, spa staff and employees who conduct sauna infusions.
Level 3 – Sauna Specialist
Comprehensive Professional Competence in Sauna Operation, Safety, Health and Guest Care
Level 3 moves beyond individual activities. The Sauna Specialist develops a broader understanding of professional sauna operations and the interaction between health, safety, guest care and operational practice. Core areas include:
- health-oriented sauna bathing
- thermal physiology
- heat and cold exposure
- Aufguss
- fragrances
- sauna safety
- guest care
- hygiene
- basic sauna technology
- operating procedures
- documentation
- quality awareness
- professional responsibility
At this level, participants are expected not only to know what to do but increasingly to understand why professional procedures are necessary. Level 3 provides the comprehensive specialist foundation for professionals taking broader responsibility within sauna operations. It also forms the principal qualification level below the Sauna Master. For: Experienced sauna employees, supervisors, spa professionals and staff with broader responsibility for professional sauna operations.
Level 4 – Sauna Master
Advanced Responsibility, Quality and Professional Sauna Management
The Sauna Master® represents the highest comprehensive professional qualification within the publicly accessible ISQS pathway. It is the flagship qualification of the International Sauna Academy.
The new Sauna Master programme comprises 101 specialist modules and approaches sauna as a complete professional field. It goes far beyond the performance of individual sauna activities.
A Sauna Master should be able to understand complex relationships, assess situations independently, justify decisions, recognise deficiencies, guide staff and systematically develop professional quality.
Core areas include:
- thermal physiology
- thermoregulation
- heat transfer
- health-oriented sauna bathing
- cold exposure and recovery
- Aufguss
- fragrances and essential oils
- toxicological fundamentals
- occupational safety
- emergency organisation
- guest care
- sauna technology
- ventilation
- hygiene
- water and surfaces
- operational organisation
- programme development
- quality management
- staff guidance
- professional sauna culture
- professional responsibility
The programme is supported by the three-volume Sauna Master Training Compendium and the exclusive Sauna Master Workbook and Examination Book. Transition Phase 2026–2027
The new ISQS structure is currently being introduced internationally. Some of the qualifications that will later form the regular admission pathway to Level 4 are therefore not yet fully available in all markets. For this reason, temporary transition admission conditions apply until December 31, 2027.
The transition arrangement changes the pathway into the programme. It does not reduce the professional standard expected from a qualified Sauna Master. For: Experienced sauna professionals, managers, supervisors, consultants, operators and professionals who want to develop comprehensive master-level expertise.
Level 5 – Sauna Instructor / Lecturer
Teaching, Assessing and Developing Future Sauna Professionals
Level 5 has a different function from Levels 0–4. It is not a generally available public course. The Sauna Instructor / Lecturer qualification is reserved for selected professionals working within the ISA education and partner network. Level 5 prepares qualified professionals to teach, supervise and assess participants within the International Sauna Qualification System. Core areas include:
- adult education
- teaching methodology
- learning objectives
- practical instruction
- supervision
- assessment
- examination procedures
- feedback
- quality assurance
- instructor responsibility
- implementation of ISA curricula
- consistent application of ISQS standards
Level 5 therefore connects professional competence with teaching competence. Reserved for ISA Partners. Access to Level 5 is normally available only to appropriately qualified professionals associated with:
- authorised ISA Training Partners
- ISA Education Partners where teaching responsibilities are approved
- ISA National Academies / Country Partners
- other instructors specifically authorised by the International Sauna Academy
Level 5 is not intended as an independent qualification that can simply be purchased.
It is part of the quality assurance system behind the international ISA partner network.
For: Selected Sauna Masters and experienced professionals approved to teach or assess within the ISA system.
Interested in becoming an ISA Partner?