Skill Matters
…But International recognition takes it to the next level.
ACA PRO RAFT GUIDE CERTIFICATION
The ACA Whitewater Raft Guide Certification is becoming internationally recognized as a certifying program, and is rapidly defining professional standards of the rafting industry.
As part of the committee working diligently to create the guidelines, Jeff has personally outlined many of the ways to reduce risk, advance professionalism and improve guiding experience worldwide.
Benefits of the program include:
Empowering guides with proven credibility that can be used to gain employment internationally
Increased trust from guests through consistent safety standards
Strengthened outfitters and the industry as a whole by reducing risk and improving guide quality
Preserving the sport by earning public trust in professionalism and institutional legitimacy
Creating more financial opportunity for industry professionals by reducing risk-associated operational costs
Welcome to a new era in professional safety.
Reducing risk makes everyone happier in the end. Less accidents means greater public enjoyment, more positive guiding experiences, less operational costs for outfitters, and more public support of the sport overall and the associated rivers.
ACA Overview:
This ACA Whitewater Raft Guide certification provides evidence of the minimum skills and experience required to be a professional raft guide. This curriculum is based on national and international industry standards. This certification helps to address standards and best practices in the topics of paddling and/or rowing, identifying hazards and routes in swift current, and an ability to safely captain a whitewater oar or paddle raft with participants. Difficulty levels outlined below correspond with the general ACA Rafting curriculum Levels 3 - 5, with course venues ranging from class II to IV whitewater.
ACA Whitewater Raft Guide-Certification Level 3: Oars
ACA Whitewater Raft Guide-Certification Level 4: Oars
ACA Whitewater Raft Guide-Certification Level 5: Oars
Course Prerequisites:
Be a current ACA Member
Must have successfully completed one of the following:
ACA rafting skills and/or assessment course for desired level of raft guide certification, or
Provide resume and river log documenting equivalent experience
Successfully completed an ACA, Rescue III, or similar swiftwater rescue (SWR) course within the last 3 years
Have and maintain first aid and age appropriate CPR
Note: This ACA raft guide certification complements any additional required training and/or licensing. ACA certified raft guides must also comply with local, state, and/or federal certification and licensing requirements for raft guides in their given country, state, river, or waterway.
The ACA Raft Guide Certification is not a license to operate as a commercial raft guide.
Appalachian Guidance offers all Raft Guiding courses and exams, as created and approved by the ACA.
Upgrade your professional status with one of our upcoming trainings. Reserve your spot today!
Course Bundle Deals
Whitewater Sampler Package
Mentorship Program
Check our schedule to find this and other great courses!
All courses are internationally recognized as official American Canoe Association (ACA) courses. We teach paddling courses based upon approved ACA course outlines for both skills courses and assessments.
Contact:
Got questions?
We are happy to customize courses, offer private events, and travel to your location. Get in touch!
We look forward to hearing from you!