Certification Course Overview

Fundamentally, participants are expected to have the paddling skills, technical knowledge, rescue ability, teaching ability, group management, and interpersonal skills commensurate with this level of certification prior to presenting themselves for evaluation as Instructor Candidates at an Instructor Certification Course (IDW, ICE, or ICW).

Level 2: Essentials of Surf Kayaking instructors should be able to introduce students to surf kayaking using a variety of kayaks in mild surf.

Course Prerequisites

• Acknowledgment of personal compliance with the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
• Be a current ACA member
• Understands and acts in accordance with ACA's Code of Conduct
• Completion of the appropriate level skills course, assessment course, or possess equivalent skills

Course Duration

Combined Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) and Instructor Certification Exam (ICE) - minimum 2 days (16 hours).

Course Location / Accessible Venues

Gently sloping sandy beach with mild surf, consistently spilling waves, with access to flat, protected water. In addition, the following conditions must be present during some portion of the course:

• Winds less than 10 knots
• Wave faces less than 3 feet (1 meter)
• Current less than 1 knot

Note: When selecting a venue, careful consideration should be given to hazards including other surfers, rip currents, long- shore drift, rocks, and human-made structures.

Course Size

5 Instructor Candidates : 1 Instructor Trainer; with an additional instructor, the ratio can be 10 : 2. The maximum number of candidates permitted is 10.

Instructor Trainer

This certification course may be offered by Level 2: Essentials of Surf Kayaking (or higher) ACA Instructor Trainers or Instructor Trainer Educators.

Succeeding Courses

• Level 3: Surf Kayaking Skills, Assessment, or Certification Course

General Requirements for all ACA Certification Candidates

• Be at least 18 years old
• Demonstrate a general knowledge of paddlesports and the ACA
• Demonstrate a general knowledge of ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC), ACA Code of Conduct, and ACA’s Equity and Access Initiatives
• Successfully complete an Instructor Certification Workshop (combined ICW or IDW and ICE)
• Upon successful completion, register with the Safety Education and Instruction Council
• Have and maintain venue-appropriate first aid and age-appropriate CPR
• Demonstrate the ability to appropriately perform, model, and teach all of the following material, unassisted, in the appropriate venue
• Demonstrate the ability to appropriately perform, model, and teach all of the material contained within the official ACA skills course and assessment course outlines corresponding to their level of certification and all levels below, if applicable

Certification Maintenance Requirements

• Teach a minimum of two courses that meet ACA standards within the four-year certification period and properly report the courses using the ACA Course Management System (CMS). At least one course must be at their highest level of certification
• Complete an Instructor Update, at the highest level of certification, during the four-year certification period
• Maintain ACA membership and SEIC registration annually
• Maintain appropriate CPR and first aid certification for the duration of certification

ACA Level 2: Essentials of Surf Kayaking Instructor Requirements