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).
Course Prerequisites
Course Duration
Combined Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) and Instructor Certification Exam (ICE) - minimum 5 days (40 hours).
Course Location / Accessible Venues
The IDW and ICE will take place on sections of whitewater rivers rated up and including
class II-III rapids.
A rapid class includes rapids at the lower and upper ends of the difficulty range, designated “-“ and “+” respectively.
Course Size
12 Instructor Candidates : 1 Instructor Trainer; with an additional instructor, the ratio can be 24 : 2. The maximum number of instructor candidates permitted is 24.
Instructor Trainer
This certification course may be offered by Level 4: Swiftwater Rescue (or higher) ACA Instructor Trainers or Instructor Trainer Educators.
Succeeding Courses
- Level 5: Advanced Swiftwater Rescue 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 4: Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Requirements
Demonstrate a knowledge of ACA administrative processes:
- How to register and report a course (with and without insurance)
- An understanding of the ACA Waiver and Release of Liability
- Familiarity with the ACA website and the resources and SEIC policies available
Demonstrate a knowledge of teaching and learning theory:
- Understand multiple modalities of teaching and how they impact different learners
- Differentiate instruction targeting different learners
- Use effective teaching methods including appropriate skills progressions when teaching complex skill sets
- Present information effectively, both prepared and impromptu
- Focus on core principles rather than specific techniques
- Provide appropriate, specific, and meaningful feedback
- Effectively make documented skill assessments
Demonstrate the following:
- Positive interpersonal skills
- Appropriate group management skills including leadership and judgment
- Ability to choose an appropriate venue / class site
- Identify and explain key safety and rescue skills
- Evaluate skills and provide effective feedback
- Effectively make skill assessments