Course 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 criteria addresses 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 2 - 5, with course venues ranging from class I to IV whitewater.

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.

Course Prerequisites

• Acknowledgment of personal compliance with the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
• 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 course within the last 3 years
• Have and maintain first aid and age appropriate CPR

Course Duration

Minimum of two days (16 hours) or more

Course Location / Accessible Venues

For Level 2: Moving water on rivers including class I sections.

For Level 3: Moving water on rivers rated class I-II.

For Level 4: Whitewater on rivers rated class II-III.

For Level 5: Whitewater on rivers rated class III-IV.

A rapid class includes rapids at the lower and upper ends of the difficulty range, designated “-“ and “+”  respectively.

Course Size

6 Certification Candidates : 1 Examiner; with an additional qualified examiner, the ratio can be 12 : 2.

Examiner