Course Overview

This whitewater raft guide certification exam is intended to provide evidence of the minimum skills required to be a commercial raft guide. It is based on national and international industry standards. The Guide Certification Criteria establishes standards 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 correspond with the ACA Rafting skills and assessment curriculum of Levels 3 to 5 ranging from class II to IV whitewater.

The ACA guide certification complements any additional required training and or licensing. ACA certified guides must also comply with local, state or federal certification and licensing requirements for raft guides on any given country, state, river, or waterway.

The ACA Raft Guide Certification is not a license to operate as a commercial raft guide.

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 Swiftwater Rescue course or equivalent within the past three years.
• Have and maintain first aid and age appropriate CPR

Course Duration

Minimum of two days (16 hours) or more.

Course Location / Accessible Venues

Sections of river appropriate to the level of certification participants are seeking. May not exceed class IV.

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