Becoming an Assistant Guide
The following qualifications are required for ACSKG Assistant Guide Certification.
There is some flexibility for those applying with different, yet equivalent qualifications. Applicants with less than the required logged days will be considered if they have applicable and comparable experience. An ACSKG approved wilderness first aid certificate is required.
SKGABC certified Assistant Overnight Guides and Paddle Canada Level Two Instructors are considered equivalent to ACSKG Assistant Guides and may apply to transfer to the ACSKG.
Guide Apprenticeship
A guide apprenticeship involves working as an assistant guide on commercial sea kayak trips. There are essentially four ways to complete an apprenticeship in order to qualify to take the
ACSKG Full Guide Exam:
- 100 days apprenticeship with an ACSKG full guide.
- 50 days apprenticeship with an ACSKG full guide plus a letter of recommendation from that guide.
- 100 days apprenticeship with an non-ACSKG full guide in CWC Class II or III plus the approval of the ACSKG Evaluation Committee.
- There is some flexibility for those applying with different, yet equivalent qualifications. Applicants with less than the required logged days will be considered if they have applicable and comparable experience. An ACSKG approved wilderness first aid certificate is required.
Guides who qualify for a certification transfer may be able to obtain ACSKG certification without an apprenticeship or additional exams.
Becoming a Full Guide
The following qualifications are required for ACSKG Full Guide Certification.
There is some flexibility for those applying with different, yet equivalent qualifications. Applicants with less than the required logged days will be considered if they have applicable and comparable experience. An ACSKG approved wilderness first aid certificate is required.
SKGABC certified Level Three Guides are considered equivalent to ACSKG Full Guides and may apply to transfer to the ACSKG.
- Apply early; the ACSKG is generally not able to process certificate applications and renewals on short notice. For details, please see: Expedite Your Certification
- Minimum age is 19 years.
- Obtain approved wilderness first aid & CPR certificates, plus;
- a VHF radio operators certificate.
- Log the equivalent of two or more non-commercial trips in CWC Class II or III, each longer than 10 days and 60 route miles.
- Complete a guide apprenticeship as described above, then successfully complete an ACSKG Full Guide Exam, or;
- submit a guide log summarizing extensive experience, plus recommendations from ACSKG Examiners, Instructors or Full Guides, or;
- qualify for the Transfer Method.
- Please submit digital copies of all the certificates, logs & documents indicated above, plus a completed ACSKG application form and the annual fee of $100.
You may download the full guide application form, print it, fill it out and sign it, then scan or photograph the completed form and email it to the ACSKG.
- Recertify Full Guide
To renew your ACSKG Full Guide membership, please submit the annual fee of $100 and your updated first aid & CPR certificates each year. A completed guide log is required if you wish to progress to the next level of certification.
Please avoid recertifying June through September.
See: Recertifying & Updating Records
- Every ten years, full guides are required to complete and submit the full guide application form.
ACSKG Certification Flowchart
Click each category for more information
Certification Transfer Method
SKGABC certified guides, Paddle Canada instructors and those certified by other reputable sea kayak guide organizations may be eligible to transfer to the ACSKG without additional exams. Current
ACSKG approved wilderness first aid and CPR certificates are required. Obtaining dual-certification is also an option.
SKGABC Certification Equivalence
Minimum transfer requirements are SKGABC Assistant Overnight Guide, Paddle Canada Level Two Instructor, or CFOKE certification. There is some flexibility for those applying with different, yet equivalent qualifications. Applicants with less than the required logged days will be considered if they have applicable and comparable experience. An
ACSKG approved wilderness first aid certificate is required.
There is no transfer or application fee; only the annual
certification fee of $40 for assistant guides, or $100 for full guides. There are no additional expenses; the ACSKG does not require attendance at annual guide's exchanges.
ACSKG Certification Flowchart
To apply, please gather all the required documents and send them attached to a single email:
Transfers are approved on a case-by-case basis, processing generally takes
one week. Please provide the
annual fee in advance. You will receive a full refund if the ACSKG is not able to issue a
certificate.
Comprehensive leadership courses may be eligible for ACSKG endorsement; graduates of endorsed courses may apply for
ACSKG equivalency.
Please contact us for more information.
Class III Full Guide Endorsement
To be eligible as an ACSKG Class III Full Guide you must have operated as a Full Guide for 180 days in
CWC Class II and logged at least 200 miles on
CWC Class III. You must also be recommended by another ACSKG Class III Guide.
ACSKG Class III Guides must first qualify for
ACSKG Full Guide certification.
There is some flexibility for those applying with different, yet equivalent qualifications. Applicants with less than the required logged days will be considered if they have applicable and comparable experience. An ACSKG approved wilderness first aid certificate is required.
SKGABC Class Four Waters Endorsement is considered equivalent to the ACSKG's Class III Full Guide Endorsement.
SKGABC Class Four Guides may apply to transfer to the ACSKG.
Class III waters can be extremely dangerous and require the utmost in caution and preparation.
Guide Instructor
To be eligible as an ACSKG Guide Instructor, you must have logged 300 days as a Full Guide, at least 200 of which were in
CWC Class II. You must also be recommended by another ACSKG Instructor.
ACSKG Guide Instructors must first qualify for
ACSKG Full Guide certification.
There is some flexibility for those applying with different, yet equivalent qualifications. Applicants with less than the required logged days will be considered if they have applicable and comparable experience. An ACSKG approved wilderness first aid certificate is required.
Leadership Course Accreditation
ACSKG accredited guide training programs are provided by a number of
companies & organizations. To become accredited, prospective ACSKG leadership course providers may submit their curriculum and itinerary for review. Accredited courses follow the
ACSKG Leadership Course Curriculum. Courses are taught by an ACSKG certified Guide Instructor plus an Assistant or Full Guide.
Guide Examiner
To be eligible as an ACSKG Guide Examiner, you must have logged 350 days as a Full Guide, at least 250 of which were in
CWC Class II. You must also be recommended by another ACSKG Examiner.
ACSKG Guide Examiners must first qualify for
ACSKG Full Guide certification.
An Examiner may examine for a maximum of three years unless the Evaluation Committee determines to extend the term, in which case it is on an annual basis.
There is some flexibility for those applying with different, yet equivalent qualifications. Applicants with less than the required logged days will be considered if they have applicable and comparable experience. An ACSKG approved wilderness first aid certificate is required.
If discrepancies exist between ACSKG printed material and material published on the ACSKG website, the online content will be considered valid. The most up-to-date content is published at: ACSKG.ca