Education
Types of Courses
Types of Courses
- Skills courses which are designed to introduce you to new skills, build confidence through competence, and increase paddling proficiency in your chosen craft.
- Skills assessments are designed to evaluate your existing skillset. You should arrive at the course with previous paddling experience, and you will be evaluated alongside a checklist of skills, experience, and knowledge. If successfully completed, you will receive an assessment credential from the ACA.
- Smart Start for Safe Paddling Certification courses are designed for those seeking to introduce paddlecraft safety and knowledge to the beginner paddler in a land-based setting. Learn more about the Smart Start for Safe Paddling program, here. This program was formerly known as “Paddlesports Safety Facilitator” and was officially re-branded as “Smart Start for Safe Paddling” in October 2025.
- Instructor Certifications are the next step for individuals wishing to teach paddling technique and skill refinement to students. A key component that sets instructor certification apart from other course types is the evaluation of not only paddling skill and knowledge but also teaching ability, group management, and judgement.
- Endorsements are specialized courses designed for currently certified ACA instructors. Endorsements provide the opportunity for instructors to teach additional skills and curriculum that are not included in traditional instructor certification workshops. Learn more, here.
- Leader and Guide Certifications equip paddlers with essential skills in leadership, trip planning, risk management, and rescue. Standing alongside the ACA’s well-established Instructor Certification pathway, this streamlined program is designed to empower new leaders and guides with a professional certification. With accessible entry points and a strong focus on decision-making, planning, and safety, the program empowers new leaders and guides—whether they’re leading day trips on a nearby lake, taking their fellow club members down the local class II run, or guiding multi-day expeditions in remote wilderness settings. The ACA Leader and Guide certifications are unique in that they are structured around the paddling environment, not specific paddlecraft. These pathways are designed for protected waterways, coastal, and river environments. Learn more, here.
For a complete listing of the ACA’s instructional curriculum, please click here.
ACA’s instructional curriculum has been third-party verified to be in alignment with the National On Water Standards for human propelled craft.
Become A Certified Instructor or Trip Leader
Want to share your passion for paddling with others? Becoming a certified instructor or leader is the place to start!
If you’re looking to embrace a more advanced leadership role within your club or community group, ACA Trip Leader certification courses are the perfect next step! Filled with training content surrounding leadership, judgement, group management, and technical facets of rescue and care on longer distance or extended trips, these courses require existing experience, they will challenge you, but will also help you become the best leader you can be! To review the curriculum, please click here.
If you already have experience leading trips and interacting with new paddlers, becoming a certified instructor may be right for you! Instructor Certification Workshops (ICWs) are comprised of technical skill development and evaluation of your paddling experience, knowledge, and teaching ability. To learn more, please click here.
