Paddlesports Safety Facilitator & Community Paddlesports Leader - ACA
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For ACA Instructors

Paddlesports Safety Facilitator & Community Paddlesports Leader

The Paddlesports Safety Facilitator (PSF) certification program teaches basic safety and paddling knowledge, as well as simple rescue skills for canoe, kayak, and SUP. The training for this certification includes a base knowledge module (non-craft specific) plus three complementary modules that focus specifically on canoeing, kayaking, and stand up paddling (SUP). This certification allows the facilitator to introduce paddlecraft safety and knowledge to the beginner paddler in a land-based setting.

Community Paddlesport Leader (CPL) certification courses explore and develop solutions to “big picture” paddling challenges including venue selection, group management, participant competency, and rescues across a variety of paddlecraft. These non-discipline specific courses train leaders that engage with the broader paddling community to provide safe, fun, paddling experiences at the entry level.

ACA Trip Leader assessment courses are for paddlers looking to embrace a more advanced leadership role within their club or community group. 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, are challenging, and will also help you become the best leader you can be!

Paddlesports Safety Facilitator (PSF) Program

The PSF certification program can be delivered by any ACA Level 3 Instructor (or higher), any ACA Level 1 or 2 Instructor with the PSF Endorsement, or any Instructor Trainer (IT) or Educator (ITE), within their discipline(s) of certification. In order to deliver each of the specific craft modules (canoe, kayak, or SUP), the Instructor, IT, or ITE must be certified or formally assessed within each specific discipline. For example: A currently certified canoeing Instructor Trainer must also hold instructor certification or documented skills assessments in kayaking and SUP in order to deliver all three craft specific modules.

Complete the 1-day course (approximately 4 hours for the base module and 1 hour for each of the craft specific modules). You will also be required to complete a written exam in order to pass the course. In order to receive official credentialing documentation of this certification, you must be an ACA member.

Community Paddlesports Leader (CPL) Program

The CPL certification program may be delivered by an evaluator holding all three of the following requirements:

  • ACA Level 2 Instructor Trainer (or higher) OR Level 2 Instructor (or higher) with the Community Paddlesport Leader certification
  • Credentials to deliver the PSF in at least 2 of 3 disciplines
  • Familiarity with the content and mechanics of the Paddlesport Safety Facilitator award prior to offering the CPL certification

For those seeking the CPL certification, you need to hold a current ACA Level 1 Skills Assessment and Paddlesport Safety Facilitator (PSF) certification in your chosen craft. To lead mixed craft experiences, PSF certification is required for those additional craft. To review the course curriculum, please click here.

Trip Leader Courses

Canoe Trip Leading

Kayak Touring / Coastal Kayak Trip Leading

SUP Trip Leading

River Kayak Trip Leading

If you’re looking to embrace a more advanced leadership role within your club or community group, ACA Trip Leader assessment 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 for each type of trip leader course, please click here.