ACA Leader certification is designed for day trips.
ACA Guide certification is designed for multi-day trips.
The Leader certification program has been designed to meet the needs of paddlesports clubs, camps, community centers, outdoors organizations, casual meetup groups, and individuals that want to conduct simple day trips (Paddlesports Leader) or more complex day trips (Advanced Paddlesports Leader).
The Guide certification program was designed to meet the needs of organizations and group leaders offering longer, more remote and complex trips. For this reason, the Guide certification may be used by nonprofits, camps, outdoor education organizations, guiding companies, and outfitters seeking to train and benchmark their staff teams with a trusted certification. Earning professional credentials through this program will improve quality of services and facilitate quality assurance for clients.
Paddlesports Leader is for those leading groups on protected water and Advanced Paddlesports Leader is taking groups out in more dynamic environments. Both are day trip focused.
The Paddlesports Leader certification is largely devoted to individuals who want to lead a group of paddlers (especially new paddlers) out on simple half-day to day trips in protected waters. The Paddlesports Leader certification is a low-barrier entry point to become more involved with the paddling community and share your love of paddling with others. The Paddlesports Leader certification is a short program that can be particularly useful to organizations, such as camps and nonprofits that have limited training time, who provide fun, multi-craft paddle experiences for their participants in protected waters.
The Advanced Paddlesports Leader offering is designed for individuals who will lead day trips that may be of an intermediate or higher challenge. The level of challenge is connected with the leader’s personal skills award. Though not required in succession, the Advanced Paddlesports Leader builds upon the leader certification by preparing leaders with the skills, knowledge, and mindsets for leading trips with increased challenge.
Rather than being certified to craft, the Advanced Paddlesports Leader is taken and certified in one of two environments – river or coastal. A leader will be certified to lead multi-craft outings/trips in the environment in which they are certified, to the level of challenge of the personal skills award they have achieved.
The difference between an ACA Instructor and an ACA Leader/Guide primarily comes down to the roles and responsibilities in teaching and leading others in paddling activities.
ACA Instructors: An instructor is someone who teaches skills and techniques in a structured manner. Their main goal is to educate participants and help them develop the necessary knowledge and abilities to perform an activity on their own. Instructors typically provide lessons, demonstrations, and feedback to improve their students’ proficiency.
- Focus: Teaching skills, techniques, and safety
- Setting: Often in a classroom, controlled environment, or practice area
- Example: A SUP instructor who teaches students how to stand on their board, remount their board after a fall, and how to shift their weight to more effectively turn or pivot
ACA Leaders or Guides: A leader or guide is someone who leads and assists participants during a paddling trip. Their main goal is to provide an experience while ensuring safety and navigating the waterway. While they may offer some tips and tricks along the way, their primary job is to lead rather than formally teach.
- Focus: Leading, assisting, and ensuring a successful experience
- Setting: Out in the field (e.g., lakes, rivers, oceans)
- Example: A coastal kayak guide takes clients to prime coastal landmarks or beaches, helps them create group cohesion and maintain pace, and ensures their overall safety
Key Differences:
- Teaching vs. Leading: Instructors focus on teaching skills, while leaders and guides focus on leading and facilitating a paddling experience
- Structure vs. Flexibility: Instruction is often more structured, while leading and guiding is more experience-based and adaptable to conditions
- Goal of the Interaction: Instructors prepare clients to become independent, whereas leaders and guides provide a service to enhance the outing
Personal assurance – by gaining certification through one of the ACA Leader Pathway offerings, you are receiving validation from an internationally recognized certifying body that your skills and knowledge are appropriate to lead a group on the water. Through this you gain access to a trusted curriculum and program that provides the best tools, resources, and learning to lead trips that focus on providing enjoyable and safe experiences. You are much better equipped to take on the complexities of leading a group on the water with the ACA leadership program under your belt.
Building trust with your group – your certification is a way of showcasing your knowledge and experience with your peers, clients, and friends. They can rest assured knowing that you have been appropriately trained to take them out in the environment in which you’re exploring.
Insurance – with a valid ACA Leader or Guide certification, you’re eligible to request liability insurance coverage from the ACA. Having insurance for your trips illustrates professionalism, alignment with industry best practices, and your commitment to your clients’ well-being and success both during and after the trip.
For Leader Trainers only: Collection of Trainer Resources
For current ACA instructors holding a Community Paddlesports Leader, Trip Leader, or Raft Guide Examiner Endorsement who have taught and properly reported a trip leader (or raft guide) assessment course, please complete this Leader Trainer Candidate (LTC) registration form.
For current ACA instructors holding a Community Paddlesports Leader, Trip Leader, or Raft Guide Assessment, please complete this Leader Trainer Candidate (LTC) registration form and please pay close attention to the details outlined at the bottom of the form, as your process to obtain a Leader Trainer credential is slightly different.
Please pay close attention to upcoming editions of the SEIC Monthly Newsletter for updates!
If you have questions about the Leader Pathway program as a whole, the provided materials, or want to submit your reflections about your experience in the program so far, please complete this form. An ACA staff member will get back to you. Thanks!
