Leader / Guide Trainer Candidate Self Study

This is the online self study quiz for certified ACA Leaders or Guides who are interested in pursuing their Leader / Guide Trainer certification.

Before you begin, please take note:

Before taking this self study, you must have already completed the Leader Trainer or Guide Trainer Candidate (ITC) Registration Form.
Majority of the answers to the following self study questions can be found throughout the ACA website
You must answer all questions
This self study is not graded, but it is pass / fail. If you miss any questions, the SEI Department will guide you to an understanding of the correct answers.

Thank you for your interest in becoming an ACA Leader / Guide Trainer!

LT / GT Candidate Self Study

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

ACA Membership Number(Required)

Title/Venue of LTC Registration(Required)

1. What is the role of the ACA's Safety Education & Instruction Council (SEIC)?(Required)

2. Insurance for Leaders & Guides(Required)

One of the many benefits of being an ACA certified Leader or Guide is the ability to use the ACA's Insurance Program. The ACA's insurance program provides insurance coverage for Leaders, Guides, and Trainers at an affordable rate. Select all the accurate responses, based on completing the following statement: If an ACA Leader or Guide would like to use the ACA Insurance Program for a trip, they need to do the following before the trip starts:

Complete the ACA Course Management System (CMS) registration process before the trip starts

Pay appropriate insurance request fees

Send the SEI Department an email stating they will be leading the trip

Be an ACA Leader or Guide in good standing

Complete the ACA Course Management System (CMS) registration process on the morning of the first day of the trip

Upload a copy of current credentials to the CMS indicating that they are certified in an appropriate level of First Aid and age appropriate CPR

They do not need to submit anything; all trips are automatically covered under the ACA Insurance Program for Instructors

3. What information would you supply to Leader or Guide Certification Candidates about how to properly insure their trips when using the ACA Insurance Program?(Required)

4. Discipline Chairperson(Required)

The curriculum used in the ACA's National Paddlesports Instruction Program is developed and reviewed by the Safety Education & Instruction Council's Discipline Committees. It is important that Leader and Guide Trainers and Educators are familiar with the the committee which oversees their discipline(s), so that they may stay informed about curriculum changes and updates, new initiatives undertaken by the committee, and have a place to turn if questions or concerns arise. The SEIC Board is composed of the chairs of the various Discipline Committees. Who is the current chairperson for your Discipline Committee?

5. Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)(Required)

ACA trips are open to all individuals who satisfy the ACA's Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC). Which one(s) are not EEC for an ACA trip?

Breathe independently (i.e. not require medical devices to sustain breathing)

Be at least 18 years old

Independently maintain sealed airway passages while under water

Follow instructions and effectively communicate independently or with the assistance of a companion

Manage personal mobility independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance

The ability to communicate in English

Be a full ACA member

9. Leader and Guide Updates(Required)

Successful completion of a Leader / Guide update is a required piece of the ACA Leader and Guide Recertification Requirements. Select the three ways a certified Leader or Guide can complete the Update component of their Recertification (Maintenance) Requirements:

Co-lead a trip course with another certified Leader or Guide

Participate in an actual Leader / Guide Update course at their highest certification level conducted by a certified Trainer

Complete an approved Endorsement (check with the SEI Department beforehand)

Take a skills course or an Instructor Certification Workshop in another discipline

Co-lead a trip at their highest level of certification under the supervision of a Leader / Guide Trainer and complete a review of ACA Policies & Procedures with the Trainer

10. Continued Leader Candidate(Required)

Scenario: It is the last day of a Leader Certification Workshop (LCW). At the conclusion of this LCW, a Leader Candidate met all of the requirements for the Community Paddlesports Leader (CPL) certification, but did not satisfy the Coastal Leader Criteria because they could not appropriately perform two components of the Leader Certification Criteria. As a Leader Trainer, what is your evaluation of this Leader Candidate? How would you document this situation as part of your LCW course report roster?

11. Stewardship & Public Policy(Required)

The ACA's mission encompasses more than certifying Leaders and Guides; it is valuable for a Trainer to know about other ACA departments and programs so that they can effectively communicate with their Candidates about the many ACA programs and services that can further enhance the paddling experience for all of their students. With this in mind, describe two (2) current ACA Stewardship & Public Policy programs:

12. Member Benefits(Required)

Besides offering trips and Leader Certification programs, the ACA offers many benefits to their members who support safe and enjoyable paddling and the protection of America's recreational waterways. It is important for Trainers to be familiar with these benefits, so that their future candidates and students may see the value of ACA membership, and the many roles they may play in making the world a better place to paddle. With this in mind, which one is NOT an ACA member benefit?

13. Regional Activity Council(Required)

The ACA's mission encompasses more than certifying Leaders and Guides; the ACA seeks to provide access to paddling opportunities for everyone - from the national perspective, as well as from grass roots efforts, local clubs, and hometown events. It is valuable for a Trainer to know about ACA's goal of making the world a better place to paddle, which is carried out through various departments and programs alongside of the traditional education and instruction program. The ACA's Regional Activity Council (RAC) aims to connect the paddling public with a local point of contact, who can provide detailed information for those who seek paddling opportunities within a particular state or region. With this in mind, who is the volunteer ACA Regional Representative for the region and which you live AND the State Director the state in which you live?

14. Which section of the SEIC Policy Manual applies to maintenance requirements for certified Leaders?(Required)

15. Next Steps(Required)

After you complete this Online Self Study, and the National Office has verified your answers, what is the next step in your Leader / Guide Trainer Candidate process?

Conduct your lead-teach under the guidance of a Trainer Educator

Conduct your first co-teach of an LDW/LCE or LCW with an appropriately certified Instructor Trainer or Instructor Trainer Educator

Submit your Trainer Application paperwork for final approval

Lead and properly report two (2) trips

16. Who is the Leader / Guide Trainer or Trainer Educator with whom you plan to mentor for your first co-teach?

17. Any questions?

Do you have any questions that either the National Office staff or the appropriate SEIC Discipline Chair can answer for you?