The only globally recognised raft guiding certification
The IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) Award was created to provide commercial operators, industry organisations, national rafting federations, government regulators and other interested parties worldwide with a common standard for whitewater guiding professionals. To date, the IRF GTE system is the only globally recognised raft guiding certification.
The IRF is recognised by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the two largest tourism bodies in the world, as the world body responsible for establishing and administering commercial raft guiding standards.
The GTE system is managed by the IRF through the Guide Training & Education (GTE) Committee. The system was first published in 2001 and has been revised several times since then. Significant changes were introduced in 2016/17. Version 6.0 was launched in July 2021 which includes improvements overall to the award system and supporting documents and introduced the new Whitewater Guide Award.
Learn more about raft guiding:
- Rafting Operator Accreditation – who and how to be accredited as a rafting operator
- IRF GTE Certification History and Development
- GTE Certification Requirements, Processes and Fees
- GTE Certificate renewal – how to renew your IRF GTE certificate
- GTE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – two page overview of the system
- GTE Workshops / Assessments – list of authorised guide qualification courses
- Certified Guides / Instructors – list of all current IRF GTE qualified persons
- GTE Instructor Resources – resources, forms & templates for GTE Instructors & Assessors (password protected)
- River Signals – globally recognised river signals
- River Safety articles and videos – further reading on river safety
Recent guide / safety news
GTE instructor update 2024 to be held in April in Ecuador
The IRF’s GTE Instructor update 2024 will be held in April 2024 for all existing IRF instructors who can travel to Ecuador to attend the update. The goal of the update is for IRF instructors to share the current global best practices within the rafting industry. The update will also give instructors the opportunity to
GTE workshop and assessment in Mexico
We are pleased to announce another GTE workshop and assessment in Mexico, this time in Jalcomulco, Veracruz. The IRF GTE certification is recognised worldwide by leading rafting companies and operators as a first step in obtaining employment as a rafting guide or trip leader. If you are interested in attending this assessment, please contact the
GTE Guide and Trip Leader Assessment scheduled in Mexico
For all persons interested in obtaining a GTE Guide or Trip Leader certification, there is an assessment scheduled from 13th till 15th of November in Tampaón River, Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí, México, for Rafting guides level 2 – 3 and trip leaders level 3. The IRF GTE certification is recognised worldwide by leading rafting
