Guide Training & Education (GTE) Award System
The IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) Award System (“the GTE system” was created to provide commercial operators, industry organisations, national rafting federations, government regulators and other interested parties worldwide with a common standard for whitewater professionals. The GTE system is managed by the International Rafting Federation (IRF) through the GTE Committee under authority of section 47 of the IRF Bylaws. The system was first developed in 2001 and has been revised several times since that date.
The full system is set out in detail in the IRF GTE Award System. Below are some summaries and key sections of the GTE Award System.
1. Certificate types
The IRF has a number of certification awards available:-
- Raft Guide
- Raft Trip Leader
- Whitewater Guide
- Whitewater Trip Leader
- Safety Rafter
- Safety Kayaker
- Event Safety Technician
- Instructor
- Instructor Trainer
2. First Aid requirements
IRF Awards are valid for three years from assessment date when supported by an IRF approved First Aid certificate. The requirements for an IRF approved First Aid certificate are:- Raft Guide, Whitewater Guide, Safety Kayak, Event Safety 1 & 2:
- Standard First Aid certificate (minimum course duration eight (8) hours and must include CPR).
- Trip Leaders (all certification types), Event Safety 3, Instructors, Instructor Trainers:
- Advanced First Aid certificate (minimum course duration 16 hours and must include CPR).
- All First Aid certificates must show the dates of when the course was taken which must be no more than three (3) years old.
- IRF GTE does not accept First Aid certificates that are valid for more than three (3) years
- IRF GTE does not accept First Aid certificates where the course was 100% online.
- A copy of the First Aid card or certificate must be provided as proof and should be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the assessment or renewal date
A Site Specific restriction means the certificate is only valid in the location quoted at the bottom of the certificate. So long as you don’t have a Provisional restriction, you can guide as the only guide in the raft.
The Provisional status is given to a candidate who has successfully complied with most of the requirements needed to obtain an Award but has not yet complied with all requirements.
A person who has been awarded Provisional status is restricted to operate only when under the direct supervision of an individual who holds a full IRF GTE certification of an equal or higher Level. For example:
- A candidate certified as a Provisional Level 2 Raft Guide, may operate a raft ONLY if a fully certified GTE Level 2 Raft Guide (or higher) is physically in the raft with the Provisional Guide.
- A candidate certified as a Provisional GTE Level 3 Raft Instructor, may conduct a GTE workshop ONLY if a fully certified GTE Level 3 Raft Instructor (or higher) is assisting the workshop.
Candidates with Provisional status may obtain full certification once all necessary requirements have been fulfilled or demonstrated to the appropriately qualified Instructor or Instructor Trainer. It is generally not required that a person with Provisional status participate in a full Assessment to demonstrate the remaining requirements.
4. Certification fees (payable to IRF)
| IRF GTE Certification Fees (All certifications and renewals are valid for 3 years) | |
|---|---|
| Guide Certification | $40.00 USD |
| Trip Leader Certification | $70.00 USD |
| Instructor Certification | $130.00 USD |
| Guide or Trip Leader Certification Renewal | $30.00 USD |
| Instructor Certification Renewal | $0.00 USD |
| Annual Surcharge to Renew Expired Certification | $10.00 USD per year expired plus above renewal fees |
| Replacement certificate | $10.00 USD |
For example:
| Raft Guide AND Safety Kayaker Certification | $40.00 USD + $15.00 USD = $55.00 USD |
| Trip Leader AND Safety Kayaker Certification | $70.00 USD + $15.00 USD = $85.00 USD |
| Trip Leader AND Safety Kayaker Certification RENEWAL | $30.00 USD + $15.00 USD = $45.00 USD |
GTE fees can be paid using our online secure card processing (debit or credit card) or via PayPal. Links to each are below:
GTE guide and trip leader renewals
Options to include your multiple GTE qualifications and any late renewal fees
Custom payments
Instructors can pay for multiple candidates on assessments or other custom payments.
Contact GTE Administration for a custom payment link
Pay any amount using: PayPal.me/internationalrafting
5. Certificates
All certified candidates will be sent a PDF certificate which includes a cut-out card. Ensure you send the following to your Instructor:
- a digital passport style photograph
- your date of birth
Once GTE Administration has received all the requirements from your Instructor, including payment, your certificate will then be processed and emailed to you and your status will be published on our website along with other IRF certified guides.
6. Certificate renewal
All GTE certificates expire three (3) years after issue. Renewal of certification requires proof that the requirements listed in the Assessment and Renewal Criteria have been satisfied, and payment of the relevant renewal fee shown in the certifications fees table.
Renewals made more than six (6) months after the expiration date are required to pay an additional $10.00 USD late renewal fee for each year that the certification was expired.
This must be done through your certifying Instructor (or contact GTE Administration). In addition, we highly recommend that you participate in an IRF refresher workshop every four years (or whenever possible) so that you can be updated on any changes to the scheme or new information. The IRF does not charge fees for guide refresher courses, and Instructors generally only ask that you pay a nominal fee to cover your personal costs.
There is no renewal fee for active Instructors if renewal requirements are completed within six (6) months after expiration. Instructors must have attended an Instructor Workshop or Conference within the past three (3) years.
If you would like to be reminded when your renewal is due or to be kept up to date with news from Guide Training and Education please make sure you have given your email address to your instructor and the GTE Administration.
Further renewal details can be found on our dedicated GTE renewal page.
Instructors and Instructor Trainers normally require a payment to compensate for their time and expense in providing the assessment. These costs are set by the Instructor or Instructor Trainer and will vary in the amount charged depending on several factors including (but not limited to) length of course, location of the river, equipment and services provided, number of candidates, the country or region, and the currency and method used for payment.
To determine the total cost of any course, you will need to communicate directly with your Instructor.
Regional Instructor Trainers are appointed to oversee all Instructors who conduct workshops within a specific region. Read more about the duties, disciplinary procedures and ethics for traveling instructors.
To remain active, within a period of three years, all Instructors must conduct a minimum of two relevant GTPs and two relevant assessments; as well as conducting or attending a workshop that is overseen by an Instructor Trainer, or participate in a GTE conference. They must also be physically capable of demonstrating all skills being taught or assessed; and hold a current Advanced First Aid Certificate or higher.
Instructors that do not follow the above protocols will be listed as inactive or expired and subsequently removed from the list of instructors after six months.
Inactive or expired Instructors will be required to complete the renewal process noted above to regain active status. Instructors who remain active and current will not be required to pay renewal fees.
A large number of documents and forms have been produced and set up for Instructors to use when running assessments and also for running courses.
These can be found on the password protected Instructors Resources page (contact GTE Admin for password).
IRF Trip Leader Award
- Every instructor candidate needs to hold an IRF Trip Leader (TL) Award for the level they want to become an instructor.
- Candidates need to have scored 5 or 4 points (‘excellent’ or ‘good’) on every task of the TL debrief form.
- If you do not hold an IRF TL award, you need to complete one before applying to attend an Instructor Training Course.
- If you do hold an IRF TL award, but do not meet the standards (i.e. including 3 points (satisfactory) on one or more skills on the TL debrief form), you may attend another IRF TL assessment and try to improve your grades. Your original IRF TL award will not be taken away if your performance is less than satisfactory.
Experience
Every instructor candidate needs to have worked as a Raft Guide in at least two different countries/states. We want that IRF instructors have a good understanding of the worldwide rafting scene and operational, quality and safety standards and not be limited to the experience / knowledge of only one area / river / scene as a guide.
Personal river skills
Instructor candidates must be able to demonstrate all skills they will be instructing at demo level.
First Aid
Instructor candidates need to hold a current Advanced First Aid certificate (minimum 16 hours including CPR).
When all prerequisites are met, instructor candidates may sign up for an Instructor Training Course run by an IRF Instructor Trainer (IT).
Upon successful completion of this course, candidates will be certified as Provisional Instructors.
Provisional Instructors need to assist and instruct on several (at least two) IRF Guide and / or Trip Leader workshops under the supervision of an IRF Instructor. The exact number of workshops the instructor candidate needs to assist / instruct is set by the IT that runs the Instructor Training Course. The workshops need to be at the level the instructor candidate wishes to certify for.
As soon as the instructor candidate has completed assisting/instructing the number of IRF workshops set by the Instructor Trainer and the candidate feels ready, they can organise their final sign off as an IRF Instructor:
- Find an Instructor Trainer to supervise the process
- Organise an IRF Guide and Trip Leader workshop on the level they want to certify. This includes registering the workshop, advertising the workshop, communication with GTE admin, running the workshop, collecting and paying IRF fees and the Instructor Trainer, post workshop admin work
The Instructor Trainer overseeing the final sign off must be a different Instructor Trainer than the one teaching the candidate’s Instructor Training Course.
Candidates are responsible for finding an Instructor Trainer suitable for their final sign off, paying for their travel and lodging expenses and their Instructor Trainer day rate. The Instructor Trainer may be used as a second instructor on the workshop, however:
- all skills need to be demonstrated by the candidate
- all logistic/admin work needs to be done by the candidate
- site selection needs to be done by the candidate
- safety needs to be organized by the candidate
- all theory lessons need to be held by the candidate
- feedback to students needs to be given by the candidate
After completing the workshop, the Provisional Instructor can be signed off by the overseeing Instructor Trainer.
The Instructor final sign off needs to be within 24 months of completion of the Instructor Training Course.
The workshop for the final sign off must have a duration of at least three days and must include Guide and Trip Leader assessments.
Meet the prerequisites
Make sure you meet all the prerequisites for the sought qualification. You find a list of the prerequisite to all IRF instructor awards in the IRF GTE Award System on page 17 of the IRF GTE Award System.
Instructor Training Course
If you have not attended an IRF instructor training course, you will need to attend one. If you have done so, you can skip this step.
Instructor final sign off
If you feel ready to do your final sign off, find an IT under to supervise the
process. You will need to organize an IRF workshop on the level and within the qualification you want to certify. This includes:
- registering the workshop
- advertising the workshop
- communication with GTE Admin
- running the workshop
- collecting and paying IRF fees and the Instructor Trainer
- post workshop admin work
Candidates are responsible for finding an Instructor Trainer suitable for their final sign off, pay for their travel and lodging expenses and their Instructor Trainer day rate. The Instructor Trainer may be used as a second instructor on the workshop, however:
- all skills need to be demonstrated by the candidate
- all logistics / admin work needs to be completed by the candidate
- site selection needs to be done by the candidate
- safety needs to be organised by the candidate
- all theory lessons need to be held by the candidate
- feedback to students needs to be given by the candidate
After completing the workshop, the candidate can be signed off by the
overseeing Instructor Trainer.
The workshop for the final sign off must have a duration of at least three days and must include assessments. In the case of RG or WWG Instructors both Guide and Trip Leader assessments must be conducted.
These are the steps to upgrade an IRF Instructor certification (e.g.
from Level 3 to Level 4).
Meet the prerequisites
The higher qualification being sought has higher prerequisites than the one
currently held. A full detailed list of prerequisites for all IRF Instructor qualifications can be found on page 17 of the IRF GTE Award System.
This may also include previous Trip Leader assessments. For example:
- You are an RI3, based on a RTL3. If you would like to upgrade to an RI4,
you will need to pass a Level 4 Guide and Trip Leader assessment. Keep in mind that you need to score 5 or 4 points on every skill of the TL debrief form to be able to become a RI4. - You are an RI3, based on a RTL 4. If you have passed your TL assessment having scored 5 or 4 points on every skill, you meet all the prerequisites to upgrade your instructor qualification. If you, however, scored 3 in one ore more of the skills, you need to attend another TL assessment in order to improve your score. As soon as you have done so, you meet all the prerequisites to upgrade your instructor qualification.
Final sign off
For your final sign off you need to organise an IRF workshop on the level you want to certify. This includes registering the workshop, advertising the workshop, communication with GTE Admin, running the workshop, collecting and paying IRF fees and the IT, post workshop admin work.
Candidates are responsible for finding an Instructor Trainer suitable for their final sign off, pay for their travel and lodging expenses and their Instructor Trainer day rate. The Instructor Trainer may be used as a second instructor on the workshop, however:
- all skills need to be demonstrated by the candidate
- all logistics / admin work needs to be completed by the candidate
- site selection needs to be done by the candidate
- safety needs to be organised by the candidate
- all theory lessons need to be held by the candidate
- feedback to students needs to be given by the candidate
After completing the workshop, the candidate can be signed off by the
overseeing Instructor Trainer.
The workshop for the final sign off must have a duration of at least three days and must include assessments. In the case of RG or WWG Instructors both Guide and Trip Leader assessments must be conducted.
If your IRF instructor status has expired and you wish to become an active
instructor again, please contact any of the following:
We will try to find a solution for your request depending on your individual
situation.
The following steps are mandatory to become an Instructor Trainer:
1. Nomination:
- Candidates must be nominated by two Instructor Trainers. One of which must be from a country other than the country of origin of the candidate.
2. Application:
- Candidates must make a written application explaining why they wish to become an Instructor Trainer and how they plan to assist the work of the Guide Training and Education Committee.
- Candidates must, by means of a CV, demonstrate long and broad experience in the area of guide training and education. For example – have instructed on at least 10 guide training programs that included the “Recommended Minimum Content for a Guide Training Program”.
- Candidates must have participated at a minimum of three IRF GTE Instructor Workshops. This includes fully running an IRF GTE Workshop under the supervision of an IRF GTE Instructor Trainer.
- Candidates must demonstrate continuing and active involvement in the development and betterment of rafting.
3. Dissertation:
- Candidates must submit an original work that furthers the knowledge and/or development of guide training and education.
- A 200-word abstract should be submitted along with the full paper which may be between 2,000 and 10,000 words in length.
4. Assessment:
- The candidate will be assessed by the GTE Committee. The intention of the Committee should be to qualify all candidates that satisfy the spirit of the award requirements through long and broad experience. The emphasis on such an assessment will be on including all suitable candidates that are judged to be likely to contribute positively to the work of the Committee.
5. Dormancy or downgrading:
- An Instructor Trainer that does not demonstrate continuing and active involvement in the development and betterment of rafting can be made dormant or downgraded by GTE Committee agreement. Dormant Instructor Trainers will not be allowed to run assessments until they have consulted the GTE Committee who will determine what the Instructor Trainer needs to do to reactivate their certification.
Content:
GTE Awards flow chart
Frequently used GTE documents
- IRF GTE Award System v6 (updated 27 July 2021)
- IRF GTE SP Award System v6 (Español 🇪🇸)
- Guide Training Program – Recommended Minimum Content v2
- IRF GTE SP – Programa de Entrenamiento Guia contenido mínimo v2 (Español 🇪🇸)
- Log books/sheets: MS WORD | PDF
- Throw bag test procedure v2022-04
- Prueba cuerda de rescate v2019-08 (Español 🇪🇸)
- IRF GTE Award flow chart
Further information
If you have any additional questions about the IRF Guide Training and Education System ask your Instructor.
Alternatively, contact the Head of IRF GTE.
If your question is more of an administrative nature contact GTE Administration.
