Resources for ACA Instructors and Instructor Candidates
The ACA offers skills courses and certification courses to paddlers of all skill levels in multiple different disciplines. The courses represent a body of knowledge, sets of skills, safety procedures and other materials deemed appropriate for the particular environments of the various disciplines.
UPDATE: As of 9-16-2009, there is a revised SEIC Policy Manual.
General Requirements for ACA Instructor Certification:
- Instructors shall be at least 18 years of age
- Maintain ACA Membership and SEIC Registration
- Successfully complete an Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) and a subsequent Instructor Certification Exam (ICE)
To find an Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) or an Instructor Certification Exam (ICE) in your area, visit one of the following links:
- ACA Skills Course Calendar
- ACA Instructor Course Calendar
- ACA Events Calendar
- Contact any ACA Instructor Trainer / Instructor Trainer Educator (organized by State / by Discipline
Instructor Certification Resources:
Required Texts and Materials:
The following materials are required for each participant in an ACA insured skills course or certification course.
- Best Practices for Paddlers and Paddlesports Programs
- Wear It! Life Jackets Matter
- Paddler's Safety Checklist
- Rules of the Road: What Paddler's Need to Know
- River Paddler's Guide to Rescue
- Cold Water Survival
- Smartstart for Safe Paddling
In addition to the above brochures, all Instructor Candidates participating in an IDW or ICE are required to have the following:
- ACA Instructor Manual (available at the ACA Store)
Student to Instructor Ratios:
The ACA has established student to instructor ratios for all instructional programs, as detailed on the Sample Course Outlines. The student to instructor ratios are as follows:
- For solo craft (5 students : 1 Instructor)
- For tandem craft (6 students : 1 Instructor)
Nomenclature:
- I - Instructor
- IT - Instructor Trainer
- ITE - Instructor Trainer Educator
- SEI - Safety Education & Instruction Department of the ACA
- SEIC - Safety Education & Instruction Council
- IDW - Instrutor Development Workshop
- ICE - Instructor Certification Exam
- ICW - Instructor Candidate Workshop (combining an IDW & an ICE)
