Steps towards qualifying as
a guide
- Aspirant Guides must determine whether they require training
or whether they have the necessary past experience to qualify
without further training [also taking due notice of the Fundamental
and Core units applicable to all forms of guiding]. In South Africa
you can qualify as Tour Guides, Marine Guides, Field Guides or
Adventure Guides. Paddle Guides are a subcategory of the latter
and they may specialize in flat water, swift water or sea water.
They can train as Shore Crew [Level 1], Site Guides [Level 2]
or Guides [Level 4]. The Levels are registered on the National
Qualifications Framework and is roughly equal to the following
previous educational levels:
Level 1: Standard 5
Level 2: Standard 8
Level 4: Matric
Adventure Guides [Paddling:Sea] may be registered as Site, Regional
or National Guides, depending on their experience and training.
All aspirant learners must:
a. be at least 21 years old
b. be a South African citizen or have a valid work permit
c. have an approved first aid certificate which is accepted by
the department of labour [eg from Red Cross, St John's etc]
d. make sure their trainers are accredited by a THETA accredited
trainer.
e. sign a Code of Conduct
f. pay a Guide Registration Fee [not to be confused with the Training
Fees charged by the independent Trainers and Evaluators]
g. supply 4 x passport-sized colour photos
h. apply at any Provincial Registrar
- After training has been obtained, or if the aspirant guide
judges him- or herself to be competent, an assessment is arranged.
Some differentiation will be made between the assessment of learning
and the assessment of past experience.
- The Applicant will provide a portfolio of past experience and
learning. In Paddle [Sea] Guiding, certain hours of assistant
guiding will be prescribed if there is no relevant past experience
of guiding.
- The Assessor will evaluate the portfolio as well as the learner's
competence.
- The Assessor makes a recommendation iro the amount of credits
achieved.
- The Assessor writes a report for quality assurance purposes.
- The Assessor completes the Declaration of Competence Form and
submits it for external quality assurance.
- The Quality Assurer signs off the Declaration of Competence
Form and submits it to THETA.
- If found to be competent, the applicant is issued with a national
guide certificate. If not, the applicant is advised to improve
certain competencies for re-evaluation.
National Certificate in Tourism: Adventure Guiding: Paddling[Sea]
The following is an outline of the competencies required to become
a guide. The Fundamental and Core units are basic to any form of
guiding. The Elective units determine the specialization of the
guide, in this case, sea paddle guiding. The levels and credits
assigned determine the qualification as either a Shore Crew [level
1], Site Guide[Level 2] or Guide [Level 4]
a. Fundamental Units
1. Operate a computer
2. Do basic research
3. Understand social issues
4. Operate in a team
5. Apply basic written and oral communication skills
6. Use numeracy for self-organisation
7. Understand and apply personal values and ethics
8. Organise oneself in the workplace
9. Work with persons with special needs
b. Core Units
1. Introduce South Africa to tourists
2. Understand and interpret our natural and cultural heritage
3. Participate in sustainable tourism
4. Operate in a business environment
5. Oversee arrival and departure of customers
6. Customer care
7. Maintain occupational health and safety
8. Demonstrate an understanding of HIV/AIDS
9. Create a guided experience for customers
10. Operate within the national and international legal framework
c. Elective Units
1. Conduct a guided adventure experience [sea kayaking] for a customer.
Consult the TASKS [previously RECSKASA] Training Manual for the
Content.
To obtain a copy of the 150 page TASKS Training Manual for Sea
Kayak Guides, please email info@seakayak.co.za.
There is a cost of R 90.00.
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