Welcome to our training program!
The Interpretive Guides Association offers a series of training courses and exams designed to provide guides with skills and knowledge to effectively communicate our unique local natural and cultural heritage to visitors. We provide training focused on sharing the natural and cultural heritage of the areas we work for hiking guides, museum interpreters, bus tour guides, information centre staff, rafting guides, horse packing guides, scuba guides, mountain guides and anyone interested in learning more about the the areas we teach. We also offer group management training for interpretive hiking guides.
Our courses range from 4hrs – 40 hrs in length to suit the needs of different individuals from mountain enthusiasts to professional guides. Our public courses are scheduled in May, June, November and February each year and are available in English, French, and Japanese. If you have a group of 10 or more we may be able to schedule a private course to fit your schedule. Please explore these pages to learn more about our courses and certification options for interpretive guides and interpretive hiking guides.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Please read our Cancellation & Refund Policy if you are planning to sign up for this course.
If you cancel three weeks before the course starting date, you will receive a full refund minus a $30 administration fee. If you cancel two weeks before the course starting date, you will receive a 50 percent refund minus a $30 administration fee. If you cancel with less than 2 weeks notice no refund will be issued. The interpretive Guides Manual costs $45 for members. If you received a copy of the manual as part of your course fees the $45 fee will be subtracted from any refund amount.
If you are sick on one or more days of the course you must prove your sickness (i.e. a doctors note) and get in touch with the instructor immediately. We will place you in an alternate course if we have space available, otherwise you will need to re-register and pay.
If the Interpretive Guides has to cancel a course due to low numbers, you will have the choice of being given a full refund or transferring your registration for another course.
Currently Available Courses & EventsCalendar View
Times:
- Day 1 - 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Day 2 - 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Exam from 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: IGA Office. Suite 203, 820 Main St. Canmore, AB
Cost: $355 plus GST
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
- Once you have registered for this course you will receive an email with the course agenda, the pre-reading document and the course handbooks. Pre-reading will help you pass the exam. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk mail folder or email us at courses@interpretiveguides.org.
- You must receive 70% or more on all 5 sections of the exam to become accredited.
- A one-year IGA membership is included in the cost of this course. Once you have registered, you will have access to the members' section of our website. This section gives you access to your certification(s), membership card, course files, handbooks, pro-deal information, receipts and more.
To Obtain the Hiking Guide Certification
If you plan to work as a hiking guide you will also need to take our Group Management Course. With both courses, you will become certified by us as an apprentice hiking guide.
Our 4-Season Group Management Course will train you to understand the requirements to guide and manage a group in all conditions. By passing this course you will be certified to guide groups in all 4 seasons throughout this region.
Cost: $399 plus GST
Times: 8:30 - 5:30 daily
Location: IGA Office: Suite 203, 820 Main St. Canmore
Pre-requisites: 40 hour wilderness first aid and a hiking resume with winter walking or snowshoeing experience.
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING COURSE DETAILS:
There is homework to complete before this course. This homework and the course manual will be sent as soon as you register and pay for the course. Please read through everything thoroughly and send a copy of your first aid certification and hiking resume to courses@interpretiveguides.org as soon as possible.
Times:
- Day 1 - 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Day 2 - 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Exam from 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: IGA Office. Suite 203, 820 Main St. Canmore, AB
Cost: $355 plus GST
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
- Once you have registered for this course you will receive an email with the course agenda, the pre-reading document and the course handbooks. Pre-reading will help you pass the exam. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk mail folder or email us at courses@interpretiveguides.org.
- You must receive 70% or more on all 5 sections of the exam to become accredited.
- A one-year IGA membership is included in the cost of this course. Once you have registered, you will have access to the members' section of our website. This section gives you access to your certification(s), membership card, course files, handbooks, pro-deal information, receipts and more.
To Obtain the Hiking Guide Certification
If you plan to work as a hiking guide you will also need to take our Group Management Course. With both courses, you will become certified by us as an apprentice hiking guide.
Our 4-Season Group Management Course will train you to understand the requirements to guide and manage a group in all conditions. By passing this course you will be certified to guide groups in all 4 seasons throughout this region.
Cost: $399 plus GST
Times: 8:30 - 5:30 daily
Location: IGA Office: Suite 203, 820 Main St. Canmore
Pre-requisites: 40 hour wilderness first aid and a hiking resume with winter walking or snowshoeing experience.
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING COURSE DETAILS:
There is homework to complete before this course. This homework and the course manual will be sent as soon as you register and pay for the course. Please read through everything thoroughly and send a copy of your first aid certification and hiking resume to courses@interpretiveguides.org as soon as possible.
February 17, 2020
Wilderness and Remote First Aid - 40 hour course
February 17 - 20, 2020 • Jasper, Alberta
This course provides individuals with comprehensive wilderness and remote first aid and CPR techniques.
Course Details Register NowCost:
IGA members: $400 plus GST
Non-members: $425 plus GST
Dates: February 17 - 20, 2020
Times: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm daily
Location: TBA
This 40 hour Wilderness First Aid course provides individuals with comprehensive first aid and CPR techniques.
It is a more appropriate and recommended level of training for individuals working as hiking guides, allowing you to respond to emergencies in isolated or wilderness settings.
The course covers material in Standard First Aid & CPR, plus advanced strategies for providing extended care for more than 24 hours. Part of the course is taught in an outdoor setting and requires greater physical activity and endurance than typical first aid training. If you do not have time to take all 4 days you can also sign up for the first two days to receive the 20 hour Wilderness and Remote First Aid certificate.
Contact Wendy Niven at courses@interpretiveguides.org if you have questions.
This course is available to individuals who already have a group management certification in good standing. It will allow you to guide in all 4 seasons.
The course is 1.5 days (1/2 day classroom + 1 day outside)
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING COURSE DETAILS:
There is homework to complete before this course. This homework will be sent as soon as you register and pay for the course. Please read through everything thoroughly and send a copy of your first aid certification and hiking resume to courses@interpretiveguides.org as soon as possible.
February 23, 2020
Wilderness and Remote First Aid - 40 hour course
February 23 - 26, 2020 • Canmore, Alberta
This course provides individuals with comprehensive wilderness and remote first aid and CPR techniques.
Course Details Register NowCost:
IGA members: $400 plus GST
Non-members: $425 plus GST
Dates: February 17 - 20, 2020
Times: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm daily
Location: IGA Office. Suite 203, 820 Main Street, Canmore.
This 40 hour Wilderness First Aid course provides individuals with comprehensive first aid and CPR techniques.
It is a more appropriate and recommended level of training for individuals working as hiking guides, allowing you to respond to emergencies in isolated or wilderness settings.
The course covers material in Standard First Aid & CPR, plus advanced strategies for providing extended care for more than 24 hours. Part of the course is taught in an outdoor setting and requires greater physical activity and endurance than typical first aid training. If you do not have time to take all 4 days you can also sign up for the first two days to receive the 20 hour Wilderness and Remote First Aid certificate.
Contact Wendy Niven at courses@interpretiveguides.org if you have questions.
This course is available to individuals who already have a group management certification in good standing. It will allow you to guide in all 4 seasons.
The course is 1.5 days (1/2 day classroom + 1 day outside)
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING COURSE DETAILS:
There is homework to complete before this course. This homework will be sent as soon as you register and pay for the course. Please read through everything thoroughly and send a copy of your first aid certification and hiking resume to courses@interpretiveguides.org as soon as possible.
Date: You choose the date that works best for you and contact us at courses@interpretiveguides.org to let us know you are have registered.
Cost: $75 plus gst
Exam Requirements:
1. An oral exam outline (outline details will be emailed to you after you have paid).
2. PI application package.
Please send both to Wendy Niven at courses@interpretiveguides.org at least 10 days prior to filming your submission.
3. IGA membership in good standing.
4. Have attended the PI course.
All oral exams are to be submitted by video (YouTube or Vimeo).
In order to become accredited at the PI level you must complete and pass both the written and oral exams with a minimum of 70%.
Times:
- Day 1 - 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Day 2 - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Day 3 - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Exam from 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: Ecolodge • Tofino Botanical Gardens, 1084 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino, BC
Cost: $540 plus GST
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
- In a follow-up email you will receive the course agenda and a pre-reading assignment. Pre-reading will help you pass the exam. If you do not receive this email, or if you have any questions, please contact us at courses@interpretiveguides.org.
- You must receive 70% or more on all 5 sections of the exam to become accredited.
- A one-year IGA membership is included in the cost of this course. Once you have registered, you will have access to the members' section of our website. This section gives you access to your certification(s), membership card, course files, handbooks, pro-deal information, receipts and more.
April 16, 2020
Apprentice Interpreter - Voshaar Outdoor
April 16-17, 2020 • Voshaar Education and Outdoors, Eibergen, The Netherlands
Course Details Register NowDate: April 16-17, 2020
Times:
Day 1 - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Day 2 - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Exam from 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Location: Voshaar Education and Outdoors, Winterswijkseweg 17, 7152 BV Eibergen, Netherlands
Cost: $360 plus GST
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
Once you have registered for this course you will receive an email with the course agenda, the pre-reading document and the course manual. Pre-reading will help you pass the exam. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk mail folder or email us at courses@interpretiveguides.org.
You must receive 70% or more on all 5 sections of the exam to become accredited.
A one-year IGA membership is included in the cost of this course. Once you have registered, you will have access to the members' section of our website. This section gives you access to your certification (s), membership card, course files, handbooks, pro-deal information, receipts and more. Have a look here.
April 18, 2020
3-Season Group Management
April 18-19, 2020 • Voshaar Education and Outdoors, Eibergen, The Netherlands
Course Details Register NowDates: April 18-19, 2020
Cost: $275 plus GST
Times: 8:30 - 5:30 daily
Location: Voshaar MBO Outdoor Sports and Guiding
Course pre-requisites:
- Valid first aid certificate (Minimum 16-hour Standard First Aid with C level CPR)
- Hiking resume. Details for the hiking resume can be found in the GM pre-course package.
Hiking resumes and 1st aid certificates must be sent to Wendy Niven at courses@interpretiveguides.org prior to day one of the course.
After you register and pay for the course, an email will be sent to you with the PRE-COURSE DOCUMENT and HOMEWORK.
If you do not receive this right away please check your JUNK MAIL and/or get in touch with us at courses@interpretiveguides.org.
Date: May 9/10, 2019
Times:
Day 1 - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Day 2 - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Exam from 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: TBA, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Cost: $360 plus GST
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
- Once you have registered for this course you will receive an email with the course agenda, the pre-reading document and the course manual. Pre-reading will help you pass the exam. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk mail folder or email us at courses@interpretiveguides.org.
- You must receive 70% or more on all 5 sections of the exam to become accredited.
- A one-year IGA membership is included in the cost of this course. Once you have registered, you will have access to the members' section of our website. This section gives you access to your certification (s), membership card, course files, handbooks, pro-deal information, receipts and more. Have a look here.
Purchase pdf Group Management Handbook
Purchase Canadian Rockies Natural/Cultural History Handbook
Purchase Canadian Rockies Natural/Cultural History Handbook
Course Details Register NowPurchase a PDF of the Canadian Rockies Natural/Cultural History Handbook
Purchase a PDF version of the Interpretation Handbook
Basic Online Course - Jasper
The on-line Basic Knowledge Course covers the same content and is the same cost as the in-person course. The on-line version is best viewed with a high-speed internet connection, but it is possible to view with a dial-up connection. You may complete this course over a couple of days or sittings if you wish. You can also stop the course at any time to take a break, or get a snack!
You can take the exam as many times as you like at no extra cost.
Course Details Register Now
Basic Online Course - Banff
The on-line Basic Knowledge Course covers the same content and is the same cost as the in-person course. The on-line version is best viewed with a high-speed internet connection, but it is possible to view with a dial-up connection. You may complete this course over a couple of days or sittings if you wish. You can also stop the course at any time to take a break, or get a snack!
You can take the exam as many times as you like at no extra cost.
Course Details Register NowCourse Cost: $89 plus GST
