The IGA understands that there are times when work is scarce, sickness and injuries suddenly occur, travelling takes a front seat, or life takes you down a different path. During these times, paying your professional dues could become a lower priority.
No need to worry, we have your back, and have a built in policy to help you through this.
Keeping your certification in good standing is important and we encourage all certified guides to pay their annual professional dues, but if you can't, here is what you need to know:
- Missing your annual professional dues payment date will incur an automatic $10 late fee.
- You can defer your professional dues payment for up to 3 years without significant penalty (as of date of membership expiry).
- If you defer for between 3 and 5 years, you will need to contact us and follow the steps listed below to possibly have your certificate(s) reinstated.
- If you defer for 5 years or more, you will need to re-take and pass the course(s) to gain access to your certificate(s). If you fall in this category, please get in touch with courses@interpretiveguides.org for a 20% discount code.
Please note that this is for guides with AI, IS, PI, or GM certifications only - if you have a Basic Knowledge certificate please click here for more information.
Dues unpaid for less than 3 years:
1. Pay this years professional dues.
2. Enter 10 hours of continuing professional development hours that you have completed in the last year, click here to submit your PD hours.
Dues unpaid for more than 3 years and less than 5 years:
Send in a request to reinstate your certification to courses@interpretiveguides.org, along with the following documents and information:
1. Send in a resume, as outlined below, for the time your certificate(s) was expired. If you didn't work, attend school/training, or volunteer during this time, you may need to retake the certification course(s).
- Any guiding or interpretive related training and certifications you completed since your certificate(s) expired.
- A description of the work you undertook during this time.
- Any volunteer work you completed in interpretation, education, or guiding.
Note: all volunteer and paid work or training can be from any location in the world.
2. Re-take the exam(s) or evaluation(s) specific to your certification and pass with a grade of 70% or higher. All exams and evaluations are subject to additional fees (click here to register). Those holding a GM certification will have to pay for an attend the GM evaluation days or hire a private evaluator for the day. Most exams can be administered virtually with an exam proctor.
3. Interpretive hiking guides must either attend or watch a recording of the Group Management classroom section of the course.
4. Pay this year's annual professional dues (click here).
5. Submit 10 hours of professional development for each year not previously submitted (click here).
6. Interpretive hiking guides must also submit a valid first aid certificate based on the requirements of your Group Management certificate.
Only once all steps are completed and approved will your certificate(s) be reinstated.
Dues unpaid for 5 or more years:
After 5 years of unpaid dues, certificates become null and void. If you fall in this category and wish to re-certify, please get in touch with courses@interpretiveguides.org for a 20% discount code.