GTE

A globally recognised standard for raft guiding

The United Rafting Guide Training & Education (GTE) Programme provides commercial operators, national rafting federations, industry organisations, government authorities and other relevant stakeholders with a common international standard for the training and certification of professional raft guides.

The programme builds on the IRF Guide Training & Education system, first introduced in 2001 and progressively developed through successive revisions. Following the unification of the International Rafting Federation (IRF) and the World Rafting Federation (WRF), the IRF GTE system was formally adopted as the base framework for the United Rafting GTE Programme, ensuring continuity of the qualifications, standards and technical experience developed over more than two decades.

In October 2026, United Rafting will launch the updated GTE Programme, marking the first major revision of the system following the merger of IRF and WRF. The updated framework will bring the existing GTE structure under the unified governance of United Rafting and will reflect the work undertaken during the transition process to align certification standards, instructor structures and national training systems within a common international framework.

Under United Rafting, the GTE Programme is administered through the Guide Training & Education Department, which is responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of training, education and certification systems for river guides and other river-related technical roles. The programme covers guide training, certification standards, educational curricula, continuing professional development and safety protocols.

United Rafting works with its National Federations to develop a single internationally recognised certification structure, while respecting national legislation and the authority of national sporting or governmental bodies where specific legal frameworks for raft guiding and certification apply.
The GTE system has evolved continuously since its introduction. Major revisions were undertaken in 2016/17, followed by Version 6.0 in July 2021, which introduced substantial updates to the award structure and supporting documentation, including the Whitewater Guide Award. The October 2026 update represents the next stage in that development and the formal transition of the programme into the new United Rafting structure.