International standards for the training, assessment and certification of rafting and whitewater professionals.
Guide Training & Education (GTE) Award System
The United Rafting Guide Training & Education (GTE) Award System (“the GTE system”) was established to provide commercial operators, industry organisations, National Federations, government regulators and other interested parties worldwide with a common international standard for whitewater professionals.
The GTE system is managed by United Rafting through its Guide Training & Education Department, under the authority of the United Rafting General Board and in accordance with the United Rafting Statutes.
The system was first developed by the International Rafting Federation (IRF) in 2001 and has been revised several times since that date. Following the unification of the International Rafting Federation (IRF) and the World Rafting Federation (WRF), the IRF GTE system was adopted as the base framework for the United Rafting GTE Programme.
In October 2026, United Rafting will launch the updated GTE system, incorporating the changes developed during the transition following the IRF–WRF merger and placing the programme within the unified United Rafting governance and certification framework.
Until publication of the updated United Rafting documentation, the previous IRF GTE Award System – Version 6.0 remains available as a reference to the underlying certification framework.
Certificate types
Qualifications available under the United Rafting GTE system.
The United Rafting GTE system provides the following certification awards:
- Raft Guide
- Raft Trip Leader
- Whitewater Guide
- Whitewater Trip Leader
- Safety Rafter
- Safety Kayaker
- Event Safety Technician
- Instructor
- Instructor Trainer
The certification awarded depends on the skills and knowledge demonstrated by the candidate, the level of the assessment and, where relevant, the difficulty of the river on which the assessment is conducted.
Each award is subject to specific prerequisites that must be satisfied before certification can be granted.
First Aid requirements
Minimum First Aid standards applicable to GTE certifications.
All United Rafting GTE Awards must be supported by a current United Rafting-approved First Aid certificate.
Raft Guide, Whitewater Guide, Safety Kayaker and Event Safety Levels 1 and 2
A Standard First Aid certificate comprising:
- a minimum of eight (8) hours of training; and
- CPR training.
Trip Leaders, Event Safety Level 3, Instructors and Instructor Trainers
An Advanced First Aid certificate comprising:
- a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of training; and
- CPR training.
General requirements
- the First Aid certificate must state the date on which the course was completed;
- the course must have been completed within the preceding three (3) years;
- certificates purporting to remain valid for more than three years will not be accepted beyond the three-year period;
- First Aid courses completed entirely online are not accepted;
- a copy of the First Aid card or certificate must be provided as evidence; and
- as a general rule, the First Aid certification should remain valid for at least six (6) months beyond the date of assessment or renewal.
Certificate restrictions
Site Specific and Provisional certification.
Site Specific
A Site Specific restriction means that the certification is valid only at the location identified on the certificate.
Provided that the holder is not also subject to a Provisional restriction, a Site Specific Guide may operate independently within the location specified on the certificate.
Provisional
Provisional status may be granted where a candidate has successfully met most, but not all, of the requirements for a full GTE Award.
A person holding Provisional status may operate only under the direct supervision of a person holding a full GTE certification of the same or a higher level.
- A Provisional Level 2 Raft Guide may operate only where a fully certified Level 2 Raft Guide or higher is physically present in the raft.
- A Provisional Level 3 Raft Instructor may conduct a GTE workshop only where a fully certified Level 3 Raft Instructor or higher is participating in the workshop.
A Provisional certification may be converted into full certification once the outstanding requirements have been completed or demonstrated to an appropriately qualified Instructor or Instructor Trainer.
Unless otherwise required by the Instructor or Instructor Trainer, completion of an entirely new assessment is not normally necessary.
Certification fees
United Rafting GTE certification and renewal fees.
On smaller screens, scroll tables horizontally to see all columns.
| GTE Certification Fees | Fee |
|---|---|
| Guide Certification | USD 40.00 |
| Trip Leader Certification | USD 70.00 |
| Instructor Certification | USD 130.00 |
| Guide or Trip Leader Certification Renewal | USD 30.00 |
| Instructor Certification Renewal | USD 0.00 |
| Annual surcharge for expired certification | USD 10.00 per expired year, in addition to the applicable renewal fee |
| Replacement Certificate | USD 10.00 |
All certifications and renewals are valid for three years, subject to the applicable requirements.
Where a candidate completes multiple assessments or renewals at the same time, the highest applicable certification fee is payable, together with USD 15.00 for each additional qualification processed at the same time.
Examples
| Certification | Fee |
|---|---|
| Raft Guide + Safety Kayaker Certification | USD 40.00 + USD 15.00 = USD 55.00 |
| Trip Leader + Safety Kayaker Certification | USD 70.00 + USD 15.00 = USD 85.00 |
| Trip Leader + Safety Kayaker Renewal | USD 30.00 + USD 15.00 = USD 45.00 |
For multiple candidates, combined assessments or other payments that cannot be processed through the standard procedure, Instructors should contact the United Rafting GTE Administration.
Certificates
Information required for the issuance of a GTE certificate.
Candidates who successfully complete the certification process will receive a digital certificate, including the relevant certification information and identification card.
Candidates must provide their Instructor with:
- a digital passport-style photograph; and
- their date of birth.
Once the United Rafting GTE Administration has received the complete assessment documentation, confirmation of the applicable prerequisites and payment of the required fees, the certification will be processed and issued.
The certification status will also be entered into the official United Rafting GTE certification records.
Certificate renewal
Requirements and procedure for maintaining a current GTE certification.
All GTE certifications expire three (3) years after the date of issue or assessment, as applicable.
Renewal requires:
- evidence that the applicable Assessment and Renewal Criteria have been satisfied;
- a current First Aid certificate meeting the requirements applicable to the qualification; and
- payment of the applicable renewal fee.
Renewals must normally be processed through an appropriately qualified GTE Instructor. Where necessary, the certification holder may contact the United Rafting GTE Administration.
United Rafting recommends participation in refresher training periodically, particularly where certification standards, safety procedures or technical requirements have changed.
There is no certification renewal fee for active Instructors where all applicable renewal requirements are completed within six (6) months following expiry.
To maintain active status, Instructors must also comply with the activity and continuing education requirements set out below.
GTE Instructors
Fees, regional oversight, active status and Instructor resources.
Course and assessment fees
United Rafting GTE Instructors and Instructor Trainers may charge a fee to compensate for the time and expenses involved in delivering training courses and assessments.
These fees are determined directly by the Instructor or Instructor Trainer and may vary according to factors including:
- duration of the course or assessment;
- river location and characteristics;
- equipment and services provided;
- number of candidates;
- country or region;
- travel and accommodation requirements; and
- currency and method of payment.
Candidates should communicate directly with the relevant Instructor or Instructor Trainer to determine the total cost before registering for a course or assessment.
Regional Instructor Trainers
Regional Instructor Trainers support and oversee GTE Instructors conducting workshops within their respective regions.
Their role includes supporting the consistent application of United Rafting GTE standards and monitoring the quality of training and assessment activities.
Instructors operating outside their usual country or region must comply with United Rafting GTE procedures and professional standards, as well as any applicable national legislation or regulatory framework governing raft guide training and certification.
Maintaining active Instructor status
To remain active, each Instructor must, within a three-year period:
- conduct at least two relevant Guide Training Programmes (GTPs);
- conduct at least two relevant assessments;
- conduct or attend at least one workshop overseen by an Instructor Trainer, or participate in a United Rafting GTE Conference;
- remain physically capable of demonstrating all skills falling within the scope of the qualifications they teach or assess; and
- hold a current Advanced First Aid certificate, or a higher recognised qualification.
An Instructor who fails to satisfy these requirements may be classified as inactive or expired.
If the position is not regularised within six months, the Instructor may subsequently be removed from the active list of United Rafting GTE Instructors.
Inactive or expired Instructors wishing to regain active status must complete the applicable reactivation or renewal process.
Instructor resources
United Rafting provides GTE Instructors with the official documents, forms and supporting materials required to organise and deliver training programmes and assessments.
These resources are available through the restricted GTE Instructor Resources area and are intended for authorised United Rafting GTE Instructors and Instructor Trainers.
Access information may be obtained from the United Rafting GTE Administration.
Becoming a GTE Instructor
Prerequisites, training period and final sign-off.
8.1 Prerequisites
Trip Leader Award
Every Instructor candidate must hold a valid United Rafting GTE Trip Leader Award at the level for which they intend to qualify as an Instructor.
The candidate must have achieved a score of 4 (“Good”) or 5 (“Excellent”) in every assessed task recorded on the Trip Leader debrief form.
A candidate who does not yet hold the required Trip Leader Award must successfully complete the relevant assessment before attending an Instructor Training Course.
A candidate who already holds the relevant Trip Leader Award but has received a score of 3 (“Satisfactory”) in one or more assessed skills may undertake a further Trip Leader assessment in order to improve those scores.
An unsuccessful attempt to improve the assessment result does not invalidate an existing Trip Leader Award.
Experience
Every Instructor candidate must have professional rafting experience as a Raft Guide in at least two different countries or, where relevant, two different states or regions.
This requirement is intended to ensure that United Rafting GTE Instructors have experience of different rafting environments, operational systems, safety procedures and professional standards, rather than experience limited to a single river or operating environment.
Personal river skills
Instructor candidates must be capable of demonstrating, to demonstration standard, all practical skills that they will be authorised to teach and assess.
First Aid
Instructor candidates must hold a current Advanced First Aid certificate, comprising a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of training and including CPR.
8.2 Instructor Training Course
Once all prerequisites have been met, an Instructor candidate may enrol in an Instructor Training Course delivered by a certified United Rafting GTE Instructor Trainer.
Upon successful completion of the Instructor Training Course, the candidate becomes a Provisional Instructor.
8.3 Training period
A Provisional Instructor must assist with and undertake instruction during at least two United Rafting Guide and/or Trip Leader workshops under appropriate supervision.
The Instructor Trainer who conducts the Instructor Training Course may require the candidate to complete more than two workshops, depending on the candidate’s experience, performance and training needs.
The supervised workshops must be conducted at the level for which the candidate is seeking Instructor certification.
8.4 Final sign-off
After completing the required supervised training period, the Provisional Instructor may proceed to the final sign-off.
The candidate must identify a certified Instructor Trainer to oversee the process and organise a United Rafting GTE workshop at the level and within the qualification for which certification is sought.
The candidate is responsible for:
- registering the workshop in accordance with United Rafting GTE procedures;
- organising and advertising the workshop;
- communicating with the United Rafting GTE Administration;
- managing participant registration and workshop logistics;
- delivering the workshop;
- collecting and processing the applicable GTE fees;
- arranging payment of the Instructor Trainer where required; and
- completing all required post-workshop administration and reporting.
The candidate is responsible for identifying a suitable Instructor Trainer and for covering the Instructor Trainer’s agreed day rate and applicable travel and accommodation expenses.
The Instructor Trainer may participate as a second Instructor during the workshop. However, the candidate must independently demonstrate their ability to organise and deliver the workshop.
Accordingly:
- all required practical skills must be demonstrated by the candidate;
- all logistical and administrative work must be completed by the candidate;
- the training and assessment sites must be selected by the candidate;
- safety arrangements must be organised by the candidate;
- all theory sessions must be delivered by the candidate; and
- feedback to participants must be provided by the candidate.
Following successful completion of the workshop, the supervising Instructor Trainer may provide the final sign-off, confirming certification as a United Rafting GTE Instructor.
The final sign-off workshop must:
- have a duration of at least three days; and
- include the relevant assessments.
For Raft Guide (RG) and Whitewater Guide (WWG) Instructor qualifications, both Guide and Trip Leader assessments must be conducted.
Additional Instructor qualifications
Additional disciplines, upgrades and reactivation of Instructor status.
A certified United Rafting GTE Instructor may subsequently:
- acquire an additional Instructor qualification;
- upgrade an existing Instructor qualification to a higher level;
- reactivate an expired or inactive Instructor certification; or
- apply to become an Instructor Trainer.
9.1 Acquiring an additional Instructor qualification
An Instructor seeking certification in an additional discipline or qualification must first meet all prerequisites applicable to the new qualification and level sought.
This includes the relevant Guide and/or Trip Leader qualifications, assessment scores, professional experience, practical skills and First Aid requirements.
An Instructor who has already successfully completed a recognised GTE Instructor Training Course is not normally required to repeat that course solely for the purpose of obtaining an additional Instructor qualification, unless otherwise required under the applicable certification criteria.
Once the prerequisites have been met, the candidate must complete the applicable supervised training and final sign-off process for the additional qualification.
The final sign-off workshop must be conducted within the qualification and at the level for which the additional certification is sought.
9.2 Upgrading an Instructor certification
An Instructor wishing to upgrade an existing certification—for example, from Level 3 to Level 4—must satisfy the prerequisites applicable to the higher level.
This may require completion of higher-level Guide and Trip Leader assessments or improvement of previous assessment scores.
- An RI3 based on an RTL3 wishing to upgrade to RI4 must first successfully complete the required Level 4 Guide and Trip Leader assessments. The candidate must achieve a score of 4 (“Good”) or 5 (“Excellent”) in every assessed Trip Leader skill.
- An RI3 already holding an RTL4 who achieved a score of 4 or 5 in every Trip Leader assessment task satisfies the relevant Trip Leader prerequisite. Where one or more skills were assessed at 3 (“Satisfactory”), the candidate must undertake another Trip Leader assessment and improve those scores before proceeding with the upgrade.
Final sign-off for an upgrade
Once all prerequisites have been met, the Instructor must organise a United Rafting GTE workshop at the level for which the upgrade is sought.
The same organisational and assessment requirements applicable to the final sign-off of a new Instructor apply.
A certified Instructor Trainer must oversee the process.
The candidate remains responsible for workshop organisation, administration, site selection, safety arrangements, delivery of practical and theory sessions, participant feedback and post-workshop administration.
Following successful completion of the workshop, the Instructor Trainer may approve the upgrade to the higher Instructor level.
The workshop must last at least three days and include the assessments applicable to the qualification concerned.
For RG or WWG Instructor qualifications, both Guide and Trip Leader assessments must be conducted.
9.3 Expired or inactive Instructor status
An Instructor whose United Rafting GTE certification has become inactive or expired and who wishes to return to active status should contact the United Rafting GTE Administration.
The requirements for reactivation will be determined according to the Instructor’s individual circumstances, including:
- the period of inactivity;
- previous qualification level;
- recent professional and instructional activity;
- current First Aid status; and
- compliance with current GTE standards.
Depending on the circumstances, reactivation may require participation in a GTE workshop or conference, completion of specified assessments, supervised delivery of a workshop or other measures necessary to confirm continued competence.
Becoming an Instructor Trainer
Nomination, application, dissertation, assessment and maintenance of Instructor Trainer status.
Certification as a United Rafting GTE Instructor Trainer (IT) is reserved for experienced Instructors who demonstrate substantial involvement in guide training and education and a continuing contribution to the development of rafting and the GTE system.
10.1 Nomination
A candidate must be nominated by two certified Instructor Trainers.
At least one nominating Instructor Trainer must be from a country other than the candidate’s country of origin.
10.2 Application
The candidate must submit a written application explaining:
- why they wish to become an Instructor Trainer; and
- how they intend to contribute to the development and delivery of the United Rafting GTE Programme.
The candidate must also submit a CV demonstrating broad and substantial experience in guide training and education.
Relevant experience should include, as a reference, participation as an Instructor in at least ten Guide Training Programmes incorporating the applicable minimum content established by the GTE system.
The candidate must also have participated in at least three GTE Instructor Workshops, including the complete delivery of a GTE workshop under the supervision of a certified Instructor Trainer.
Candidates must demonstrate continuing and active involvement in the development of rafting, guide education and professional standards.
10.3 Dissertation
The candidate must submit an original written work contributing to the knowledge, methodology or development of guide training and education.
The submission must include:
- an abstract of approximately 200 words; and
- a full paper of between 2,000 and 10,000 words.
10.4 Assessment and approval
The candidate shall be assessed in accordance with the procedures established by the United Rafting GTE Department.
The assessment shall consider both compliance with the formal requirements and the candidate’s overall suitability for the Instructor Trainer role, with particular regard to:
- professional experience;
- teaching and assessment ability;
- technical competence;
- knowledge of the GTE system; and
- ability to contribute constructively to the international development of guide training and education.
The GTE Commission may provide advice or recommendations within its statutory consultative and representative role.
10.5 Maintaining Instructor Trainer status
Instructor Trainers are expected to maintain continuing and active involvement in guide training, education and the development of rafting.
An Instructor Trainer who no longer demonstrates the required level of activity may be placed on inactive status or have the scope of their certification reviewed in accordance with United Rafting GTE procedures.
The requirements for reactivation shall be determined by the United Rafting GTE Department according to the individual circumstances and the certification standards applicable at that time.
