ACA Certification Courses
Level 2 Essentials of Kayak Touring Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW)
Dates: February 24-27, 2026
Venue: St Pete/Clearwater and Pinellas County Locations
Overview: This instructor certification program equips kayakers with the teaching, assessing, and leadership skills to provide safe and effective learning experiences in sheltered water. It is an entry point in the ACA Coastal Kayaking instructor scheme and, therefore, appropriate for paddlers who may not have prior experience as an outdoor educator. This course is a combination instructor development workshop (IDW) and instructor certification exam (ICE).
Ways to Participate: You may join this workshop in multiple ways:
New instructor candidate — take the full course of development plus exam; or, do development only and come back for an exam later when you are ready. If you have already taken a development course, join for the exam only.
Instructor update — renew your existing instructor certification in a minimum of one day.
Skills/practice student — limited spots available to attend as a practice student to give our candidates realistic training. Learn skills at a reduced rate.
Skills Assessment: Candidates must have an ACA Level 2 kayak skills assessment prior to the start of the workshop. We will offer a one-day skills assessment on February 23.
Rates: Because there are so many different ways and number of days for participation, we will send you an invoice for payment after we discuss your participation. Our fees for this workshop:
All candidate types, four days participation or more: $125/day.
All candidate types, three days participation or less: $150/day.
Practice Student: $100/day.
Kayak rental (kayak and paddle only): $35/day.
Kit rental (instructor kit, etc.): $15/day.
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