The only globally recognised raft guiding certification
The IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) Award was created to provide commercial operators, industry organisations, national rafting federations, government regulators and other interested parties worldwide with a common standard for whitewater guiding professionals. To date, the IRF GTE system is the only globally recognised raft guiding certification.
The IRF is recognised by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the two largest tourism bodies in the world, as the world body responsible for establishing and administering commercial raft guiding standards.
The GTE system is managed by the IRF through the Guide Training & Education (GTE) Committee. The system was first published in 2001 and has been revised several times since then. The most significant recent changes were introduced in 2016/17. Details of which can be found here.
Learn more about raft guiding:
- IRF GTE Certification History and Development
- GTE Certification Requirements, Processes and Fees
- GTE Certificate renewal – how to renew your IRF GTE certificate
- GTE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – two page overview of the system
- GTE Workshops / Assessments – list of authorised guide qualification courses
- Certified Guides / Instructors – list of all current IRF GTE qualified persons
- GTE Instructor Resources – resources, forms & templates for GTE Instructors & Assessors (password protected)
- River Signals – globally recognised river signals
- River Safety articles and videos – further reading on river safety
Recent guide / safety news
Expanding guide qualifications in 2021: delivering the new Whitewater Guide Award
Following the successful IRF GTE Instructor Conference in May this year, it was time to deliver on the goals of expanding guide qualifications around the world. The dynamic objective of this goal was to launch the IRF GTE Whitewater Guide Award. This award has been in development for just over a year now following GTE
Growing the #RiverFamily: HATEOA joins the IRF membership
HATEOA joins the IRF as an Associate member The Hellenic Association of Tourism Enterprises in Outdoor Activities (HATEOA) represents the companies that offer tourist services of outdoor leisure activities and are active both in the countryside and in the urban environments of Greece. Founded in 2012, it is a member of SETE and the European
Ducky Madness – An Adventure Down Pine Creek
Ducky Madness – An Adventure Down Pine Creek by Monica Nigon in Rafting Magazine A ducky is perhaps the most absurd of whitewater crafts. Elitists might call it an inflatable kayak, but I find it more akin to a high-buoyancy bathtub. It combines the best qualities of a raft and the best qualities of a
