Education · 1 of 5

The path

Certifications, not degrees. You build them one at a time while you work seasons.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Get outside constantly on your own time. Employers hire on personal experience first: days on rivers, in the backcountry, on rock.

2. 2

   First aid and one discipline certification

   2 to 6 months

   Wilderness first aid plus an entry certification in paddling, climbing or hiking. This is the minimum to be hired.

3. 3

   First seasons as an assistant

   1 to 3 seasons

   Raft guide, hiking guide, camp and lodge work. You are learning groups, weather and how far you can push people.

4. 4

   Professional certification

   2 to 5 years

   Hiking guide, then alpine, rock or ski guide through the national guides association. Blended online, classroom and field training with field-based assessment.

5. 5

   Full mountain guide, if you go that far

   5+ years

   The top credential in Canada, combining alpine, rock and ski. Few people finish it, and those who do can work internationally.