Swiftwater Rescue ACA L4 Instructor Certification Workshop in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 — January 15-19, 2027
Swiftwater Rescue ACA L4 Instructor Certification Workshop in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 — January 15-19, 2027
This five-day ACA Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW) is an intensive and immersive program designed for guides and whitewater professionals seeking to achieve ACA instructor certification for Swiftwater Rescue. The American Canoe Association (ACA) is internationally recognized as the leading authority in paddlesports education, setting the benchmark for safety, technical proficiency, and instructional excellence.
This workshop offers participants a unique opportunity to advance their careers while refining their instructional techniques. It combines in-depth technical training, real-world teaching practice, and professional mentorship to prepare participants for the responsibilities of an ACA-certified instructor.
Program highlights include:
Comprehensive instruction in Rescue techniques, rescue strategies, and safety management.
Practical teaching experience with feedback from experienced ACA instructor trainers.
Rigorous preparation to meet the ACA’s high standards for certification.
Achieving ACA certification is a significant professional milestone that enhances credibility, broadens career opportunities, and equips participants to teach with confidence and authority. This workshop is an invaluable step for professionals looking to elevate their expertise and establish themselves as leaders in paddlesports education.
On Location! 🇨🇷 This is a unique opportunity to train in the warm waters of Costa Rica! 🇨🇷 Come down for this course, make it a vacation, and explore many of the great rivers that the country has to offer. Based in Turrialba, rivers such as the Pacuare, Pejibaye, and others are easily accessible day runs. Being one of several whitewater hubs in CR, Turrialba offers many amenities for international travelers as well as several local river companies which can help with trips and logistics if you wish to boat before or after this course.
Please contact the Instructor Trainer, Elisha McArthur, with any questions or to discuss the instructor path.
Offered in 2027:
January 15 - 19
An ACA instructor certification course consists of both an Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) and an Instructor Certification Exam (ICE).
By your participation in this course, it is assumed that you possess and can competently and comfortably demonstrate all of the skills and concepts listed on the Instructor Criteria and Sample Skills documents. This includes demonstrating paddling and rescue proficiency in your chosen river craft in Class III whitewater. An ICW is intended to refine these skills for demonstration quality and give you the tools and framework to effectively communicate these concepts to your students in a dynamic whitewater environment. It is required that students have participated in an ACA L4 SWR or equivalent course prior to attending this event. A pre-course questionnaire and study material will be assigned and due before the course. Please note that there is an additional $70 ACA Instructor Membership Fee.
Please contact CRI with any questions or for clarification!
Please review the Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC) and a basic gear list here.