Why Get IFGA Certified?
Whether you've been guiding for a few years or a few decades, IFGA certification provides a powerful pathway to advance your career and stand out in a competitive industry. Through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process, experienced guides are assessed against a globally relevant standard that reflects the qualities today’s lodges, employers, and guests value most.
An IFGA certification recognises how you apply your practical skills in the field. It highlights what makes you truly exceptional as a professional - from interpretive storytelling and situational awareness to authentic guest connection.
Developed in collaboration with key industry stakeholders, this certification acts as a modern benchmark for the sector, prioritising real-world guest experience over textbook knowledge. Earning your certification automatically places your score on the global industry leaderboard, making your talent instantly visible to employers looking for top guides. Combined with a tiered scorecard to showcase your unique strengths and absolutely no annual fees, IFGA gives you a powerful tool to build credibility, unlock new professional opportunities, and take control of your guiding journey.
Types of Certification
IFGA Certification comes in three levels for vehicle-based guiding: IFGA Guide, IFGA Advanced Guide, and IFGA Ambassador. The type of certification a guide is awarded depends on the cumulative grade they receive from a series of assessments covering guided experience, knowledge and technique. Certifications are also specific to a specialisation, such as Vehicle Guide or Trails Guide.
IFGA For Guides
As a working field guide, there are two key ways you can engage with IFGA: through membership and through certification. Becoming a member is your first step, giving you the tools to manage your career and prepare for your IFGA certification.
Free IFGA Membership
Take control of your professional journey.
Membership is instant and 100% free. Simply register on our app to access a powerful career-building ecosystem designed to help you advance your career, unlock new opportunities, and stand out to the industry's best lodges and employers. We charge zero joining, annual, or renewal fees - ensuring you have ongoing support without any financial barriers.
Here is what your free IFGA profile offers you as a working professional:
Stand Out on the Industry Leaderboard:
Take your professional profile to the next level. If you undergo an IFGA assessment, your score places you directly on a global leaderboard, allowing your skills and guiding standards to stand out instantly to lodges and employers looking for top talent.
While membership gives you the tools to manage your career day-to-day, certification is the internationally recognised standard earned by demonstrating your skills on the ground in an IFGA assessment. Read on below to find out exactly how the guide certification process works.
Expand Your Career Opportunities:
Take control of your career path. You can toggle your profile status to "Open to Private Guiding" or freelancing to unlock new independent guiding roles, while browsing active vacancies across the industry directly on the platform.
Fast-Track into Leadership:
Set your sights on management and senior roles. You can access and earn the specialized IFGA Head Guide Certificate directly through the platform, giving you a clear, structured path to advance within a guiding team.
Earn a Global Professional Designation:
Elevate your status worldwide. Scoring 60 or above in your assessment awards you the official right to use the professional designation of International Field Guide (IFG).
Seamlessly Transfer Your History (RPL):
We value your experience. Through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), we fully recognize your historical training, past experience, logged walking hours, and dangerous encounters done through registered providers, allowing you to step straight into the IFGA ecosystem without starting over.
Streamline Your Daily Administration:
Say goodbye to outdated paper logbooks and messy paperwork. Effortlessly log your walking hours, game drives, and species sightings digitally and in real-time right from your phone.
IFGA Vehicle Guide
Assesses the guest-facing and interpretive skills demonstrated during vehicle-based safaris – including storytelling, ecological knowledge, and the ability to engage guests across topics like mammals, botany, birding, and track & sign.
IFGA Foundational Trails Guide
A Foundational Trails Guide (second rifle) can accompany a Trails Guide (first rifle) on walking safaris in dangerous game areas. IFGA assessments focus on guest interaction, communication, support given to the lead guide, situational awareness, crisis management, sensitivity to the environment, and contribution to a safe, immersive experience.
IFGA Trails Guide
A Trails Guide can legally walk as the first rifle (country dependent) to conduct extended trails walks in dangerous game areas, and to actively follow and view potentially dangerous animals.
IFGA Wilderness Trails Guide
An IFGA Wilderness Trails Guide that conduct multiday backpack trails in dangerous game areas.
IFGA evaluates the behavioural, safety, leadership, and guest experience skills of experienced guides in high-pressure walking environments.
Specialisations
IFGA specialisations allow a guide to demonstrate their world-class knowledge and skills in a specific guiding area. These specialisations include vehicle, trail and dangerous game. Additional specialisations will be added in the future.
IFGA RPL Assessment
Practical Assessment
The IFGA practical assessment is divided into three categories: Guided Experience, Technique, and Knowledge, with each assessed separately.
This structure ensures a comprehensive evaluation of a guide's skills and abilities across all key areas.
*There are additional requirements to become certified depending on the specialisation you choose, such as a driving assessment. These are detailed below.
Grade: 40-59
IFGA Trainee Guide
Grade: 60-75
IFGA Guide
Grade: 76-85
IFGA Advanced Guide
Grade: 86-100
IFGA Ambassador
Requirements: IFGA Vehicle Guide RPL
During the application process, IFGA will determine if the listed requirements have been met in order to proceed to the RPL Assessment stage. Should any of the requirements be outstanding, IFGA will communicate further with the applicant.
Application form: Complete with CV and references
IFGA Driving Assessment: Minimum 2 drives
National Guiding Certificate: Required (country-specific)
Age: 21+
Requirements: IFGA Trails Guide RPL
Lead walks in areas with dangerous game. IFGA will determine if the listed requirements have been met in order to proceed to the RPL Assessment stage. Should any of the requirements be outstanding, IFGA will communicate further with the applicant.
Advanced Rifle Handling: Required
IFGA Graded Assessment: Required
Dangerous Game Encounters: 200* Required
Age: 21+
National Guiding Certificate (Walking): Required (country specific)
*In South Africa this includes elephant, rhino, buffalo and lion
Frequently Asked Questions
Existing, qualified guides can easily transition into the IFGA ecosystem through an IFGA assessment. The first step is to contact us using the form below so we can connect you with an accredited IFGA assessor in your region. Your assessor will verify that you meet the necessary baseline requirements, including age and national guiding credentials, before guiding you through the practical, in-person field evaluation. You will gain full access to the platform and your digital portfolio with zero ongoing annual fees.
How can I get a recognition of prior learning (RPL) to become an IFGA-certified guide?
While joining IFGA and using the digital platform is completely free, practical assessment fees are set independently by our accredited assessors. Because these costs vary depending on your geographic region and the nature of the multi-day field evaluation, please use the contact form below to get an accurate estimate from a local IFGA representative.
How much does an IFGA RPL Assessment cost?
Depending on your level of experience and qualification, as well as the number of specialisation requirements you have completed, an in-person assessment should take approximately 2-3 full days per candidate.
How long does it take to be assessed for IFGA RPL?
Your IFGA certification is valid for life - it never expires. Furthermore, because we are committed to keeping the industry genuinely accessible, you will never have to worry about annual renewal or membership fees to keep your credentials active. Once earned, your qualification and IFGA score remain permanent assets on your profile to continuously back your career.
How long does an IFGA certification last?
Vehicle-Based Guiding:
IFGA offers three vehicle-based guiding certification levels based on your graded performance: IFGA Guide (60-75%), IFGA Advanced Guide (76-85%), and IFGA Ambassador (86+). Each level is awarded based on the cumulative scores from assessments in areas such as guided experience, technique, and knowledge.
Trails Guiding:
IFGA offers 2 distinct Trails Guide certifications: IFGA Trails Guide and Wilderness Trails Guide. IFGA Trails Guide and Wilderness Trails Guide are not scored-based assessments but rather assessed on competency.
What are the different levels of IFGA certification?
Vehicle-Based Assessments:
IFGA assessments evaluate guides across three key areas: guided experience, technique, and knowledge. Each guide is graded on these areas, and their certification status is based on the overall score for vehicle-based guiding.
Trails Guide Assessments:
Assessments for IFGA Trails Guide and Wilderness Trails Guide are also required, and guides are evaluated on two broad categories: Safety and guided experience. IFGA Trails Guide and IFGA Wilderness Trails Guide are not scored-based assessments but rather assessed on competency.
How are IFGA RPL assessments structured?
Yes. You can be affiliated with, or be a member of, one or more associations.
Can I be an IFGA member and a FGASA member?
Yes. You can be affiliated with, or be a member of, one or more associations.
Can I be IFGA certified and FGASA certified?
How to Get Certified
Please fill in the form to enquire about recognition of prior learning to become an IFGA-certified guide.
Requirements: IFGA Wilderness Trails Guide
This is for guides who would like to become wilderness trail guides and lead multi-day backpack trails.
IFGA Trails Guide: required
Logged 2 Primitive Trails Privative Trails
Partake in one Wilderness multi-day trail
Lead one Wilderness multi-day trail under the supervision of an IFGA Wilderness Trails Guide Assessor.
Final Assessor signoff
