Terms and conditions

IFGA TERMS AND CONDITIONS

By submitting your application to become International Field Guide (IFG) certified, you (referred to below as “you” or the “Candidate”) confirm that you accept and agree to these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”).

You will enter into a binding legal agreement with IFGA Limited (“IFGA”, “we”, “us”, “our”). Please ensure you read them carefully and do not hesitate to contact us for any questions about them before you complete your application.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO AMEND THESE TERMS AT ANY TIME. All amendments to these Terms will be posted online. Please make sure you check regularly to see if any amendments have been made.

SERVICES PROVIDED

IFGA strives to ensure that field guides are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and ethical framework necessary to deliver exceptional guided experiences in the natural world, benefiting both the guides, guests as well as the communities they serve. IFGA aims to establish a benchmark of excellence in the guiding profession, aiming to go beyond the conventional expectations of the industry through its certifications.

IFGA agrees to offer assessments to Candidates in order to obtain IFGA certification. 5 different IFGA Certifications are available for the Candidate, namely:

Guides;
Training Providers;
On-site Trainers;
Assessors; and
Lodges.

Please note, in order to qualify as a Candidate you must be over the age of 21 (twenty-one) years old.

IFGA reserves the right to make changes to the certification details as defined on our website and in any materials shared with you. We will do our utmost to keep the website updated on any changes made to the certification where possible.

INFORMATION REQUIRED

During the pre-assessment application you will be asked to provide the following information (depending on the type of certification you are wanting):

Legal name
Registration Number (if applicable)
Identification Number
Phone Number
Email Address
Date of Birth
Criminal history (as the case may be)
- You must supply a background (police) check at your own expense. Details on how to complete this process will be supplied prior to the assessment.
- You agree that your participation in an IFGA assessment is subject to the outcome of this check.
- As per the Certification Process clauses of these Terms, failure to disclose in advance any known criminal history is grounds for cancellation of your assessment.
Citizenship & country of residence

Personal Data and Data protection is handled in line with our Privacy Policy.

IFGA CERTIFICATION PROCESS

A) Guide Certification

You confirm that all information you provide during the pre-assessment application is complete and correct. You must immediately update IFGA if this information changes prior to your assessment. Failure to provide complete, accurate and truthful information on the pre-assessment application will be grounds for cancellation of your participation in the assessment.
2 IFGA examination cycles are offered each year, in December and June, by a certified Training Provider (the exact dates to be confirmed by the Training Provider).
The Guide Certification assessment tests your Guided Experience, Technique & Knowledge and is assessed as follows:
- Part 1: Theory (with a pass mark of 80%); and
- Part 2: Practical (testing guided experience, technique and knowledge), the outcome of which is graded from 1-100.
Below demonstrates your Certification Status depending on your graded score:
- 0-40: Statement of Results only, no certification received;
- 40-59: IFGA Trainee;
- 60-75: IFGA Guide;
- 76-85: IFGA Lead Guide; or
- 86-100: IFGA Pro Guide.
Specialisations:
- You accept that to be IFGA certified you must choose a specialisation to be certified on.
- Below are the available specialisations:
  - Vehicle Based Guiding
  - Trails Guiding
    - Trainee
    - Dangerous game
  - Birding
  - Diving
  - Assessor

B) Training Provider Certification

Student Training Providers can become IFGA Certified in order to offer IFGA certification to its participants/students.
To qualify as an IFGA Certified Training Provider the following requirements need to be met:
- R5 Million of the Training Provider’s revenue must come from donations dedicated to community development; and
- 80% of the training team must have IFGA Certified Pro Guide status (the highest status).
If you meet the requirements, you may apply to IFGA at any time to be certified and accept that IFGA reserves the right to verify that all requirements have been met prior to processing your request.

C) On-site Training Certification

On-site Training Certification is available for individuals who seek to train existing guides in the industry for their current guiding team.
In order to qualify for this certification, the individual must be an IFGA Certified Pro Guide and accept that IFGA reserves the right to verify such certification prior to processing the request.

D) Assessor Certification

To be obtained as per the Guide Certification process, under heading A, with “Assessor” being the chosen specialisation.

E) Lodge Certification

In order to obtain IFGA Lodge Certification, at least 60% of the guiding team at the Candidate lodge must have IFGA Certified Professional Guide status. If you (the Candidate Lodge) meet this requirement you may apply to IFGA at any time to be certified and accept that IFGA reserves the right to verify that this requirement has been met prior to processing the request.

IFGA REGISTER

You accept and grant permission for your name, IFGA certification(s), and photo to be added to the IFGA register and displayed on IFGA’s website for promotional and informational purposes. You acknowledge and accept that this register will list every guide with a valid certification, in order of score, and if you have multiple certifications, for different specialties, you will be on the register multiple times.

CERTIFICATION FEES

The cost of taking the IFGA assessment and receiving your IFGA Certification is free of charge, regardless of your Certification Status.
External costs may be applicable such as (but not limited to):
- Independent assessor fees;
- Delivery of your IFGA Certification certificate; and
- Training fees with certified Training Providers.

CANCELLATIONS

IFGA (and, as the case may be, IFGA certified Training Providers) reserves the right to cancel any certification assessment at any time due to any reason (force majeure or otherwise). In such cases, you will be permitted to take the next available assessment without undergoing the application process.
Where applicable and you choose to cancel your assessment (i.e., you are unable to or would not like to take the certification assessment), then you agree and accept that you must notify IFGA in writing and/or via telephone of the cancellation as soon as possible which can be no later than 24 hours before the assessment is to take place. Should you cancel 24 hours or more before the assessment you shall automatically be placed on the list for the next assessment date. However, should you cancel within 24 hours of the assessment, you shall be required to undergo the application process again.
Where applicable and you choose to discontinue the certification process, then you agree and accept that you must notify IFGA of your decision to discontinue in writing and/or via telephone.
Any additional external costs associated with the certification process remain non-fundable for all scenarios of cancellation.

PROGRAM MEDIA

By becoming IFGA accredited, you give us permission to take and/or use your image whether in photograph,video, or any other form of media (and including where the media was not produced or taken by IFGA, but rather made available to IFGA) (collectively referred to as “media”), in IFGA’s media publications and other promotional, commercial or marketing material, which may include, but is not limited to, the posting of such media on social media and/or IFGA’s website. In particular:

you acknowledge and agree that your image may be taken and/or shared by IFGA and/or other individuals with access to IFGA’s social media platforms.
you waive any right to inspect or approve of the media that may be used.
you waive any right to receive credit, royalties or other compensation arising from or related to the use of the media, as well as any other media or materials that you publish on social media or otherwise make available to IFGA.

COMPLAINTS

You should direct any in writing to feedback@ifga.pro where you will be requested to complete a complaint form. IFGA will not engage with complaints made by third parties unless explicitly directed in writing by you.

APPLICATION & GOVERNING LAW

English (UK) Law shall apply to this Agreement and the parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.