This is a difficult question to answer, yet one we get asked all the time. The quick answer is that some National Governing Body (NGB) awards are more useful than others in that there are more jobs associated with them, but the type of instructing you wish to undertake will determine which is the most valuable to you, meaning there isn't really a simple answer to the question. Let's try to answer in more detail. The majority of people who become Activity Instructors can be loosely divided into three camps.
This is a popular way for people getting started in adventure industry. Often the bigger companies realise that they can struggle to get enough qualified applicants, so instead they are looking for people with potential. They will then train you up to meet the standard required to act as an instructor at their centres. Clearly people who do already have some qualifications may stand a better chance of gaining employment, but even if you have no previous experience, this type of instructing can still be within your reach.
Generally the types of activities associated with multi activity centres include open canoes and kayaks, climbing and abseiling, archery and rifle shooting, as well wide games, obstacle courses and outdoor pursuits as obscure as frisbee golf. Clearly you are not going to be applying form many jobs in the future where you will be boasting about how you are qualified to teach the wacky stuff, but if as part of your training you pick up some canoe or climbing qualifications, then these can certainly help you advance a career in outdoor activity instructing. Another great qualification that you will always get at a multi activity instructor, and should really do off your own back if you are serious about teaching outdoors, is first aid. There are different options, but something like the ITC Certificate in Outdoor First Aid is an HSE approved award.
More information about multi activity career training.
While it is possible to get recognised qualifications in a wide range of terra firma adventure activities, probably the most popular would be related to walking and climbing and come in the form of WGL (Walking Group Leader), ICA (Indoor Climbing Assistant), CWI (Climbing Wall Instructor), CWDI (Climbing Wall Development Instructor), RCI (Rock Climbing Instructor) and MCI (Mountaineering Climbing Instructor)
Many of these lead on to more advanced mountaineering courses, allowing you to teach people in progressively more hostile or challenging environments.
More information about climbing/mountaineering career training.
If you are happiest on the water then you should be thinking about canoeing, sailing or even windsurfing awards as the most valuable. Paddle UK offer a series of qualifications starting out with Paddlesport Instructor Award, while the Royal Yachting Association offer the Dinghy Instructor as their starter qualification. Windsurfing is actually very popular, especially if you are hoping to teach around the coast or even around the Mediterranean.
More information about Paddlesports and Sailing career training.
To get an idea of the full route from beginner climber through to professional mountaineer, take a look at our career guide to climbing, further down this page. This post is all about the Mountain Leader awards which come in two flavours - Summer and Winter. They follow on from Walking Group Leader and set you up on the start of a career leading small groups in mountainous terrain.
The Duke of Edinburgh scheme is well known to most people, but how many know about the expedition element of the award which requires small groups to make their way, unaided, across wild terrain, for up to four days and three nights of wild camping? To make sure each group successfully completes their expedition, we enter the secret world of the assessors - the people who shadow the candidates, often unseen, as they trek through the wilderness. Read our interview with Georgina and find out how you too can add expedition assessor to your outdoor instructor profile.
You probably went on a residential activity holiday when you were at school; most children do. Getting a job as one of those idolised instructors is actually easier than you may think. Hundreds of thousands of school kids every year means lots of centres and each one requires plenty of instructors. For young people, the wages are pretty good considering the alternatives, and when you factor in the training, experience and qualifications you can achieve in a single season... So how do you get involved? We discuss the different options for starting out, and offer some valuable inside tips on passing a selection weekend.
