Hiking Guide Certification
Prerequisites
Students entering the Hiking Guide certificate program must be 19+ years of age and possess at minimum the following recreational hiking experience:
- 3 years of hiking experience in a variety of regions;
- 30 day hikes;
- 10 with a minimum 700m elevation gain/loss; and
- 10 requiring off-trail navigation and the use of navigation tools (map and compass or GPS)
- 20 tent-based backpacking trip nights.
Additional prerequisites include:
- A current wilderness first responder or advanced workplace first aid certificate.
Apprentice Hiking Guide Course and Exam
The Apprentice Hiking Guide course is a 9-day blended instruction and assessment course that introduces students to the preferred methods and best practices that are common to guiding and instructing clients in on-trail and off-trail hiking terrain in summer conditions. The first 4 days of the course are focussed on field-based training, with the subsequent 5 days based on practical assessment.
Students who successfully complete the Apprentice Hiking Guide course are eligible to become recognized as professional members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, under the Apprentice Hiking Guide designation.
Apprenticeship and Certificate Exam Prerequisites
Upon successful completion of the Apprentice Hiking Guide exam, students are expected to gain 1 - 3 years of industry experience under the guidance and supervision of certified guides or institutional supervision.
Detailed supervision requirements for Apprentice Hiking Guides are outlined in the ACMG Scope of Practice document.
Optional Winter Travel Certification
The Hiking Guide program optional Winter Travel certification is a 3-day blended instruction and assessment program that introduces Apprentice Hiking Guides and Hiking Guides to the preferred methods and best practices that are common to guiding clients, managing groups, and managing risk when guiding and instructing clients in on-trail and off-trail hiking terrain in winter conditions using ice cleats and snowshoes. The Winter Travel certification course curriculum and assessment process emphasize the following:
- Leading ice walks and ice cleat use;
- Snowshoe use;
- Ice hazards and frozen lake crossings;
- Winter interpretation;
- Snow shelters and winter camping;
- Avalanche terrain recognition and hazards; and
- Emergency shelters.
Students who successfully complete the Hiking Guide Winter Travel certification course are eligible to become recognized as professional members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, with the Winter Travel certification attached to their Apprentice Hiking Guide or Hiking Guide designation.
Optional Additional Training and Mentorship
The Training and Assessment Program offers an optional 3-day Hiking Guide mentorship and exam training course that is designed to support students in their competency development and preparation for the Hiking Guide certificate exam. The course is entirely field-based and includes mentorship, a review of current preferred methods and best practices, and several simulated guiding scenarios that are comparable to those of the Hiking Guide exam.
Hiking Guide Certificate Exam
The Hiking Guide certificate exam is a 6-day practical skills assessment that simulates a variety of on-trail and off-trail guided hiking and instructing scenarios. Throughout the exam, students’ leadership, technical systems, judgement, decision-making, application, navigation, movement and emergency response preparedness are assessed.
Students who successfully complete the Hiking Guide certificate exam are eligible to become recognized as professional members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, under the Hiking Guide designation.
Hiking Guide Bridge Course for Ski Guides
The Hiking Guide bridge course for Ski Guides simplifies the process for Apprentice Ski Guides and Ski Guides to cross-certify as Hiking Guides. The bridge course is a 4-day blended instruction and assessment program that introduces students to the preferred methods and best practices that are common to guiding and instructing clients in on-trail and off-trail hiking terrain in summer conditions. The first day of the course is focussed on field-based training, with the subsequent 3 days based on practical assessment.
Apprentice Ski Guides who successfully complete the bridge program are eligible to become recognized as professional members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, under the Apprentice Hiking Guide designation. Ski Guides who successfully complete the bridge program are eligible to become recognized as professional members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, under the Hiking Guide designation.
Apprentice Ski Guides who cross-certify as Apprentice Hiking Guides through the bridge program, are eligible to become recognized as professional members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, under the Hiking Guide designation without further Hiking specific training or assessment upon successful completion of the Ski Guide exam.
Application Information
Adventure tourism activities and the environments in which they occur are inherently dangerous. When preparing and training independently for ACMG Training and Assessment Program courses and exams, choose objectives that are within your abilities, experience level, and individual risk tolerance.
Application Notes:
- You will receive an automated email response when your application has been successfully submitted.
- You will be notified of the status of your application within 2 weeks of the application deadline.
- Do not apply until all prerequisites are met in full.
- Late applications will be subject to a $110 late applicant administration fee. Please contact the Training and Assessment Program office ([email protected]) to confirm course availability before submitting a late application.
To apply for entry in the Apprentice Hiking Guide course or Hiking Guide Bridge course for Ski Guides, complete the online Apprentice Hiking Guide Course Application Form or the Hiking Guide Bridge Course for Ski Guides Application Form and submit the following:
- An education and employment resumé;
- A personal experience vitae formatted using the AHG Personal Experience Vitae template, which demonstrates a minimum of 3 years of hiking experience in a variety of regions and includes:
- 30 day hikes;
- 10 with a minimum 700m elevation gain/loss;
- 10 requiring off-trail navigation and the use of navigation tools (map and compass or GPS); and
- 20 tent-based backpacking trip nights; and
- A current wilderness first responder or advanced workplace first aid certificate.
- If applying for the Hiking Guide Bridge course for Ski Guides, active professional ACMG membership with either an Apprentice Ski Guide or Ski Guide designation
To apply for enrolment in the Winter Travel Certification, complete the online Hiking Guide Winter Travel Certification Application Form and submit the following:
- Active professional ACMG membership with either a Apprentice Hiking Guide or Hiking Guide designation;
- An education and employment resumé;
- Attest to meeting the following personal experience prerequisites:
- 5 winter hikes; and
- 2 winter camping nights; and
- An Avalanche Skills Training (AST) 1 certificate or higher; and
- A current wilderness first responder or advanced workplace first aid certificate.
To apply for enrolment in the Hiking Guide Mentorship and Exam Training course, complete the online Hiking Guide Mentorship and Exam Training Course Application Form and submit the following:
- Active professional ACMG membership with an Apprentice Hiking Guide designation;
- An education and employment resumé; and
- A current wilderness first responder or advanced workplace first aid certificate.
To apply for enrolment in the Hiking Guide certificate exam, complete the online Hiking Guide Certificate Exam Application Form and submit the following:
- Active professional ACMG membership with an Apprentice Hiking Guide designation;
- A current wilderness first responder or advanced workplace first aid certificate;
- An education and employment resumé;
- Letter(s) formatted using the Apprentice Supervision Confirmation Template from your supervising guide(s) that confirm you have a minimum of 20 days of supervised work experience since successfully completing the Apprentice Hiking Guide exam;
- A personal experience vitae formatted using the HGE Personal Experience Vitae template, which includes 15 off-trail day hikes in terrain requiring the use of navigation tools, and 3 off-trail backpacking trips requiring camping at non-established sites, in either a recreational or professional capacity, since completion of the Apprentice Hiking Guide Exam; and
- A current wilderness first responder or advanced workplace first aid certificate.
Course Locations, Dates, Tuition and Deadlines
| Course Title | Location | Start Date | End Date | Tuition | Application Deadline | Payment Deadline |
| Winter Travel Certification | Banff, AB | 2025-11-28 | 2025-11-30 | $980.00 | 2025-10-15 | 2025-10-15 |
| Hiking Guide Mentorship and Exam Training | Canmore, AB | 2026-05-11 | 2026-05-13 | $1150.00 | 2026-03-15 | 2026-04-01 |
| Apprentice Hiking Guide Course | TBC | 2026-05-22 | 2026-05-30 | $3200.00 | 2026-01-15 | 2026-03-15 |
| Hiking Guide Exam | TBC | 2026-06-01 | 2026-06-06 | $2535.00 | 2025-03-01 | 2026-04-01 |
| Hiking Guide Bridge for Ski Guides Course | TBC | 2026-06-02 | 2026-06-05 | $1530.00 | 2026-01-15 | 2026-03-15 |
| Apprentice Hiking Guide Course | TBC | 2026-09-03 | 2026-09-11 | $3200.00 | 2026-06-01 | 2026-07-01 |
| Hiking Guide Exam | TBC | 2026-09-12 | 2026-09-17 | $2535.00 | 2026-06-01 | 2026-07-01 |