Recognising Professionalism in Adventure and Experiential Practice
Explore how SA AIA designates professional adventure guides and experiential facilitators, and what it means to grow your career with professionalism, credibility, and competence.
Professional Designations
A professional designation is a formal recognition of competence, ethics, and professional standing in a sector.
At SA AIA, we grant designations to both:
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Adventure Tourist Guides registered with the Provincial Registrars under the Tourism Act
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Experiential Education Practitioners, including Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC), Outdoor Education, and Adventure-Based Learning (ABL) facilitators
Designations ensure the public, employers, and learners can trust in the skills and ethical conduct of those working in this space.
Adventure Tourist Guide Designations
An Adventure Tourist Guide in South Africa is a highly skilled and legally registered professional who is responsible for leading and facilitating safe, educational, and enriching adventure experiences for local and international tourists. This role involves a combination of technical expertise, specialized training, and an in-depth understanding of both the natural and cultural landscapes of the region. Find out more here.
1. Aspiring Adventure Tourist Guide An Aspiring Adventure Guide is someone who is at the beginning of their professional journey in the adventure tourism and guiding industry. They may be undergoing formal training, have completed short courses or industry-aligned skills programmes, but are not yet legally registered with their provincial authority as a tourist guide. While they may already have valuable practical experience or technical competence, they are still developing the full range of knowledge, legal compliance, and facilitation skills required to guide clients independently. This designation supports their transition toward legal and professional recognition by offering access to mentorship, resources, and a clear pathway to formal qualification and registration.
2. Certified Adventure Tourist Guide A Certified Adventure Guide has completed a recognised guiding qualification and is legally registered with the relevant Provincial Registrar in accordance with South Africa’s Tourism Act. These guides have met the foundational legal and safety requirements to operate in the adventure tourism guiding environment. Holding this designation means they are committed to upholding professional and ethical standards, while continuing to grow their technical skills, safety awareness, and group facilitation abilities. It affirms their status as recognised professionals, providing assurance to clients, employers, and the public.
3. Certified Professional Adventure Tourist Guide The Certified Professional Adventure Guide designation represents the highest level of recognition for guides in the SA AIA ecosystem. These professionals are not only legally registered and qualified — they are also actively engaged in continuous development, mentorship, and best-practice leadership in the sector. This designation recognises individuals who consistently demonstrate current competence, strong ethical practice, technical expertise, and a commitment to industry improvement. As a SAQA-registered designation, it will be recorded on the National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD), offering national-level recognition and trust. It is designed for those who are leading the way in adventure guiding as a credible and mature profession.
LOTC Practitioners Designations
LOTC Practitioners facilitate experiential learning using adventure-based and outdoor methodologies in educational, therapeutic, and developmental contexts. These professionals operate across a broad spectrum of environments—schools, youth programmes, ministry, corporate settings, NGOs, and more, and draw from fields such as outdoor education, experiential education, adventure-based learning (ABL), and environmental education. LOTC Practitioners may or may not be tourist guides, depending on the nature of their work. Their focus is not on tourism, but rather on learning outcomes, group development, and facilitating meaningful engagement through structured experience. LOTC Practitioners, if using adventure activities, are also highly technically trained.
SECTION CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT. CHECK BACK SOON!
SA AIA is currently finalising the designation pathway for LOTC Practitioners. This pathway will outline entry-level, intermediate, and advanced recognition options for practitioners facilitating learning in outdoor and experiential settings. It will cover: - Recognition of formal and non-formal training - Fieldwork competence requirements - CPD and professional development expectations - Ethical practice guidelines - Specialisation options (e.g. Outdoor Education, Adventure-Based Learning, Wilderness Therapy) This framework will help support skilled facilitators in being recognised for their competence, build credibility for their work, and align with national quality assurance frameworks.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
SA AIA is committed to recognising the value of both formal qualifications and workplace-acquired experience. Our RPL Policy enables practitioners to gain access to designations by demonstrating competence through a structured portfolio of evidence, even if they do not hold a formal qualification. There may be limitations to this specified through legislation (i.e. The Tourism Act).
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Professionalism doesn’t stop with a qualification. SA AIA requires and supports ongoing development through CPD activities to ensure that members remain competent, up to date, and aligned with the latest standards in the field. Designated members must complete at least 20 CPD points every three years (or otherwise determined by the specific designation). These can be earned through workshops, skills refreshers, mentoring, conference attendance, scope extensions, and more.
Becoming Designated
Professionalism doesn’t stop with a qualification. SA AIA requires and supports ongoing development through CPD activities to ensure that members remain competent, up to date, and aligned with the latest standards in the field. Generally, designated members must complete at least 20 CPD points every three years (or otherwise determined by the specific designation). These can be earned through workshops, skills refreshers, mentoring, conference attendance, scope extensions, and more.
Need Support?
Contact us at info@saaia.org.za for guidance on RPL, CPD, or to start your journey toward designation.
