ACA ACA Certification & Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the ACA's main instructor certification disciplines?
- Kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding only
- Kayaking, canoe, SUP, rafting, and adaptive paddling (Correct answer)
- Flatwater only — whitewater has a separate governing body
- Kayaking and canoeing only
Correct answer: Kayaking, canoe, SUP, rafting, and adaptive paddling
The ACA offers instructor certifications across kayaking, canoe, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), rafting, and adaptive paddling for individuals with disabilities.
Question 2: What is an ACA 'Competency Assessment' in the instructor certification process?
- A written exam about paddling history and ACA bylaws
- A practical on-water evaluation where the candidate demonstrates paddling skills and teaching ability (Correct answer)
- A background check required for working with youth
- A peer review of an instructor's lesson plans
Correct answer: A practical on-water evaluation where the candidate demonstrates paddling skills and teaching ability
The Competency Assessment is a hands-on evaluation in which the instructor candidate demonstrates both paddling skills and the ability to teach those skills effectively.
Question 3: What does the ACA 'Level 4' kayaking instructor certification allow an instructor to teach?
- Beginner flatwater kayaking only
- Up to and including Class IV whitewater kayaking (Correct answer)
- Class V and VI extreme whitewater
- Ocean kayaking and sea kayaking expeditions
Correct answer: Up to and including Class IV whitewater kayaking
ACA Level 4 whitewater kayaking instructor certification qualifies instructors to teach on up to Class IV whitewater rivers.
Question 4: Under ACA standards, what must an instructor do if a student's medical condition could pose a risk during a paddle session?
- Immediately exclude the student and refund their fees
- Review the medical form, consult as needed, and make an informed inclusion/modification decision before the session (Correct answer)
- Ignore it unless the student volunteers the information during the session
- Require a doctor's note before allowing participation in any program
Correct answer: Review the medical form, consult as needed, and make an informed inclusion/modification decision before the session
Instructors must review participant medical information, consider any risks, and adapt the activity or consult medical professionals as appropriate before the session begins.
Question 5: What is the purpose of the ACA's 'incident reporting' system?
- To publicly shame instructors involved in accidents
- To collect safety data, identify trends, and improve paddling standards across the organization (Correct answer)
- To satisfy U.S. Coast Guard regulatory requirements
- To determine instructor liability in legal disputes
Correct answer: To collect safety data, identify trends, and improve paddling standards across the organization
ACA incident reporting provides aggregate safety data that helps the organization identify hazard patterns and continuously improve curricula and standards.
Question 6: What is the ACA's policy on instructor candidates with criminal backgrounds involving minors?
- Background checks are optional and left to individual clubs
- ACA requires background checks for instructors working with youth and may deny certification for disqualifying offenses (Correct answer)
- Only state governments, not the ACA, regulate this matter
- Criminal background is irrelevant to ACA certification
Correct answer: ACA requires background checks for instructors working with youth and may deny certification for disqualifying offenses
The ACA requires background checks for instructors working with youth and can disqualify candidates with relevant criminal histories to protect program participants.
ACA ACA Certification & Standards 2
What are the ACA's main instructor certification disciplines?