The following qualifications have had changes made to them to be implemented in 2011.

Transcription

1 CHANGES TO VARIOUS FGASA QUALIFICATIONS The following qualifications have had changes made to them to be implemented in FGASA Level 1 Nature guide FGASA Level 2 Nature guide FGASA Back-up & Trails Guide FGASA Rifle handling certificates FGASA LEVEL 1 The FGASA Level 1 qualification is now an NQF2 Skills programme given that the NQF3 unit standard no longer exists on the NQF. The FGASA Level 1 qualification is made up of the following unit standards: Unit standard code Level Credit value SETA Unit standard Name THETA Create a Guided Experience for Customers THETA Conduct a guided nature in a limited Geographical area Assessment requirements FGASA level 1 (NQF2) Nature Site Guide Skills programme will be assessed by means of: Completed Workbook Must be submitted to the assessor The FGASA Level 1 Theory examination The FGASA Level 1 Practical assessment Changes to the endorsement by FGASA of a Level 1 Course offered by a provider The minimum Course length of a Level 1 course offered by a FGASA endorsed training provider will be set as of the 1 st July 2011 at 60 days (full-time). A FGASA endorsed Level 1 course will in future be made up of the following aspects: Theoretical and practical training time (face to face) = 41 days Other aspects of the programme = 18 days o Introduction and overview of the course o Practical Assessment preparation o Research Project /Assignment o Learner presentations

2 o Practical Assessment FGASA Special Training Provider examination (last day of course) = 1 day First Aid training is optional, but recommended, however this would add 3 days to the total. The 60 days is allocated to for the FGASA Level 1 course and does not include any time for other specialist courses (like birding, tracking, Trails Guide, etc). This time is purely allocated for the FGASA Level 1 Nature Guiding Qualification (NQF2). A course to obtain the FGASA level 1 qualification at present is not compulsory but is recommended. FGASA LEVEL 2 Rule pertaining to the eligibility to be assessed for the FGASA Level 2 (NQF4) Guiding qualification Changes to the eligibility to write the FGASA level 2 theory examinations will be implemented as of January Entry requirements for the Level 2 theory examination: The writing of the Level 2 theory examination is dependent on firstly, having attained a full FGASA Level 1 nature guiding qualification (both theory and practical competence), and secondly you must have logged a minimum of 1 year (260 days) of active guiding before you can apply to write the theory examination. You will be eligible to apply to write the theory examination FGASA Level 2 Nature Guide Qualification once you have: A full FGASA Level 1 (NQF2) guiding qualification Logged a minimum of 1 year (260 days) of active guiding Your logbook has been signed off by the FGASA office Been verified as a currently paid-up member of the Association Once you have passed the theory examination and thus conformed to the above criteria you will be eligible to be practically assessed. You will however only be awarded the new FGASA Level 2 Nature guiding qualification once you have conformed to all the new assessment criteria. (See below) New requirements and assessments for the FGASA Level 2 (NQF4) Nature Guiding qualification The new FGASA Level 2 (NQF4) qualification will be implemented in January 2011 with some significant changes to take into account in terms of the syllabus and the assessment process. In order to be awarded the FGASA Level 2 Nature Guiding qualification you must have been declared competent for all the components of this new qualification. (See below)

3 The new FGASA Level 2 qualification is made up of the following NQF4 unit standards: Unit standard code Level Credit value SETA THETA Care for customers Unit standard Name THETA Conduct a tourist guiding activity THETA Minimise and manage safety and emergency incidents THETA Conduct a guided nature Electives: THETA Conduct a guided biome THETA Conduct a guided birding THETA Research and design a guided at a prominent tourism site The unit standards that make up the FGASA Level 2 (NQF4) qualification are assessed by means of various methods in terms of theory, practical, Portfolio of Evidence workbooks and logged workplace. Unit standard title Care for customers Conduct a tourist guiding activity Conduct a guided nature Minimise and manage safety and emergency incidents Electives Must choose one Research and design a guided at a prominent tourism site Conduct a guided biome Conduct a guided birding Methods of Assessment Workbook submitted to the assessor The FGASA Level 2 Theory examination The FGASA Level 2 Practical assessment Evidence of 260 days active guiding (Logged) A workbook constituting a Portfolio of Evidence (POE) A workbook constituting a Portfolio of Evidence (POE) A workbook submitted to the assessor A slide and sound assessment for relevant birding area(s) A Practical birding assessment

4 TRAILS GUIDE QUALIFICATION Changes have been implemented with regards to the FGASA Dangerous Animal guiding qualifications. The dangerous Animal guiding qualifications now consist of: Back-up Trails Guide Trails Guide Advanced Trails Guide SKS(Dangerous Game) Summary of the Dangerous Game Qualifications [Excluding the SKS(DG) qualification] Dangerous Game Qualification Experience requirements Assessment requirements Back-up Trails Guide Any two of the Big 5 dangerous animals Assessment carried out in any reserve that has any two of the big 5 dangerous animals Trails Guide (Lead) Any two of the Big 5 dangerous animals Assessment carried out in any reserve that has any two of the big 5 dangerous animals [Species of Big 5 recorded on FGASA database] Advanced Trails Guide (Lead) Must have with all the different categories of dangerous animals. (This can be attained and logged on different reserves) No additional practical assessment after the guide had been assessed as a Trails Guide. If not previously assessed the assessment carried out will be on encounters with all categories of dangerous animals. (can take place in more than one reserve)

5 Summary of process to attain various FGASA dangerous Game qualifications: 1. Valid Advanced Rifle Handling qualification 2. Trails guide theory examination 3. Log 10 encounters (50 hours) on foot with qualified lead guide 4. Back-up Trails Guide practical assessment 5. Log 50 encounters (100 hours) on foot as back-up with qualified lead guide 6. Trails Guide (Lead) practical assessment 7. Awarded a. Trails Guide (Experience with less than all Big 5 categories) b. Advanced Trails Guide (Experience with all Big 5 categories) The minimum Course length of a Back-up/Trails Guide course offered by a FGASA endorsed training provider as of January 2011 will be set as a minimum of 22 days (full-time). FGASA RIFLE HANDLING QUALIFICATIONS Changes to the FGASA Rifle handling qualifications The FGASA Rifle handling qualifications now consist of: Basic rifle handling Advanced rifle handling SKS Advanced rifle handling The basic rifle handling certificate is for guides operating in dangerous game areas from a vehicle only. The Advanced rifle handling certificate is required of guides who operate as either a Back-up, Trails Guide and Advanced Trails Guide. The intermediate rifle handling certificate has been done away with as it was felt that the Back-up and the Lead guide need to be competent at the same level due to the nature of their role as a guide in dangerous game areas. The FGASA Rifle Handling qualification is now only valid for two years from date of issue and will require that a full assessment gets undertaken every two years. Details pertaining to changes to the relevant FGASA qualifications can be found in: The new Field Guides information book The relevant Learner Support packs The FGASA website