River Rafting Guide II

Exam content

The SOA Rafting Guide II exam lasts 8 to 9 hours. The following are tested in theory and practice:

• Rafting technique and navigation on WW IV
• Whitewater swimming
• Throw bag
• Rope work
• Rescues
• Theory

The detailed exam content is defined in the Requirements Profile River Rafting Guide 2 .

Required equipment 

Clothing:

• complete personal guide equipment
• Wetsuit or drysuit
• Whitewater shoes

Technical equipment:

• Water sports helmet EN 1385
• Buoyancy aid EN ISO 12402-6 (with rescue harness)
• 2 karabiners, 1 pulley
• Prusik loop for friction hitches
• personal waist-mounted throw bag
• Rescue knife
• Flip line (min. 4 m)
• Whistle

Miscellaneous:

• Small first aid kit
• Writing materials

Only wetsuits, jackets and shoes can be hired on site.

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 18
• Proof of experience*: at least 30 trips as River Rafting Guide 1 (or another qualification)
• Trained in all content according to the requirements profile
• First aid and BLS-AED-SRC complete courses or First Aid Level 1 IAS (IVR) (max. 2 years old)
• Valid river rescue course (WRT Rescue 3 or similar, max. 3 years old)
• Private accident insurance

Supporting documents

• Valid water rescue course (Rescue 3 course or equivalent, max. 3 years old)
• Proof of First Aid Level 1 IAS (IVR) (or separate first aid and BLS/AED), none older than 2 years
• Proof of experience: at least 30 trips as River Rafting Guide 1 (or an equivalent qualification)

Copies of the supporting documents can be sent to the course leader by email in advance or handed in on site on the day of the exam. SOA cards and certificates are only issued once all documents have been received.

Courses/exams are only considered passed once all documents have been submitted; certificates are issued only then. Missing documents (e.g. BLS/AED, first aid, logbooks) can be submitted up to 3 months after completing the course/exam – after that, any claim to certification of the training/exams/courses lapses. The same applies to any resits, which must also take place within 3 months of the exam date. For later certification, the training/exams/courses must be repeated in full. This rule applies from the 2024 course year onwards.

*Guides with professional experience abroad may instead provide proof of their professional experience (e.g. employer references, logbook).