EXPEDITION GUIDE ACADEMY
Certification with EGA
The Expedition Guide Academy provides assessments on behalf of the Polar Tourism Guides Association (PTGA). The Polar Tourism Guides Association is an international standard and qualification organisation for whom the EGA is a PTGA Endorsed Training and Assessment Provider. Our instructors are accredited assessors and PTGA members.
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We offer two different assessment options; the Comprehensive PTGA Assessment and the Online Presentation Skills Assessment.
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To become a certified Polar Guide and achieve the PTGA Polar Guide status, you will need a minimum of any 5 Entry Level Polar Qualifications together with more than 60 days of logged experience. Please note that you will need to be a PTGA member and hold a current First Aid Certificate to do the assessments.
If you would like to know more about the PTGA and how the assessment process works, please visit their website here.
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At the EGA we are happy to let you know that we offer not only assessments in 5 Entry Level Polar Qualifications - we also offer appropriate and valid training to prepare you for those assessments. Please read more below.
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Comprehensive PTGA Assessment
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We offer a two-day assessment, covering core Polar Qualifications (PQs). This is Polar Tourism Guides Association (PTGA) assessment delivered by the Expedition Guide Academy. The assessment can only be done in conjunction with the Comprehensive Guide Course.
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We offer assessments in both Denmark and New Zealand.
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Assessment Content
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Pre-assessment contract and information
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Assessments
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Feedback sessions
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Post-assessment reports
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Feedback form
Language: English Proficient
Age: 18+
Previous experience: Required prerequisites for each PQ, PTGA membership & a current first-aid certificate.
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Who is the Assessment for?:
Seasoned guides already working on ships who would like to gain certification and for those new to the industry signed up for our Comprehensive Guide Course.
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Minimum: 4 participants
Maximum: 6 participants
Price: USD 989.00
Assessment Outline
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Polar Qualifications
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The two-day assessment covers the following Polar Qualifications (PQs):
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Before the above assessments with us, you will have to take the online assessment training with the PTGA for Communications for Polar Operations and Navigation Skills for Polar Operations. After doing the online training, you will have to set the online assessments in Navigation Skills for Polar Operations (element 1) and in all of the Communications for Polar Operations.
*Please note: Communications for Polar Operations, Navigation Skills for Polar Operations, and Working with Small Boats/ Zodiacs are all required prerequisites for the Driving Small Boats/ Zodiacs qualification. You'll also need a current first-aid certificate.
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Preparation
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When doing a PTGA assessment, please make sure that you are a member of the PTGA, that you have read and understood the PQ that you are being assessed in and that you feel well prepared and ready for the assessment. It is important to understand that all PTGA assessments are performance-based, meaning it is not a "participation-based" assessment. Finally, please make sure that you fulfil the required prerequisites for the PQ.
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Before you start your assessments with us, you will have to become a PTGA member. All PTGA assessment candidates need to hold a current First Aid Certificate before qualifications can be issued. There is a 3-months limitation period for supplying this to the PTGA after your last assessment day.
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Practical Information
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Accommodation
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We offer accommodation on-site at our training facility, at the EGA venue. You're more than welcome to organise your own accommodation and stay off-site but we do encourage candidates to stay on-site and engaged in the full immersive learning environment.
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Arrival and Departure
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If you aren't staying at EGA venue, please know that you will need to arrive early morning on assessment day 1, in time for the Pre-assessment Meeting. Departure will be the morning after the final day of assessments.
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Online - Presentation Skills for Polar Guides PTGA Assessment
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We are excited to offer a half-day assessment that covers the Polar Qualification (PQ); Presentation Skills for Polar Guides. This is a Polar Tourism Guides Association (PTGA) assessment delivered by the Expedition Guide Academy (EGA). The assessment can be done in conjunction with the Telling Compelling Stories Course or on its own. We highly recommend doing the assessment in conjunction with the course, however, it is not a must. Are you already a guide with presenter experience, maybe this is an opportunity for you to get a PTGA Polar Qualification under your belt.
Participants on the Telling Compelling Stories Course will have priority when booking the assessment.
Please note that this assessment is online and can be done from anywhere in the world with a good internet connection. Participants should set aside enough time to cover all of the assessment content below. The presentation itself is required to be a minimum of 15 minutes, however, the assessment also consists of conversation and questioning.
Assessment Content
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Pre-assessment contract and information
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Assessment
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Feedback session
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Post-assessment report
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Feedback form
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Assessment Outline
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Polar Qualifications
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This online assessment covers the following Polar Qualifications (PQ):
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All PTGA assessment candidates need to be PTGA members before qualifications can be issued.
Language: English Proficient
Age: 18+
Previous experience: Required prerequisites for each PQ & PTGA membership
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Who is the Assessment for?:
Seasoned guides already working on ships who would like to gain certification and for those new to the industry signed up for our Telling Compelling Stories Course.
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Ratio: 1:1
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Price: TBC
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Practical Information
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Booking your Online Assessment with the EGA
Please note that your assessment will be arranged with the EGA directly. If you wish to book this online assessment please, contact us to schedule a time. If you are a participant in the Presentation Skills & Story Telling Course, please note that you will still have to contact us to schedule a time for your assessment.
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Online Assessment
In an effort to accommodate you all, we are offering this assessment, so that you can get assessed no matter where in the world you are. We will do our very best to accommodate your wished time for the assessment, however, if we can't seem to meet your time frame, we will make sure to pass you on to someone who can.
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Preparation
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When doing a PTGA assessment, please make sure that you are a member of the PTGA, that you have read and understood the PQ that you are being assessed in and that you feel well prepared and ready for the assessment. It is important to understand that all PTGA assessments are performance-based, meaning it is not a "participation-based" assessment. Finally, please make sure that you fulfil the required prerequisites for the PQ.
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