If you are new to the outdoors, start by participating in a wide range of outdoor activities. Explore te taiao through adventures with whānau and friends, or join guided experiences led by outdoor organisations, schools and clubs.

Continue to build your skills and confidence through hands-on outdoor adventures in more challenging environments.

From half-day skills sessions to National Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees, there are training courses that can give you what you need to thrive in the outdoors.

Once your skill level increases, if you are interested in outdoor instructing or guiding as a career, there are a number of different pathways to get there: tertiary study, club or volunteer experience, internships or on the job vocational training. This helps to build your leadership experience.

Once you’ve mastered the skills required in an outdoor environment, check out NZOIA’s range of qualifications. We recommend you check you are ready by attending a NZOIA pre-Assessment training course. When you are competent, sit an Assessment through one of the below pathways.

Keep learning and training through professional development and stay up to date with latest good practice.

• Grow your expertise by leading groups and collaborating with colleagues to exchange ideas, gather feedback, and continuously refine your practice
• Keep up to date with NZOIA’s weekly 4YA email
• Read articles in our Quarterly Magazine which is published 3 times a year
• Attend our annual NZOIA Symposium which offers a wide range of professional development and revalidation opportunities
• Extend your skills and competence to the next level. Being a model client on a higher level Assessment is a good way to extend your learning, as is attending a pre-assessment training course for the next level up. There are a number of other training providers that can help you gain more experience.

Every four years, revalidate your qualification to keep current and gain valuable professional development. This can be via a 1-day NZOIA Refresher Workshop or if eligible, through alternate revalidation options.

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Having a NZOIA qualification is an easy way for employers to know you are at a certain standard and the scope you can work in. NZOIA qualifications are externally moderated and show currency, which is valued by employers and adventurous activity auditors.

There is steady demand for skilled instructors and guides, especially those with NZOIA qualifications and interpersonal skills.

Many entry level roles involving working with school groups and running outdoor activities to give them a taster of the outdoors (i.e. camp), or entry level guiding in the tourism sector. Once you build up experience and gain some NZOIA 1 qualifications, your job opportunities and the scope you can work in increase. There are lots of opportunities across a wide variety of sectors such as adventure tourism, outdoor recreation and education, youth development, adventure therapy, and conservation.

If you are a NZOIA Member, log in and check out the Jobs Board for vacancies in the sector.