The Institute of Tourist Guiding is a qualifications body. It
does not itself run training programmes. All Institute accredited
training programmes and qualifications in tourist guide/commentary
and heritage interpretation are area specific. The Institute
accredits courses submitted by training providers at:
- Educational Level 2: Fixed Route Commentary, Interpretation
& Presentation: such as cathedrals, churches, stately homes,
museums and galleries; and fixed route tours such as per open top
bus or river trips
- Educational Level 3: Flexible Route Commentary, Heritage
Interpretation & Presentation: such as walking tours within
city or town centres, countryside walks. This requires assessment
on both a walk and a given site of area-specific (local)
importance. A site may be a cathedral or a church or a stately home
or a museum/art gallery or whatever is most important to said
area.
- Educational Level 4 Blue Badge in Tourist Guiding: where apart
from area-specific in-depth knowledge, a course participant will be
trained in all aspects of guiding techniques: on site, such as
churches and/or cathedrals, stately homes, museums and/or art
galleries, whatever is of importance within the given area; on
foot, either in an urban environment, or in the countryside, or
even on the sea-shore; and on a moving vehicle. For
training/assessment purposes a coach has to be used. However it
should be remembered that many guides will take the visitor out in
a car, or sometimes on a bicycle, or a boat, or a balloon, or…
anything that moves, which modifies how one guides!
The Institute also accredits Endorsement courses for Members
and/or Associates.
The Institute carries an accredited assessors' database and from
time to time will hold a one-day workshop for assessors.
The Institute also carries an accredited practical trainers'
database and from time to time will offer the 4-day Part 1
induction course.
For details of the Trainers' Database contact the office.
For details about submissions for accreditation click here.
