Introduction

Welcome to the WildlifeCampus Certificate Qualification in Game Ranging / Field Guiding.

This is the most comprehensive course of its kind offered anywhere in the world. This course is the best possible preparation you can undertake to begin a career as a Field Guide.

How It Works / Registration

This course functions as a normal traditional distance learning or correspondence course. Students are sent their course material by courier (or may collect it) and assignments are exchanged through the post.

Students may either download and fax back this
Registration Form
or
Register Here.
Registration is free of both cost and obligation.

The Qualification

The qualification achieved by completing this course is an Accredited Certificate in Game Ranging / Field Guiding, co-conferred by FGASA. Successful graduates will have their certificates posted to them, there is no graduation ceremony.

Certificate will only be issued to students who have paid their course fees in full, irrespective of whether they have completed the academic requirements.

In addition to being a FGASA Accredited Training Provider, we've been providing courses since the year 2000. Our courses are well recognized and accepted throughout the industry and we have hundreds of past graduates working at lodges and reserves all through Sub-Saharan Africa. Our courses will certainly be of great benefit and enhancement to your C.V.

Forms of Assessment

You are required to complete and send in five assignments, one assignment per Guide Book.

These assignments constitute the full assessment and testing requirements for the course. There are no final exams to complete.

In order gain the qualification, all assignments must be successfully completed with a passmark of 65% required. Should you not achieve the 65% requirement, you will be requested to re-submit the assignment. Successfully completed assignments will be returned with a marking memorandum.

Should your account be arrears, assignments received will not be marked or returned.

The Practical Component

This course does not include any practical component. Completing a separate practical course is not a compulsory aspect of becoming a field guide, but is highly recommended, especially for the career oriented guide.

We recommend for the practical course an organisation named Eco Training, who offer a wide variety of course options from their three training camps South Africa; in the Kruger, Karongwe and Selati Game reserves. Their course basically follows the same course curriculum, combining theory with practical.

Contact Eco Training directly for more information.


[Tel] 013 745 - 7777
enquiries@ecotraining.co.za
www.ecotraining.co.za

Should you wish to investigate alternative practical providers, please visit www.fieldguiding.com

FGASA / Accreditation

WildlifeCampus is a fully Endorsed and Accredited Trainer Provider through FGASA; we have enjoyed this status since 2001. This means that FGASA reviews our courses annually and are satisfied that graduates of our Field Guiding courses will have no problem in passing their theoretical assessments for FGASA Level 1, 2 and 3. However FGASA still require that applicants wanting to gain a FGASA qualification, join their association, write the theoretical examinations and be practically assessed.

FGASA is an accredited Training assessor with THETA (Tourism, Hospitality, Education and Sport Training Authority); however FGASA itself does not carry out training. This means that you can gain the required legal National qualification issued by THETA through FGASA.

The FGASA Level # 1 qualification has no barriers to entry. However in order to become eligible for their Level # 1 exams, you must hold Level # 1 and have one years' logged-guiding experience. You then have to have 2 additional years guiding experience in order to qualify for their Level # 3 exams.

The Certificate earned by completing the WildlifeCampus Field Guiding / Game Ranging Course does bear the FGASA logo, but does not provide the graduate with instant FGASA accreditation.

[Tel] (011) 782 - 8296
www.fgasa.org.za
new.members@fgasa.org.za

Recommended Reading

While this course contains all the information you need to successfully complete the course and course exams, what follows is a list of recommended reading. These texts are primarily suggested to assist you with the identification of mammals, mammal tracks, birds, insects and trees. You'll also find them invaluable when guiding.

Mammal Guide: Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa - Chris and Tilde Stuart.

Mammal Tracks Guide: A photographic guide to Tracks and Tracking in S.Africa - Liebenberg

Birding Guide: Newman's Birds of South Africa - Sappi

Insects: Insectlopedia - Holm

Tree Guide: How to identify trees in SA - van Wyk

Click here for a full list of recommended reading.

Duration of The Course

The course can easily be completed in twelve - eighteen months. The course consists of five Guide Books each with their own assignment.

Students who however have the opportunity to devote greater time and energy to the course are welcome to complete the course in as short a time as possible. Dedicated and motivated students will be able to complete the course within three to six months. Note that all fees must be paid.

The course must be completed within three years of commencing it. Should you find that you are unable to complete the course with the prescribed three years, your course duration may be extended at the discretion of WildlifeCampus, additional charges may apply.

Academic Support

Full Academic Support is included in the course fees. Students are welcome to contact WildlifeCampus:

Telephonically ⇒ 011 656 1601

Monday - Friday

08h00 - 17h00

By E-mail ⇒ info@wildlifecampus.com

Anytime

A qualified tutor will gladly assist you.

Entrance Requirements

None whatsoever, we have an open admission policy with no barriers to entry of any kind; anyone may register and begin any course at anytime irrespective of your age, prior qualifications or schooling.

The course has been designed so that no prior learning is required or assumed. A good command of English will be a definite advantage, although we do have thousands of students who are not English-first-language speakers.

Students under the age of 18 do require the consent of their parents or legal guardian.

How to Purchase

Debit Order or Direct Deposit / EFT
The simplest and easiest method of payment is by debit order. Follow the following steps to activate this facility:

1. Register: Use this Registration Form or Register Here online.
2. Sends us an E-mail or use the Contact Us page to tell us
   
   1. Your Name
   2. Which Course you'd like to purchase
   3. Over what period you'd prefer to pay for it, including a once-off purchase
   4. Which method of payment you'd prefer: Debit Order / EFT
   
   
3. We'll then send you a Debit Order form to complete or an Invoice with our banking details.

As soon as your deposit payment or full payment has been received your course material is immediately sent.

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Credit Card

1. Go to the Offline Course Purchase page to complete your registration and transaction securely.

As soon as your payment has been processed your course material is immediately sent.

Terms & Conditions

Assignments Policy

• Students are liable for all postal costs when Assignments are sent to WildlifeCampus.
• Should assignments be sent without sufficient postage attached the assignments will be returned unmarked.
• Should assignments be received for marking, but the student account is in arrears, the assignment will be retained and will remain unmarked and unreturned until the student account is up to date.
  

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Certificates Policy

• Certificates will only be issued to course graduates under the following conditions:
  • The course for which the Certificate has been earned will need to be completed in terms of all the academic requirements.
  • Certificates will only be issued for courses that have been fully paid for.

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Cancellation Policy

• Students may elect to cancel their offline course(s) at any time.
• A cancellation request must be submitted in writing, e-mail is acceptable if the e-mail is acknowledged by WildlifeCampus.
  
  Upon cancellation:
  • Students will be liable for all fees owing up to the date of cancellation, but not be liable for any future course or tuition fees.
  • Students will forfeit any course or tuition fees already paid. No refunds of any kind will be considered or returned.
  • Students will not receive any additional course material.
  • Students will no longer be eligible for any academic support.
  • Any course assignments received will neither be marked nor returned.