Raft guide

Professional river guides often have additional advanced certifications such as International Rafting Federation-GTE, Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescue, White Water Rescue or Emergency Medical Technician.

The majority of raft guides are seasonal employees and work during the spring and summer months when rivers are flowing at their best levels.

On rapids where the potential risk of injury is high, it is the guides' responsibility to keep the raft from overturning and the passengers from falling overboard.

On multi-day trips it is common to have a center oar rig where clients do not paddle, and where gear is stored.

Bow guiding is usually only done over short stretches of whitewater that require a lot of maneuvering for safe passage.