The FGASA Rifle Handling Certificates although separate from the Back-up / Lead and Advanced Trails Guide qualifications is directly linked and both certificates expire on the date the ARH expires (every two years).  Thus if your ARH competence has not been renewed it means that your Back-up, Trails or Advanced Trails Guide Certificate is not valid.

Guides who carry rifles.

Any guide who conducts walking trails in dangerous game areas and carries a rifle (most lodges in Big 5 areas require this) this guide will have to have attained the relevant SASSETA and the FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling Certificate.  Companies who require that the employed guides carry rifles to conduct walks in dangerous game areas must ensure that their guides have attained the FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling Certificates.

Companies who insist on their guides carrying rifles to conduct walks in dangerous game areas without having attained the FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling Certificate and/or renewing an expired certificate do so at their own risk without the support of the Association.

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The FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling Certificate is aimed at the nature guide who carries a rifle while operating in dangerous game areas, as a back-up trails guide or a trails guide (Lead guide). The guide is responsible for the overall safety of the group and functions as either the back-up or the lead trails guide on walks in dangerous game areas.

This process of assessment for this certificate is designed to ensure that the guide is equipped to deal with emergencies under guiding conditions, and that the correct muscle memory is fixed for the sake of safety and survival. 

To assess learners on:

• Their practical, heavy-calibre rifle handling and shooting skills on a basic and advanced level.
• Their competence in safely handling and maintaining a heavy calibre rifle in such a way that a charging dangerous animal will be stopped at short distance, should such a situation arise.
• The safe handling and maintenance of a firearm in accordance with laid down legislation, rules, procedures and conditions.

The FGASA Advanced rifle handling assessments consist of a number of static target shooting exercises and a simulated charge shooting exercise with the appropriate calibre rifle. 

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Before any Back-up or Trails guide practical assessment takes place you must have already attained the legal Firearms Competency Certificate through an accredited SASSETA provider.

If you are making use of any firearm for guiding purposes you must also attain the “White Card” from the South African Police Services or at least have proof that you have applied for the card before you can work as a guide using a rifle belonging to the lodge (employer) supplied to you to carry out your job function.

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Remember that the FGASA Basic and Advanced Rifle Handling Certificates expire after a two year period and are renewable by going through another practical shooting assessment with a FGASA ARH assessor.