FGASA SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE QUALIFICATION

The FGASA Specialist Field Guide (Previously known as FGASA Level 3) is able to provide an advanced guided nature experience at a scientific level combining knowledge and experience while interpreting the features of the natural environment within the broader ecological context. The level of scientific understanding is distinguished from the FGASA Advanced Field Guide (NQF4) category predominantly on the depth of knowledge required on similar topics with further added active guiding experience.

The FGASA Specialist Field Guide Certificate consists of the following:

Compulsory components

• Conduct an advanced guided nature experience

• Conduct a guided biome experience

• Specialist Field Guide birding experience

• Research and design a guided experience at a prominent tourism site

• FGASA South African General Knowledge Certificate

• FGASA Guiding Tourism Management Certificate

• FGASA Guiding Conservation Management Certificate

You will have already completed some of these

FGASA certificates as electives while doing the

FGASA Advanced Field Guide (NQF4) qualification.

Those that you have already completed will be

recorded in the FGASA office on your file and will

be carried over to the FGASA Specialist Field Guide

qualification. Those not yet completed will need

to be submitted to the FGASA office for

assessment.

FGASA SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE QUALIFICATION

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FGASA SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE CERTIFICATE

At this level the Nature Guide:

• Is operating as a Field Guide in an advanced capacity as a Specialist Field Guide.

• May be operating as a competent guide in a number of different sites, regions and Biomes.

• Has a minimum of 2 years (520 days) practical active guiding experience logged and verified as a nature guide.

• Has the knowledge considered essential to register and legally conduct guided nature experiences as a FGASA Specialist Field Guide.

• Has been declared competent against the requirements of the FGASA Specialist Field Guide theoretical and practical assessment.

• Has a valid, up-to-date recognised First Aid certificate.

How do I get a FGASA Specialist Field Guide qualification?

Once you have attained a FGASA Advanced Field Guide (NQF4)

qualification, successfully completed all the required Specialist Field

Guide Workbook No.1, and logged 520 days of verified active

guiding experience in the FGASA Green Field Guide Logbook, you

will be eligible to apply to write the FGASA Specialist Field Guide

theory examination.

Once you have been declared theoretically competent by means of

the theory examination you will be eligible to be practically

assessed for the FGASA Specialist Field Guide Certificate in a guiding

area of your choice.

Workbook No. 1 Conduct a Specialist Guided Nature Experience

The following theory modules are included in this workbook:

• Life on Earth

• The diversity of life today (Workbook only – not included in the theory exam)

• How our world works

• How populations work

• Communities of life

• Interactions of life

• Life in fresh water

• Life in the oceans

• Life on land

FGASA SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE

THE SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE THEORY WORKBOOKS

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There is one theory examination of three hours’ duration that evaluates the following compulsory modules:

• Life on Earth







• Life on land

Entry requirements for the Specialist Field Guide practical assessment

You will be eligible to apply to be practically assessed for the FGASA Specialist Field Guide

Qualification once you have:

• Been verified as a currently paid-up member of the Association

• Logged a minimum of 2 years (520 days) of active guiding experience

• Your logbook has been verified and signed off by the FGASA office

• You have successfully completed Workbook No1 and No2

• Passed the FGASA Specialist Field Guide theory examination (75% = competent)

The practical assessment: The practical assessment for the FGASA Specialist Field Guide

qualification takes place while conducting guided experiences, consisting of hosting, game drives

and game walks, with FGASA assessors and clients over a three-day period.

The FGASA Specialist Field Guide practical evaluation includes the following aspects of assessment requirements:

• Identification and classification – Must be able to identify and classify the species that are observed during the practical evaluation

• Interpretation – Must be able to interpret the natural environment of the area of operation

• Discussion topics – must be able to discuss the topics from a number of viewpoints

THE SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE PRACTICAL EVALUATION

THE SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE THEORY EXAMINATION

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This practical evaluation includes:

• Identification of animal species

• Classification of animals

• Animal facts and behaviour interpretation

• Animal track and sign identification and interpretation

• Identification of plant species

• Plant information

• Geology and topography

• Weather and Climate

• Astronomy

• Ecology

• Area of guiding operation

• Ethics

• Client needs

• Discussion topics The practical assessment for the FGASA Specialist Field Guide certificate is carried out by a registered FGASA assessor in a guiding area of your choice. You will need to take the assessor on a guided nature experience with clients, over a three-day period. The practical assessment will be explained to you in detail by your assessor in the pre-assessment brief. The assessor will make sure that you know what you will be assessed on so that you may prepare yourself for this assessment. (Refer to the FGASA Specialist Field Guide Learner workbook for details.) Payment for your practical assessment is made directly to the assessor and does not come via the FGASA office. Once you have been declared competent for the FGASA Specialist Field Guide practical assessment you will have attained the FGASA Specialist Field Guide Qualification for the specific Biome(s) in which you have been assessed competent to guide in.

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What learning materials do I need for the Specialist Field Guide Certificate?

The following learning materials are compulsory:

The following book is compulsory for the:

• THEORY EXAM

• WORKBOOK No 1

The Story of Life and the Environment, an African perspective Van As, J. & du Preez, J & Brown, L & Smit, N. 2012. Struik Nature publishers. Cape Town The majority of the answers to the workbook questions are found in the relevant corresponding chapters in this book.

• Chapter 1 – Life on Earth

• Chapter 2 - The diversity of life today

• Chapter 3 – How our world works

• Chapter 4 – How populations work

• Chapter 5 – Communities of life

• Chapter 6 – Interactions of life

• Chapter 7 – Life in fresh water

• Chapter 8 – Life in the oceans

• Chapter 9 – Life on land

The following books are compulsory for Workbook No2:

• Managing tourism in South Africa by George, R. 2007. Oxford University Press, South Africa. Cape Town.

• The Guiding Skills Manual by Grant Hine. 2011. FGASA

• Introduction to South Africa – Researched and compiled by Jo Pearce, Printed by Energy guides

• The Story of Life and the Environment, an African perspective by Van As, J. & du Preez, J

& Brown, L & Smit, N. 2012. Struik Nature publishers. Cape Town

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To complete the module requirements for the FGASA Specialist Field Guide Certificate all of the

following compulsory Modules have to be successfully completed.

Compulsory components

1. Conduct an advanced guided nature experience

2. Conduct a guided biome experience

3. Conduct a Specialist Field Guide birding experience

4. Research and design a guided experience at a prominent tourism site

5. FGASA South African General Knowledge Certificate

6. FGASA Guiding Tourism Management Certificate

7. FGASA Guiding Conservation Management Certificate

This Module is assessed by means of:

▪ Workbook

▪ Theory examination

▪ Practical Assessment

The following aspects are included in the assessment of this module:

• Design an advanced guided nature experience

• Conduct an advanced guided nature experience

• Review own guiding performance

The following theory modules are included in this section:

• Life on Earth

• The diversity of life today







• Life on land

THE COMPULSORY MODULES FOR THE SPECIALIST CERTIFICATE

1. CONDUCT A SPECIALIST GUIDED NATURE EXPERIENCE

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The assessment for the Biome Module as part of the FGASA Specialist Field Guide Certificate

is by means of a workbook constituting a Portfolio of Evidence (POE).

The following aspects are included in the workbook assessment:

• Identify the geographical regions of a biome and associated vegetation types.

• Name, identify and describe the indicator animal and plant species in a biome.

• Explain the ecology of a biome and its various sub-divisions.

• Describe the geology, climate and

general weather patterns of a biome and

its geographical sub-regions

• Explain the protected natural areas of

interest within the biome.

• Design and plan various Nature tours

within the biome

This module consists of the following components: This module consists of the following components:

• The FGASA Birding Workbook

• The Specialist Field Guide Slide and Sound assessment

(Consisting of 100 slides and 100 sounds)

• Practical birding will be assessed in the FGASA Specialist

Field Guide Practical Assessment

TAKE NOTE: If you have already been declared competent for the elective; “Conduct a guided

birding experience” for the FGASA Advanced Field Guide qualification, then you do not have

to do the FGASA Specialist Field Guide Birding section.

3. SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE BIRDING EXPERIENCE

2. CONDUCT A GUIDED BIOME EXPERIENCE

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The assessment for the Research and Design Module as part of the FGASA Specialist Field Guide

Certificate is by means of a workbook constituting a Portfolio of Evidence (POE).


• Conduct and research a tour in preparation of a guided experience in a designated tourism site

• Develop an inventory for a selected site in support of the design of a guided experience

• Design a guided nature, culture or adventure experience for a designated tourism site

The assessment for the South African General Knowledge Module for the FGASA Specialist Field

Guide Certificate is by means of a workbook constituting a Portfolio of Evidence (POE).


1. The Geography and Geology of South Africa

2. South Africa’s Climate

3. Biomes and related species of South Africa

4. National Botanical Gardens

5. Flagship Species

6. Major Parks and Wilderness areas

7. South Africa Demographics

8. Health Care

9. Education

10. The Economy

4. RESEARCH AND DESIGN A GUIDED EXPERIENCE AT A PROMINENT TOURISM SITE

5. FGASA SOUTH AFRICAN GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CERTIFICATE

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11. South Africa’s Transport

12. Tourism and Attractions and SA’s World Heritage Sites

13. Regional names in South Africa

14. The Constitution and Governance

15. Arts and Culture

16. South Africa’s National Symbols and Public Holidays

17. Laws and the administration of justice

18. History: SA – From Cave-age to the Nineteenth Century

19. History: The South African wars and Union

20. The Government of National Unity

21. South Africa’s Cultural Heritage: Languages

22. Religious practices in South Africa

23. The Diversity of South African Cultures

24. The Travel and Tourism Industry

25. Lighthouses and Shipwrecks

The assessment for the Guiding Tourism Management Module as part of the FGASA Specialist

Field Guide Certificate is by means of a workbook constituting a Portfolio of Evidence (POE).


1. Managing a tourist attraction

2. Managing accommodation for tourists

3. The Government and tourism

4. Managing a tourism business

5. Managing Human resources in tourism

6. Managing finances for tourism

7. Tourism business and the law

8. Marketing for tourism

9. Managing the impacts of tourism

10. Managing tourism responsibly

11 The future of tourism

6. FGASA GUIDING TOURISM MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE

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The assessment for the Guiding Conservation Management Module for the FGASA Specialist

Field Guide Certificate is by means of a workbook constituting a Portfolio of Evidence (POE).


1. Earth’s carrying capacity and prosperity

2. Earth as a life support system

3. Conservation and biodiversity

4. Conservation strategies

5. Conservation Legislation

ENTRY TO THE FGASA SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE QUALIFICATION AND PROCESS OF ATTAINING THE FGASA SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE CERTIFICATE

Have you attained the FGASA Advanced Field Guide (NQF4) qualification? (Previously known as FGASA Level 2) No

You will have to attain the FGASA Advanced Field Guide (NQF4) Qualification.

Yes

7. FGASA GUIDING CONSERVATION MANAGMENT CERTIFICATE

You will be eligible to write the FGASA Specialist Field Guide Theory examination. You will have to apply and pay to write the FGASA Specialist Field Guide Theory exam.

No

Submit your logbook to the FGASA office for approval and verification

Have you submitted your logbook with your recorded active guiding experience to the FGASA office for verification?

Yes

You will not be permitted to write the Specialist Field Guide theory examination until you have logged 520 days of active guiding experience

Do you have at least 520 days active guiding experience? This experience can be from anywhere however you must have conducted the guided experience yourself. (Not just participated)

No

Yes

You will need to complete the Specialist Field Guide Workbook No.1 as this prepares you for the examination

Have you completed the FGASA Specialist Field Guide Workbook No.1? The Workbook No1 prepares you for the Specialist Field Guide theory examination.

No

Yes

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Have you completed the workbooks for the following?

• Minimise and Manage Safety and Emergency incidents

• Conduct a guided Biome experience (Any Biome)

• Research and design a guided experience at a prominent tourism site

• FGASA South African General Knowledge Certificate

• FGASA Guiding Tourism Management

• FGASA Guiding Conservation Management These workbooks are contained in the FGASA Specialist Field Guide Study Guide and Workbook No2.

You will need to successfully complete all the required workbooks to be eligible for the Specialist Field Guide qualification. The Workbook (No2) needs to be submitted to your FGASA assessor for verification.

No

Yes

Have you completed the following FGASA Specialist Field Guide Birding assessments? • The Birding workbook (In Workbook No2)

• The Birding Slide and Sound assessment for the Specialist Field Guide

You will need to successfully complete the required Birding workbook, Slide & Sound exams and to be eligible for the Specialist Field Guide Qualification

No

YOU WILL BE AWARDED THE FGASA SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE CERTIFICATE

You are eligible to be practically assessed for the FGASA Specialist Field Guide qualification.

No

Have you been declared competent for the FGASA Specialist Field Guide practical assessment (Including the birding practical)?

You will have to prove competence and/or submit further evidence to your assessor for the FGASA Specialist Field Guide practical requirements

Have you submitted your completed FGASA Specialist Field Guide Workbooks No.1 and No.2 to your assessor for verification? No

You will have to submit your completed FGASA Specialist Field Guide workbooks (No1 & No2) to your assessor

No

You will have to submit further evidence to your assessor by means of the workbook No1 & No2

Have you been declared competent for the FGASA Specialist Field Guide WORKBOOKS (No1 & No2)?

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

You will have to pass the FGASA Specialist Field Guide theory examination

Have you passed the FGASA Specialist Field Guide Theory examination with 75%?

Yes

Yes

FGASA SPECIALIST FIELD GUIDE QUALIFICATION

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