Course Overview

Level 1 SUP Instructor (Enclosed Flat Water)

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Become a certified Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) Instructor qualified to teach and guide paddlers at inland / enclosed flat‑water environments.  This internationally recognised ASI qualification is the essential first step for anyone wanting to work professionally in the SUP industry.

You’ll be able to: teach SUP lessons, guide short SUP tours, manage SUP rentals

At:

  • inland waterways including rivers, lakes, lagoons, estuaries, canals

  • flat water with no swell/unbroken waves

  • no breaking waves

  • no more than 250 metres from shore

After completing the course, you can:

  • run safe, structured stand up paddling sessions

  • manage groups in the water

  • assess paddlers SUP ability and help them progress

Note:
If you are under 18 years old, an adult instructor must be close enough for direct supervision. You still count for making up student to instructor ratios.

With your ASI SUP Instructor qualification, you can work as a SUP instructor:

  • At SUP schools and outdoor centres

  • In tourism and adventure sport programs

  • At resorts, camps, and wellness retreats

  • As a freelance SUP coach

  • Running SUP fitness, SUP yoga, or guided paddles (with additional modules)

  • At your own SUP School.  Apply to become an ASI Accredited SUP School, allowing you to operate professionally under ASI’s global standards.

ASI qualifications are internationally recognised, giving you the freedom to work and travel.

This course covers all essential skills for teaching SUP on flat water, including:

Laws & regulations: that apply to conducting SUP lesson/tours

Risk management & safety: ASI guidelines that apply to instructors when supervising students, including identify and assess risks, strategies to minimise risk, conducting location and dynamic risk assessments, emergency response

Logistics planning: locations, equipment, back up, student types

Session planning: structuring paddling sessions, creating lesson plans, teaching progression, ASI SUP Wise programs, rentals

Group management: communication, positioning and client supervision

Technical skills: applying the ASI 5 phases of the paddling stroke criteria matrix to identify good and poor technique.  Video analysis and feedback of your own paddling technique conducted

Client assessment: identifying ability levels, common mistakes, correcting technique

Professional standards: duty of care, codes of conduct, and industry expectations

To enrol, you must meet:

  • Minimum age: 16 years

  • SUP experience: 100+ hours of paddling

  • SUP knowledge and skills: able to paddle with confidence, correct technique and safety equivalent to ASI SUP Wise Enclosed Flat Water level.

  • Paddle stroke ability: ASI foundation (moderate) level, 40 strokes /minute

  • SUP Wise Intensiv certificate: ASI’s essential SUP safety and knowledge course. This is a required prerequisite, but it can be completed at the same time as your Level 1 SUP Instructor training

Note: for SUP Wise Enclosed Flat Water, you only need to state on enrolment form you have these knowledge & skills.

Before you can be certified, you’ll need to complete the below:

Personal Paddling Ability: 
Demonstrate correct paddle stroke technique, at the ASI foundation level, minimum 40 strokes/min.

Knowledge: 
Complete multi-choice online tests.

Practical:
Complete 10 practical hours experience. 
Assisting in the delivery of SUP lessons, at an ASI accredited SUP school or other approved SUP school.   Submit logbook of hours and declaration signed by SUP school owner.

Submit Required Certificates:

Time to complete :  12 months

Workshop: Ideal for people who like to complete most of the course requirements at the workshop and interact with the trainer.

  • Face to face (in-person) training

  • Duration:  2 days

  • Complete most course requirements at the workshop - paddle stroke assessment, 1km paddle test

  • 2 hours practical experience signed off in workshop

Fasttrack:  Ideal for people who want practical training but can’t attend a longer workshop.

  • Combines online study with a short in‑person workshop

  • Includes 3 courses – L1 SUP Instructor, SUP Wise Intensiv, SUP Water Safety Rescue Award (additional course fees apply,  choose combined enrolment option)

  • Option of 2 courses if you already hold a rescue certificate.

  • Online study - work at your own pace

  • Duration In person workshop: 1 day (normally 3 days)

  • Online video submissions required:  paddle stroke, SUP Wise paddle skills, perform a rescue

  • 2 free video assessments

  • Some course requirements completed at workshop:
    -1km paddle test
    -SUP Rescue mission test

See course information:
– ASI SUP Water Safety Rescue Award
– SUP Wise Intensiv / Paddlers Card

Online Learning: Ideal for people who would like flexibility to complete their training.

  • Work at your own pace

  • Face to face (in-person) practical hours experience required

  • Video submissions of paddle stroke & 1 km paddle test

  • 2 free video assessments

Update: For instructors whose ASI certification has expired and need to regain the ASI certification.

  • Expired by no more than 4 years

  • Online course - work at your own pace

  • Video submission of paddle stroke

  • 2 free video assessments

  • Some course requirements waived
    -no requirement to complete practical hours experience and 1km paddle test
    -no requirement to do SUP Wise Intensiv course again

  • Welcome back with ASI’s discount fee!

Transfer: Obtain your ASI instructor certification by applying for recognition of your current non ASI instructor certificate.

  • Non ASI instructor certificate not expired by less than 12 months

  • Online course – work at your own pace

  • Video submission of paddle stroke, 1km paddle test

  • 2 free video assessments

  • Some course requirements waived - no requirement to complete practical hours

  • Retain your non ASI instructor certificate

  • Special fees apply if planning to work for an ASI Accredited School

All study options receive:

  • Access to Level 1 SUP Instructor (Enclosed Flat Water) online manual and assessments.

  • Downloadable logbook (for practical hours)

  • ASI membership for 12 months.

In addition at the workshop and fasttrack courses, you also receive a paper copy of:  

  • Level 1 SUP Instructor (Enclosed Flat Water)

  • Instructor logbook (for practical hours)

ASI’s E-learning Platform 
Provides access to training manuals, videos, reference materials and assessments, includes built-in language translation.

The following equipment and clothing is required to complete the training:

  • Flat water SUP board, paddle, coiled leash

  • SUP clothing suitable for paddling

In addition:  

  • Computer or mobile phone to access ASI e-learning platform 

  • Online options: Video camera or mobile phone to take video of practical skills

ASI Level 1 Stand Up Paddle Instructor (Enclosed Flat Water) Certificate
Valid for 12 months

ASI also issues education department approved training certificates. (excludes transfer/update course options).

Australia Only
ASI is an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and also issues the following certificate to students undertaking training in Australia.
Australian Department of Education. Registered Training Organisation RTO ID 91496
Statement of Attainment in Certificate III in Outdoor Leadership (SIS30619) 
for units of competency:


SISOSUP004 Lead stand up paddle boarding activities on inland flatwater. 
SISOSUP001 Paddle a stand up board on inland flatwater.
SISOFLD002 Minimise environmental impact.

 

Each year, ASI SUP Instructors renew their ASI SUP Instructor certificate.   
More about renewal requirements

  • Globally recognised SUP coaching qualifications

  • Industry‑leading safety and coaching standards

  • Flexible online and in‑person training

  • Clear career progression

  • Trusted by SUP schools worldwide

READ: 10 Reasons to Become an ASI Instructor

(1) Can I enrol in Level 1 SUP Instructor Course without enrolling in SUP Wise Intensiv course?
No.  You must enrol in the SUP Wise Intensiv course – it is a pre-requisite.
However, you can enrol in SUP Wise Intensive at the same time as the Level 1. 

(2) Do I need to complete the SUP Wise Intensiv course first?
No.   The SUP Wise Intensiv course can be completed alongside the Level 1 SUP Instructor course (in other words you can enrol in both courses at the same time).

(3) Do I have to enrol in the SUP Wise Intensiv course if I am an experienced paddler? 
Yes.
Starting the path to becoming a SUP instructor requires a solid foundation. While this course is not designed for instruction, it ensures that every instructor, regardless of their prior experience, possess a consistent level of base knowledge, aligned with ASI guidelines and techniques.  This comprehensive preparation equips aspiring SUP instructors to confidently undertake the ASI Level 1 SUP Instructors course.

(4) I completed ASI SUP Wise Intensiv in the past. Do I need to enrol in it again?
No.  We will accept your past ASI SUP Wise Intensiv certificate, that we have on file.

(5) Assessment Fees:  If you use up your free assessments, additional resubmissions are available for a small fee. Fees

MORE FAQ’s: click here

ASI’s unique modularised learning offers flexibility in what you enrol and pay for.

To gain your ASI Level 1 SUP Instructor qualification, the following 3 ASI courses are required:

  • ASI SUP Wise Intensiv

  • ASI SUP Water Safety Rescue Award

  • ASI Level 1 SUP Instructor (Enclosed Flat Water)

Enrol in all 3 courses at the same time by choosing the “Combined” enrolment option.

If you already hold an approved Rescue certificate, you only need to enrol in the following 2 ASI courses:

  • ASI SUP Wise Intensiv

  • ASI Level 1 SUP Instructor (Enclosed Flat Water)

If you have the ASI SUP Wise Intensiv certificate, you only need to enrol in the following 2 ASI courses:

  • ASI SUP Water Safety Rescue Award

  • ASI Level 1 SUP Instructor (Enclosed Flat Water)

Please note: you will need to enrol in these courses separately if a combined option isn’t available.  

Pre-Requisite: The ASI SUP Wise Intensiv course is a pre-requisite. You can, however, complete it concurrently (at the same time) with the Level 1 SUP Instructor course. Note that you will not have access to the Level 1 SUP Instructor course materials or workshops unless you have either completed or are enrolled in the SUP Wise Intensiv course.

Rescue Course: can be completed at any time within 12 months, but must be completed before your Level 1 SUP Instructor certificate is issued.

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