Become a Certified SUP Coach

PSUPA Flatwater Level 1 Certification Course

Gain the skills you need to teach classes confidently and safely. Our hybrid online/in person course emphasizes water safety, leadership, stroke technique, and rescue procedures, along with basics of running a SUP business.

Led by your CHESUPEAKE coaching team: Nicole Stimpson & Carleen Birnes

SPRING 2023

We restructured the PSUPA Flatwater Level 1 Certification Course into a hybrid model of self-paced online coursework and one-day in person water training.

Spring 2023 Certification Dates:
• Online course access opens 5/1
• Water practical 5/27. Rain date 5/28
• Online exam deadline 6/4

Location:
Eastern Shore, MD

Exact location announcing soon

Your certification is awarded upon completing the course. This includes passing all tests and achieving a satisfactory evaluation of your teaching, leadership skills and attention to safety. You will receive a PSUPA Certified Instructors Manual that covers everything covered in the course and more.

Curriculum:

Water safety - emergency preparedness and rescue techniques
Interpretation of weather and water conditions
On-water group management and communication
Leadership skills
Teaching concepts and techniques
How to teach the basic elements of stand up paddling
Approaches to teaching students of varying ages, abilities, skill levels, and limitations
Lesson formats and preparation
Methods of teaching basic paddling techniques
SUP gear and equipment overview
SUP Business - business models and procedures, including how to start a business, insurance requirements, marketing, pricing and hiring instructors. A SUP Business Manual is included with this add-on.

Certification Requirements:

Participants join PSUPA membership prior to attending the cert. Annual fee $85
Participants must have a current hands-on (ie., not online-based) First Aid/CPR certification or Wilderness First Aid or Lifeguard Training prior to water training.
Participants must take online exam after certification course. Test fee $40.
Participants must wear USCG approved buoyant PFD for water training.
Paddleboards are not included in the course fee. If you need to rent a board/paddle/leash contact Carleen at ches.sup.peake@gmail.com to arrange. Paddleboard package is $75 and will be delivered to certification site.

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations made prior to receiving the manual: Course refund minus $40 cancelation fee.
Cancellations made after course access is granted: 50% refund of course fee.
No refunds within 7 days of certification water training start date.