Outdoor Activity Instructor - Advanced - Sports Recreation & Exercise
This course provides learners with an opportunity to achieve up to five instructorship awards in canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, orienteering and trail cycling as well as the training required to become a mountain leader.
| Award Name | Level 6 Advanced Certificate (Level 6 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | QQI |
| NFQ Level | Level 6 NFQ |
| Award Name | |
| NFQ Classification | |
| Awarding Body | Irish Sailing Association |
| NFQ Level |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 6 Advanced Certificate (Level 6 NFQ) | Major | QQI | Level 6 NFQ |
| Irish Sailing Association |
Duration
48 weeks.
Entry Requirements
What are the entry requirements?
Minimum:
• You have a Level 5 award in a related area, NGB certifications, and/or relevant professional experience.
• Applicants must be 18+ years of age on entry to the course.
• Mature applicant route available for applicants aged 23+.
• Competent written and spoken English (CEFR B2 or Higher).
• Non-EU/EEA applicants must have permission to work in Ireland.
• You have completed Level 1 Kayak Instructor (essential), Rock Climbing Instructor Training (essential), and Mountain Skills (desirable).
(If you have any questions about completing these certifications please contact the Killorglin Campus on 066 9769244)
Additional
• High level of physical fitness is essential.
• Understanding of and sensitivity towards the natural environment.
• Demonstrate participation, membership or leadership in sporting and outdoor activities is an advantage but not essential.
• Excellent communication & interpersonal skills.
• Excellent numeracy skills.
• Basic computer skills.
• Positive, adaptable, self-motivated team player.
• Garda vetting is a requirement for this programme and participation is subject to a satisfactory outcome of the Garda vetting process.
Careers / Further progression
What are the progression opportunities?
When a learner finishes our Advanced Outdoor Activity Instructor course, they have a number of progression opportunities open to them.
Many of our learners choose to progress directly into the job market and have found employment in a range of roles such as activity instructor, tour guide, social care activity provider and many other areas of this varied and broad sector. This Outdoor Workforce Map gives you a good indication of the many areas of work one could access upon completion of the Advanced Outdoor Activity Instructor course.
Or a learner may choose to continue on their educational journey and pursue higher awards. The successful learner on this course is awarded a QQI level 6 Sports, Recreation and Exercise major award. The sector specific NGB qualifications listed above are embedded within this QQI award. Upon completion of this course learners can apply for entry into a number of outdoor recreation, outdoor learning and outdoor education degree courses.
Participants can also focus on the advancement of their outdoor instruction qualifications. You will have trained in open canoeing, sea-kayaking, orienteering, trail biking, hillwalking and rock climbing and there are opportunities to progress further through the National Governing Body (NGB) award frameworks in all of these disciplines:
• Open canoeing and Sea kayaking – Instructor & Coach Awards | Canoeing Ireland
• Cycling – Cycling Ireland | Instructor
• Mountaineering – Mountain Training | Mountaineering Ireland
If you complete a QQI major award with Kerry College, you may use your results to progress to third level (University, Technological University or Institute of Technology). You should check individual university websites for specific entry criteria for courses.
There is a separate section on the CAO application for applying using your QQI results from Kerry College in the same way you use your Leaving Certificate results. You may also apply under the QQI Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS). A limited number of places are available each year.
What are the employment opportunities?
Outdoor recreation is becoming more popular and with this popularity there is an increasing need for highly skilled Outdoor Instructors. These instructors are finding work in tourism, education, youth services and supports and in training provision to say but a few.
The outdoor sector is a broad and varied sector that allows for innovative ideas of what one can do as an outdoor instructor. This Outdoor Workforce Map will give you a snapshot of the multidisciplinary opportunities that are open to those of us who begin our training as outdoor instructors. Your imagination and ingenuity are the only limits to what you can do. So, whether you want to work with children in the outdoors or you want to be an expedition leader, your journey starts here.
Further information
Start Date: 07/09/2026.
Applications for all full-time programmes should be made online via the Kerry College. Your application will be processed using our FETCHCOURSES system.
If you haven't signed up for a FETCH account, you'll need to do this first. It's free and a one-time setup.
Why should I apply?
If you want to spend your time outdoors introducing others to the joy and adventure that Irelands environment has to offer, then you are in the right place.
This course is aimed at those individuals that have already gained some qualifications in the outdoors and want to further develop their instructorship and leadership skills. You will also explore the interpersonal skills for leading groups and environmental education knowledge to help connect the people you take outdoors to the environments that they are recreating in. Through engagement in a variety of sports as well as developing some theoretical knowledge to support those instructorships, the learner will develop the skills and knowledge to create a long and enjoyable career in the outdoors.
This course allows our learners to be flexible and innovative by equipping them with a broad range of awards across disciplines ensuring a sustainable career in the outdoors. You will be able to take on many different roles within organisations or to confidently setup your own business.
All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to participate on the course will be supplied and will become your own property on successful completion of the course. This includes hiking boots, rain gear, backpacks, wetsuits, cags, harnesses, helmets and climbing shoes amongst other equipment. In addition to this you will pay no fees whatsoever for the course!
This course is a path to explore the different educational and employment opportunities in the outdoor recreation sector.
What is the certification?
QQI Level 6 Major Award Certificate in Sports, Recreation & Exercise (6M5147).
What will I study?
• Open Canoeing Instruction (6N5349) - Including Canoeing Ireland Level 4 proficiency training and assessment and Level 2 instructor training and assessment
• Orienteering Instruction (6N5190) - Orienteering Ireland Orienteering Instructor Award
• Sea Kayaking Instruction (6N5193) - Including Canoeing Ireland Essential Coastal Navigation Course, Level 4 proficiency training and assessment and Level 2 instructor training and assessment
• Single Pitch Rock-climbing (6N5845) - Including Mountaineering Ireland Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) Assessment
• Sports Industry Practice (6N4650)
• Team Leadership (6N1948)
• Trail Cycle Leader Instruction Skills (6N4946) - Including Cycling Ireland Trail Cycle Leader training and assessment
• Work Experience (6N1947)
6M5147 - Sports, Recreation and Exercise.
Caragh Lake,
Killorglin,
County Kerry,
Ireland.
V93 EY00
t: (066) 9769244
e: outdoors@kerrycollege.ie
Mon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm