The ACCT certification standards are new and the credentialing of PVMs to implement this service has just begun. Challenge Towers is one of the first organizations to achieve this credential and will begin offering certification services immediately.

It will not be necessary for all facilitators to be certified. It is recommended that all programs have at least 1 staff person certified at a level deemed appropriate for the type of challenge course, size of program and population served.Challenge Towers Facilitator Certification requirements will reflect standards approved by the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT). ACCT standards will serve as the minimum base-line criteria for Challenge Towers Facilitator Certifications. Certification is a step towards professionalism. Certification will require documentation of training, program delivery and testing.Challenge Towers will offer full and site specific certifications. Full Certification is intended to have a high degree of transferability from course to course and program to program. Site-specific certification is intended for part-time, seasonal facilitators, or for facilitators who work exclusively for one program or at one specific site. We will work with program coordinators to identify and assess “site specific” as well as “staff specific” certification needs.Level I Full Certification Requirements- certification lasts 1 year
Level I Site Specific Certification Requirements- certification lasts 1 year
Level I Spotted Activity Only Certification Requirements- certification lasts 1 year
Level I High Only Certification Requirements- certification lasts 1 yearLevel II Full Certification Requirements- certification lasts 3 year
Level II Site Specific Certification Requirements- certification lasts 3 year
Level II Spotted Activity Only Certification Requirements- certification lasts 3 year
Level II High Only Certification Requirements- certification lasts 3 yearChallenge Course Manager Certification Requirements- certification lasts 5 yearTesting Sessions-
Below is a step by step process explaining how to get certified. You will need to submit TWO complete sets of all the materials listed below. One complete set will be kept at the BRLC office and will not be returned to you, the other with be given to the trainer and can be returned to you upon completion of your certification. Documents may be submitted as a hard copy or placed on a CD. Please submit all documentation in English when possible. If materials are not in English, it may be necessary to have a representative available for translation during the review process.First, the most important step for you is to start documenting the depth of your experience.  ACCT has developed a “Portfolio” for this purpose (see the attached template). This is the primary information we review to determine if an individual meets the requirements for certification at the various levels.Second, you need to fill out the application for training and testing. The application should be treated like a job application. Please inform your challenge course references that we will be calling to confirm your information. Third, a professional resume should be included. This insures we have a complete picture of your work history. Cost for this review will be $25. A check made payable to Blue Ridge Learning Centers, Inc. must be submitted with your application. This payment does not ensure your approval for certification and is non-refundable. All materials should be sent to:
Clint Stevens
Training Coordinator of Challenge Towers
162 Timberlakes Dr.
Todd, NC USAWhat does this mean for program managers?
We anticipate questions, concerns and confusion surrounding the certification process and requirements. We will use the short term to educate our clients about the certification process and requirements. We will work with program coordinators to identify and assess “site specific” as well as “staff specific” certification needs.The content of our training will remain the same consistent, high quality, technical programming and processing skills you have come to expect from Challenge Towers.What does this mean for facilitators?
Certification is a step towards professionalism. Certification will require documentation of training, program delivery and testing. Immediately, facilitators of all experience levels must go to http://www.acctinfo.org/ - this is the ACCT home page. Scroll down the page and you will see a link for “Sample Facilitator Log/Challenge Course Experience Portfolio.” This is an Excel Worksheet designed to record and document your experience. Copy this document and begin recollecting your past experience and record from this day forward every program, training and workshop you attend. The “Challenge Course Experience Portfolio” will be required for facilitators to certify and recertify at every levelHow will it work?
It will not be necessary for all facilitators to be certified. It is recommended that all programs have at least 1 staff person certified at a level deemed appropriate for the type of challenge course, size of program and population served. All training we provide is based on certification approved curriculum. The steps beyond training required to attain certification include testing (practical skills and written) and program delivery experience.What now?
Contact us to assess your program needs and identify appropriate certification requirements for your program. Anticipate staff recruitment needs and identify key qualifications for qualified challenge course facilitators. Plan and budget for full staff training and testing of key individuals to be certified.