Paddle UK pathways
Paddle UK sea kayak awards & qualifications
Find the right route through personal performance awards, leadership, coaching and the supporting courses that sit around them.
Training and assessment are delivered by appropriately qualified providers, within their Paddle UK remit and in environments suitable for the course, group and conditions.
Personal performance
Develop your own sea kayaking
These awards help paddlers build and recognise personal skills, judgement and independence. They are not leadership qualifications.
Sea Kayak Award
Develop planning, boat handling, safety and decision-making for your own coastal paddling.
View Sea Kayak Award Broader coastal rangeCoastal Sea Kayak Award
Build greater control, safety awareness and judgement for more varied coastal paddling within the award remit.
View Coastal Award Advanced personal performanceAdvanced Sea Kayak Award
Refine personal performance and decision-making for advanced coastal environments appropriate to the award and conditions.
View Advanced AwardLeadership
Prepare to look after others at sea
Leadership qualifications involve responsibility for a group. Training develops the relevant skills and judgement; assessment is a separate decision against the current Paddle UK standard.
Sea Kayak Leader Training
Develop leadership, safety, rescue, planning and group-management skills within the Sea Kayak Leader remit.
Explore training AssessmentSea Kayak Leader Assessment
Formal assessment of the decisions and practical leadership needed to provide a safe, well-managed and enjoyable day.
Explore assessment Advanced trainingAdvanced Sea Kayak Leader Training
Focused preparation for experienced paddlers developing leadership in environments within the advanced award remit.
Explore advanced training Advanced assessmentAdvanced Sea Kayak Leader Assessment
Formal assessment delivered by an appropriately authorised provider in suitable conditions and locations.
Explore advanced assessmentCoaching
Develop how you help other paddlers learn
Coach pathways focus on planning, delivery, observation and useful intervention—not simply demonstrating personal paddling skill.
Sea Kayak Coach Training
Develop progressive, paddler-centred coaching for sea kayak sessions within the relevant coach award remit.
Explore coach training Advanced-water coachingSea Kayak Coach Advanced Water Training
Develop coaching practice for greater environmental and group complexity within the advanced-water remit.
Explore advanced coachingSupporting learning
Build the knowledge around the practical qualification
Some pathways require or benefit from additional navigation and first-aid training. Always check the current prerequisites for the qualification you are working towards.
Coastal Planning & Navigation Weekend
Four current Paddle UK eLearning modules, a live coastal-planning workshop and a coached day applying the plan on the Pembrokeshire coast.
View navigation course Hosted specialist courseRemote First Aid
Practical outdoor first aid delivered at the Academy by REAL First Aid, with course details, dates and booking together.
View Remote First AidTraining, assessment and prerequisites
Check the exact route before booking
- Training does not automatically include assessment
- Assessment requires the current experience and prerequisites
- Course environments depend on the syllabus, group and conditions
- Each provider works within the remit of their Paddle UK qualification and authorisation
Preparation
Need focused support first?
Private coaching can help you prepare for training or assessment, consolidate a particular skill or get an honest view of the most useful next step.
Need help choosing?
Tell Ant where you are and where you want to get to
Include your current experience, existing awards and goal. We will help you identify the appropriate pathway before you commit to a course.