Kenai River Guide Academy

Kenai River Guide Academy

Welcome to the Kenai River Guide Academy^®

The Kenai River Guide Academy®—taught at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, along the banks of the Kenai River—is a 5-day course that is required for all fishing guides that plan to guide clients. Beginning in 2007, guides must pass the course in order to receive an Alaska Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation commercial operator permit to guide on the Kenai River. 

In January 2004, a group of organizations and agencies began working together to create a certification program for Kenai River fishing guides. The Alaska State Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR), Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Kenai River Professional Guides Association (KRPGA) and Kenai Peninsula College (KPC), a community campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage, collaborated in creating the Kenai River Guide Academy.

In early 2005, the Kenai River Working Group (KRWG) incorporated the Kenai River Guide Academy® program into their recommendations to DPOR for new State Park Regulations. Draft regulations were written and a public hearing was held in Soldotna in January 2006 to listen to comments about this program as well as other changes to Title 11. After the public comment period the regulations moved on to Lieutenant Governors Office for signature. The proposed regulations were signed by Lt. Governor Loren Leman and became effective March 14, 2006.

Find out when the next course is offered and how to register here.