Qualifications
Our Own Journey
Twenty-five years ago, the first qualification went into a folder. It covered a single activity, in a single environment, for a specific group of people. What it authorised was narrow. What it opened was not.
The qualifications that followed — across water and mountain, facilitation and first aid, emotional intelligence and environmental education — weren't accumulated for the sake of a list. Each one was a response to a question that couldn't be answered yet. How do you manage risk at height when the environment is unpredictable? How do you hold space for a group in crisis? How do you design a learning experience that works for the participant, not just the programme plan?
The Outside-In team brings that same approach to their own development. No two practitioners have identical backgrounds — that's deliberate. What they share is a commitment to being genuinely qualified for the work they do, and a habit of asking what they still need to learn. The qualifications page reflects the breadth of that: internationally recognised awards across outdoor adventure, water sports, emotional intelligence, safeguarding, and risk management. Not a credential wall — an indication of the level we hold ourselves to.
That level also shapes what we do beyond programmes. Co-founding HKOLA wasn't a departure from outdoor education — it was what you do when you believe standards matter and that the sector improves when the people in it share what they know.
Mountain & Climbing
Mountain Training Board
Covers all aspects of single and multi-pitch summer rock climbing and scrambling, including Tyrolean traverses, canyoning and coasteering. Allows the holder to act as a Technical Expert within an organisation.
Mountain Climbing Instructor Award
Mountain Training Board
Authorises the holder to take groups rock climbing, abseiling and bouldering on single-pitch crags and indoor walls. A technical foundation qualification for instructors working in climbing environments.
Rock Climbing Award
Mountain Training Board
The standard qualification for leading groups in mountain terrain where a rope is not required. Covers navigation, route planning, group management and the judgement to operate safely in upland environments.
Mountain Leader Award (Summer)
Sports Leaders UK (CCPR)
A nationally recognised Level 3 qualification for leading walking groups in lowland countryside. Covers day walk leadership, group care, overnight base camps and mobile expeditions.
Basic Expedition Leader Award
Paddlesports
British Canoe Awarding Body
A personal performance award assessing the ability to perform a range of manoeuvres and techniques in both kayak and canoe. Demonstrates technical competence on moving or sheltered water.
3★ Kayak & Canoe
British Canoe Awarding Body
Covers the key safety and rescue skills needed to operate paddlesport activities safely. Includes equipment knowledge, risk frameworks, contact and towing rescues, self-rescue and deep-water rescue techniques.
Canoe Safety
British Canoe Awarding Body
Qualifies the holder to plan, deliver and review progressive coaching sessions safely and effectively across paddlesport disciplines. Relevant to both kayak and canoe coaching, with endorsements available at assessment.
Level 2 Kayak Coach
British Canoe Awarding Body
Authorises the delivery of BCU Discipline Specific Awards, which develop personal paddling and decision-making skills across a full range of environments and craft: canoe, kayak, sea kayak, surf kayak, SUP, white water, slalom, touring and more.
Personal Performance Award Provider
British Canoe Awarding Body
Authorises the delivery of BCU Paddle Awards for beginners: Paddle Start, Paddle Discover and Paddle Explore. Supports first experiences on the water, building confidence and laying the foundation for a lifelong relationship with paddlesport.
Paddle Award Provider
Sailing
Royal Yachting Association
Qualifies the holder to drive small powered craft — RIBs, dories and sports boats — in coastal waters. Required for commercial operations including safety and patrol vessels, passenger launches and water activity supervision.
Level 2 Powerboat (Coastal)
Royal Yachting Association
Covers the skills required to operate as an escort or safety boat for fleets of dinghies, windsurfers or canoes during racing or training. Focused on judgement, positioning and effective rescue in a dynamic environment.
Safety Boat (Coastal)
Royal Yachting Association
Develops boat handling, seamanship, navigation and pilotage to the standard required to operate a planing powerboat safely in tidal coastal waters, by day and night and in more demanding conditions.
Advanced Powerboat
Royal Yachting Association
Authorises the holder to teach and assess the Level 2 Powerboat and Safety Boat courses. Requires demonstrated competence in both technical seamanship and the ability to deliver structured learning on the water.
Powerboat Instructor
Royal Yachting Association
Covers the operation of marine VHF radios: frequencies, distress and emergency procedures, medical assistance calls, ship-to-shore telephony, Digital Selective Calling and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.
VHF Short Range Certificate
Royal Yachting Association
Qualifies the holder to skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day. Covers navigation, pilotage, meteorology, rules of the road, yacht handling under sail and power, passage planning and emergency procedures.
Dayskipper (Practical & Theory)
Royal Yachting Association
An advanced shore-based course building on Dayskipper knowledge. Covers offshore navigation, meteorology, passage planning and collision regulations, preparing the candidate for offshore cruising and the Yachtmaster practical examination.
Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Theory (On-going)
Environmental Education
Leave No Trace
A personal performance award assessing the ability to perform a range of manoeuvres and techniques in both kayak and canoe. Demonstrates technical competence on moving or sheltered water.
Level 2 / Master Educator
John Muir Award
Covers the key safety and rescue skills needed to operate paddlesport activities safely. Includes equipment knowledge, risk frameworks, contact and towing rescues, self-rescue and deep-water rescue techniques.
Provider (Award being updated)
Forest Schools
Qualifies the holder to plan, deliver and review progressive coaching sessions safely and effectively across paddlesport disciplines. Relevant to both kayak and canoe coaching, with endorsements available at assessment.
Leader Level 3 (On-going)
Professional Practice
Institute of Outdoor Learning
Formal recognition of an outdoor learning practitioner’s approach, values, ethics and experience. Grounded in reflective practice and continuing professional development, and widely respected across the sector.
Accredited Practitioner
Institute of Outdoor Learning
Authorises the holder to mentor candidates working towards both the Registered Practitioner and Accredited Practitioner awards. Requires the ability to support structured professional reflection and evidence-building.
Mentor
Institute of Outdoor Learning
The IOL’s highest practitioner grade, awarded to established professionals with more than ten years’ experience who demonstrate clear evidence of influencing the wider field of outdoor learning beyond their immediate workplace.
Lead Practitioner (On-going)
Outdoor Learning Pedagogy
Forge Learning
Provides a grounded understanding of the benefits of outdoor and experiential learning, with practical skills in group management and facilitation beyond the classroom. Developed in partnership with CLOtC and IOL, and accredited by the IOL.
Learning Beyond the Classroom Level 3 (On-going)
Facilitation by Design / Chrysalists
An advanced programme in experiential learning design led by Professor Colin Beard. Covers design structures, sensory intelligence, scaffolding tools and the theory and practice of designing learning environments that work independently.
Learning Design Masterclass
Adventure Education Training
Develops the skills to lead reviews and facilitate group learning in experiential education settings. Covers active listening, questioning techniques, feedback and group dynamics, with practice drawn from outdoor and expedition contexts.
Reviewing & Facilitation
Pinnacles of Achievement
Outdoor-based training in facilitation and interpersonal skills. Covers communication, teamwork, problem-solving, decision-making, leadership and adaptability, with structured reflection on practical experience and application to real-world contexts.
Soft Skills
Outward Bound Trust
Foundational facilitation training covering programme planning, group dynamics, communication and safety. Participants practise facilitating group discussions, giving feedback and managing group dynamics in outdoor activity settings.
Soft Skills 1
Outward Bound Trust
Advanced facilitation training for complex outdoor programmes. Covers risk management, conflict resolution and group dynamics in high-perceived-risk situations including multi-day expeditions.
Soft Skills 2
Outward Bound Trust
Develops the skills to recognise and respond to challenging behaviour in outdoor settings. Covers de-escalation techniques, conflict resolution and crisis management, with practice embedded in real outdoor activity contexts.
Challenging Behaviour
First Aid
ProTrainings
Authorises the holder to teach and assess CPR, First Aid, Advanced First Aid and Bloodborne Pathogens courses, for both Healthcare Providers (BLS) and lay rescuers, across adult, child and infant protocols.
Instructor
Emergency Care & Safety Institute
Outside-In holds Education Center designation from the Emergency Care & Safety Institute, authorising the delivery of ECSI’s accredited first aid and safety training programmes.
Education Center
ESCI & Wilderness Medical Society
Authorises the delivery of a full range of first aid qualifications: Wilderness First Aid, Advanced First Aid, Standard First Aid, CPR and AED (adult, child and infant), Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, and Pathogens training.
Instructor
Singapore Contractors Association Ltd.
Qualifies the holder to inspect personal fall protection equipment to the legal standard required for work at height. Covers pre-use and annual inspection, equipment maintenance, storage and servicing.
Personal Fall Protection Equipment Inspector
Safeguarding
National Society for the Presentation of Cruelty to Children
Trains the holder in safer recruitment practices for organisations working with children and young people outside of formal education. Developed by child protection and HR safeguarding specialists.
Safer Recruitment for Those in Non-Education Settings
Introductory child protection qualification for sport and physical activity contexts. Covers the practitioner’s role in recognising abuse or harm, understanding responsibilities and knowing how to act when concerns arise.
Child Protection in Sport & Physical Activity
National Society for the Presentation of Cruelty to Children
Specialist safeguarding training focused on children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Covers identifying concerns, effective communication and creating a safe organisational culture.
Safeguarding Children & Young People with SEND
National Society for the Presentation of Cruelty to Children
High Speed Training
Qualification for those responsible for safeguarding standards and child protection within an organisation. Covers identifying concerns, appropriate responses, information sharing, staff training responsibilities and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of legislation and best practice.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (Level 3)
Emotional Intelligence
6seconds
Qualifies the holder to implement 6seconds’ Self-Science curriculum in educational settings. Covers classroom application, SEL communication and the holder’s own continuing EQ development.
EQ Educator
6seconds
Combines a personalised EQ assessment with hands-on instruction in emotional intelligence practice. Candidates learn to apply EQ principles in their own work and create the conditions for others to do the same, drawing on current neuroscience research.
EQ Practitioner
6seconds
Qualifies the holder to administer, interpret and debrief the 6seconds Emotional Intelligence Assessment, the world’s most widely used EQ assessment suite. Enables structured EQ development conversations backed by data.
EQ Assessor
6seconds
Advanced facilitation qualification integrating neuroscience, EQ and 6seconds’ methodology. Covers brain style and learning design, the neuroscience of change, hot cognition, and the tools required to design and deliver effective programmes.
EQ Advanced Trainer
6seconds
Develops expertise in 6seconds’ humanistic, brain-based methodology. Focuses on designing and delivering transformational programmes and applying current neuroscience to support lasting behavioural change in others.
EQ Advanced Practitioner
6seconds
The highest level of Six Seconds practitioner development. Participants complete a substantial project with a cohort of advanced practitioners, going deep into Six Seconds’ tools and methodology in a rigorous, collaborative environment.
EQ Masterclass Graduate
Coaching
Efficient Coach
Evidence-informed certification in coaching neurodivergent clients. Uses a strengths-based, affirming and holistic approach. Accredited through ICAHP, IPHM, CMA, CPD and NCCAP.
Neurodiversity Coach
Coaching qualification grounded in applied neuroscience. Develops the ability to understand what is happening neurologically for clients and to use that understanding to support lasting change.
Neuroscience Coach (On-going)
Efficient Coach
Additional
Grand National Archery Society / Archery GB
Entry-level instructor qualification for delivering introductory archery sessions. Trains the holder to run safe, engaging sessions for beginners in a club or activity centre setting.
Club Leader
British Fencing Association
Equips the holder to deliver introductory fencing sessions and swordplay games for diverse participant groups. Focused on physical literacy, inclusion and accessibility rather than competitive technique. Covers foam, plastic and metal equipment.
Core Coach (Club Leader)
Duke of Edinburgh
Authorises the holder to assess participants completing the Expedition section of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. Assessors uphold the programme’s standards and ensure the 20 expedition conditions are met.
Gold Assessor (To be renewed)
Viristar
Covers incident causation models, risk assessment, safety management practices, legal principles, and adventure activity standards. Provides a practical framework for preventing and mitigating incidents in outdoor programme delivery.
Risk Management for Outdoor Programs
Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department
Authorises the piloting of Small Unmanned Aircraft between 250g and 7kg in Hong Kong, including the A1 remit for SUAs under 250g. Demonstrates knowledge of aviation regulations, airspace and safe operating procedures.
A2 SUA Pilot
Personal Protection Training Services
Covers conflict resolution and physical intervention for frontline staff working in high-stress environments. Teaches de-escalation, prevention strategies and, where necessary, breakaway techniques. Designed to reduce the frequency and severity of aggressive incidents before they escalate.
Conflict Management & Legislation