
BCAB Qualifications
Carefully constructed COURSES
BCAB Personal Performance, Leadership, Safety and Coaching Awards
We offer 13 different awards accredited by the British Canoeing Awarding Body (previously British Canoeing) awarding body, which fall into 4 distinct categories and take place on the spectacular Pembrokeshire Coast:.
Why take a British Canoeing Awarding Body Award?
Share Our Passion
The British Canoeing Awarding Body awards have been established to recognise an individual’s paddling ability in a range of oceanic environments, under various conditions and scenarios. Their carefully constructed courses are brilliantly designed to allow safe, engaging, empowering and enjoyable practical and theoretical learning experiences for students.

BCAB has been the number 1 awarding body for paddle sport activities in the UK for nearly half a century. They are accepted as the industry standard for paddling assessments, and are recognised and regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and Qualifications Wales. Their qualifications are mapped to the professional standards of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) aligned to coaching national standards.

What type of award should I go for?
BCAB Safety Awards may be classroom based or practical and offer invaluable tools to allow you to safely navigate a range of challenging scenarios at sea with self-reliance, responsive decision making and paddling proficiency.
BCAB Personal Performance Awards can be taken in preparation for BCAB Leadership & Coaching Awards or simply to mark your personal progress as you develop your paddling skills, working through a structured syllabus with meaningful goals and personalised feedback.
BCAB Leadership Awards are aimed at experienced, independent sea kayakers wanting to share their passion with others. Students work towards becoming dependable group leaders at sea. Outdoor instructors may also be interested in taking a Leadership Award to expand their range of qualifications.
BCAB Coaching Awards are designed for those whose core function is to coach paddlers, from beginners through to advanced level. Students work towards being able to plan, deliver and review progressive sessions safely, effectively and independently.