IOL Accredited Bushcraft Courses
The IOL Bushcraft Competency Award, Certificate and Diploma are designed for instructors, leaders and teachers who want to demonstrate that they follow good practice and have a high level of safety and competency in a range of bushcraft skills.
Developed by members of the IOL Bushcraft Specialist Sector Group with a long-standing reputation for quality and innovation within the field of Bushcraft. Each award consists of:
- Essential knowledge and skills in Bushcraft.
- High-quality training, consolidated experience, assessment of competence, and certification by the IOL Awards Centre.
- Good practice when sharing bushcraft techniques with others – teaching tips and advice, site safety, sustainable practices, etc.
Providers of Bushcraft Competency Award (BCA) Training
- Suitable for instructors working in outdoor centres or schools and delivering bushcraft skills sessions.
- 5 Units - Edged tools (knives & saws); fire; water; tarp shelters & knots; campfire cooking.
The Bushcraft Competency Award training course is only available from IOL Organisational Members who have met the IOL Accredited Course criteria, agreed to follow the Bushcraft Professional Practice Group (PPG) guidelines for this course, and been approved by the Bushcraft PPG to deliver the course.
Providers of Bushcraft Competency Certificate (BCC) Training
- Suitable evidence of personal competence for teachers or instructors who plan and deliver progressive bushcraft learning experiences in their setting.
- 8 Units - Bow drill; water; debris shelters; edged tools (knives & saws); fire; tree identification; natural navigation, cordage.
The Bushcraft Competency Certificate training course is only available from IOL Organisational Members who have met the IOL Accredited Course criteria, agreed to follow the Bushcraft Specialist Sector Group (SSG) guidelines for this course, and been approved by the Bushcraft SSG to deliver the course.
Providers of Bushcraft Competency Diploma (BCD) Training
- Suitable for teachers or instructors to demonstrate a breadth of bushcraft knowledge and skills in any setting.
- 14 compulsory units and 2 from 4 optional units covering the principal areas within bushcraft.
- Participants must hold an IOL Bushcraft Competency Certificate prior to attending a Bushcraft Competency Diploma training course.
The Bushcraft Competency Diploma training course is only available from IOL Organisational Members who have met the IOL Accredited Course criteria, agreed to follow the Bushcraft Specialist Sector Group (SSG) guidelines for this course, and been approved by the Bushcraft SSG to deliver the course.
Providers of Bushcraft Competency Award, Certificate and Diploma Assessment Courses
- Skilled and knowledgeable bushcraft practitioners can book on an assessment course with a completed logbook of experience.
- Award, Certificate and Diploma assessment courses are arranged by IOL.
- Assessments are conducted by IOL Bushcraft Competency Assessors.
Bushcraft Competency Assessment Courses
Providers of the Bushcraft Skills Award
- An assessed award at RQF Level 2 / SCQF Level 5 covering practical and applied bushcraft skills and knowledge designed for pupils and other learners.
- Teachers/trainers delivering this award have technical competence in bushcraft and credible, relevant experience of planning, delivering and assessing learning typically over a minimum period of 3 years.
Providers of Bespoke Bushcraft Related CPD and Training Courses
- Bushcraft providers can apply to IOL to accredit Bushcraft courses of their own design.
- Courses can be of any duration and content but wherever the content is covered by an IOL Bushcraft unit the knowledge and skills must meet the requirements of the IOL Bushcraft Statement of Good Practice.
If you have any concerns about the quality of a course, please talk initially to the course staff and organisation. If there are still problems, please contact the IOL office.