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Licensed Guide Program

The licensing of outdoor guides is regulated by the New York State Forest Rangers.

In general terms, a guide is a person, at least eighteen years of age, who offers services for hire, part or all of which includes directing, instructing or aiding another in fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, whitewater rafting and canoeing, or rock and ice climbing.

Individuals engaging in the business of guiding on all lands and waters of the state shall possess a license issued by the department. There are, however, some exceptions. They include persons operating or assisting upon a public vessel for hire (passenger carrying vessels), licensed by the United States Coast Guard or New York State while on the following waters:

  1. The Atlantic Ocean
  2. All other marine, coastal and tidal waters including:
    • The Hudson River up to the Troy Barrier Dam
    • The St. Lawrence River and the navigable portion of its tributaries
    • The Great Lakes and the navigable portion of their tributaries
    • Lake Champlain and the navigable portion of its tributaries
    • Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake and the navigable portion of their tributaries

The first step in obtaining a guides license is to submit to this office a completed application. This application package contains three sections:

  1. The application, including taxable income disclosure form and examination location sheet
  2. Physician's Statement of Physical Ability to Guide
  3. The Law and Rules and Regulations that govern outdoor guides

To receive an application package, contact your local DEC office or click above to download the necessary forms.

At the time of licensing and throughout the term of the license, applicants for a guides license must hold current certification in Community First Aid, CPR, and Community Water Safety through the American Red Cross or an acceptable equivalent. These certifications are not needed when applying to take the exam, but are required before a license will be issued.

Other requirements include the submission of the Physician's Statement of Physical Ability which must be completed on the department form and must also have the physician's original signature. The physician's statement is not needed to take the exam, but must be received prior to a license being issued and cannot be more than 30 days old when it is submitted to this office.

Hunting and fishing guide applicants must submit a copy of a current hunting and/or fishing sporting license.

Whitewater rafting/canoeing applicants must submit documentation of having completed five trips on each river they wish to be licensed. Rivers on which a guides license is required include: Black, Boreas, Cattaraugus, Indian/Hudson, Moose, Raquette, Salmon and Schroon.

Whitewater canoe/kayak applicants must hold current instructor status for whitewater canoeing and/or kayaking.

Rock and ice climbing applicants must submit a notarized climbing resume. This resume will be reviewed and must meet a minimum level of climbing experience as listed on the Rock and Ice Climbing Information Sheet. This information sheet is included as the last page of the Rules and Regulations section of the application package.

Licenses are valid for a period of five years from date of issue. The minimum fee for one category is $100 with an added fee of $20 for each additional category. When applying to take the exam, the applicant must submit a $25 non-refundable application fee, which is applied to the total cost of the license. Personal check or money orders only will be accepted. The remaining license fee is due at the time of licensing.

Approximately two months before a license is due to expire, a renewal application package will automatically be mailed to the license holder. It is the responsibility of the license holder to contact this office with any address changes in order for the renewal application to reach him/her.

Proof of current first aid and CPR are required to renew a license and must remain current throughout the term of the license. A new Physician's Statement must be submitted in addition to a valid hunting and/or fishing sporting license, if applicable. The license renewal fee is the same as the original license: $100 for one category; $20 for each additional category.

Licenses must be renewed within 30 days after the expiration date in order to avoid retesting.

Licensed guides who violate any provision of Environmental Conservation Law or related rules and regulations may have their license revoked by the department for up to one year.

Guide Examinations for 2008 are scheduled for:

  • February 16
  • April 12
  • May 31
  • September 13

For more information on how to become a NYS Licensed Guide, contact this office at 518-402-8838 or download the application forms above.