The Professional Core program is reserved for tour guides who obtained their license before 2019. It provides material in four modules, allowing guides to be knowledgeable and resourceful, and learn how to communicate efficiently and effectively.
Internship: Guides must complete an internship with a certified trainer, who evaluates their field guiding performance in three parts: conversational skills, use of briefing/debriefing models, and demonstration of the T-O-R-E method. Preparation and tour knowledge are essential.
Assessment: There are 3 exams in the Professional Core program. Upon satisfactory completion of each chapter of the training course, with a minimum grade of 70 on each assessment, and satisfactory completion of the internship component, with a minimum of a satisfactory rating on the field experience evaluation, the guide will receive a certificate of completion.
Program Overview 85 Hours
| Module | Contact Hours | Class Sessions | Core Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module 1: Communication Skills and Techniques | 20 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: Communication and the Communication Process – Unit 2: Types of communication – verbal and nonverbal Conversational Skills – Unit 3: Listening Skills – Benefits of active listening – Unit 4: How to conquer nervousness |
| Module 2: Briefing and Debriefing | 20 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: Briefing Standards – Unit 2: All about briefing (importance, parts of Tour Briefing, etc) – Unit 3: Debriefing Standards |
| Module 3: The Thematic Interpretation Approach To Professional Guiding T-O-R-E Model | 26 hours | 3 hours | – Unit 1: Developing Thematic Interpretation themes and tour commentary using the T-O-R-E Model – Unit 2: Introduction to the T-O-R-E Model – Unit 3: Interpretive Props – Unit 4: Developing a thematic tour commentary using the T-O-R-E model – Putting it all together |
| Module 4: Field Experience/Delivery | 8 hours | 8 hours | – Unit 1: Communication – Unit 2: Briefing – Unit 3: TORE method/model |
Program Modality & Duration
- Delivery Mode: In-person face to face assessments
- Duration: Approximately 1 month
Assessment & Certification
Completion Requirements
- Full attendance of scheduled sessions
- Successful completion of all modules
Assessment Criteria
- Minimum passing score of 70% on each exam
Certifications Awarded
Participants who meet all requirements will receive:
- Certificate of Completion
Issued by BTB’s Elevate Training Institute