Guide Training FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About the Forest Therapy Guide Certification Training

How much do the trainings cost?

The ANFT offers two distinct guide certification training tracks, with different prices:

Start In-Person Guide Certification Track

Tuition for the In-Person Guide Certification trainings is US $3,600.00
Students may opt to select a payment plan for tuition if full payment cannot be made upfront. Payment plans are for $720 per month over five months, $3,600.00 USD total, with the first payment of $720 serving as a deposit that will confirm your enrollment and reserve your space in the course.

The tuition fee‍ covers the tuition for both the 7-day in person part of the training and the 4 month online part of the training.

Transport, Accommodation and Food costs for 7-day in person are not included in the $3,600.00 tuition fee.

Start Online Guide Certification Track

This is a 2-part training as described below:

Part 1

Tuition for the 6-month online certification training is US $3,350.00
Students may opt to select a payment plan for tuition if full payment cannot be made upfront. Payment plans are for $560 per month over six months, $3,360.00 USD total, with the first payment of $560 serving as a deposit that will confirm your enrollment and reserve your space in the course

Part 2

The tuition for the four-day immersion is $495. It does not include travel, lodging or meals.  You will have two years from the completion of your core guide training to do the immersion.

Payment for the immersion is made only upon registration for the immersion. There is no payment for immersion necessary at the start of Part 1, 6 month online training j

Tuition figures are current as of most recent update on August 17th, 2023, and are subject to change.

Why should I take this training if I could take one of the shorter, cheaper, self-paced trainings, that also gets me certified?

The ANFT Guide certification training tracks are the most in-depth and comprehensive training globally.

Acquiring experience and knowledge takes time, and our thoughtfully structured approaches ensure you are fully supported throughout your journey, whether you choose to start your training in-person or online.

Unlike self-paced programs where you are on your own, our trainings are built around experiential hands-on training during our new in-person program, weekly live Zoom calls during the online trainings led by at least two expert trainers.
These sessions provide not only expert guidance but also an opportunity to connect with fellow participants, fostering a sense of community and shared learning.

This collaborative environment ensures that you are part of a network of guides who learn and grow together.

During your training, when you start guiding groups on your own, the training team is there to support you and debrief your walks with you and other students.

The learning experience is rich and profound giving you the necessary tools to guide safe and supportive walks and experiences for your clients with confidence and to a high level of excellence.

You will feel confident, competent, and at ease guiding the walks, because you have gone through an extensive and in-depth learning experience facilitated by a recognized company that has more than 10 years of experience and has trained almost 3000 guides in over 65 countries.

Are scholarships, financial aid, or work trade options available?

Guide Training Cohorts

In response to a growing number of students in need of financial support, ANFT has revamped the Financial Aid offering. In lieu of scholarships, ANFT is offering 10% tuition discount codes to anyone who attends our Training Walkthrough Calls and registers for the training within 2 weeks of attending the Training Walkthrough Call.

These calls are designed to provide an overview of the ANFT Guide Certification Training Certification programs and give students an opportunity to meet some of the trainers and learn more about the Forest Therapy Guide path. Visit anft.earth to register for the next call. After attending the call, you will receive an email with a discount code to enroll in the training programs.

Updated January 2024

If I want to start the training in-person do I have to live in the US?

The NEW Start In-Person training will be happening in different parts of the world including the USA and Canada in North America, in Europe and in the Asia Pacific Region.

This training starts with a 7-day in person experiential training followed by a 4-month online integration training with weekly live online sessions that you can join from anywhere in the world. You can find our current Start In-Person Trainings HERE.

If I want to start the training online do I also attend an in person program?

Yes. This is a two part training that starts with a 6-month online training and completes with a 4-day training immersion.

Part 1

6-month online training with weekly live online sessions.

Part 2

4-day in person immersion that happens in different parts of the world.

We currently offer 4-day immersions around the world. Our locations vary from year to year, depending on the availability of trainers, venues, and current travel conditions. You will have 2 years from completion of your 6-month training to attend an immersion. You can find our current offerings HERE.

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Updated January 2026

English is not my first language; do you offer training in other languages?

Yes. We currently offer training programs in English, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL). You do not need to be 100%  fluent in English, but we do recommend that you are comfortable enough with English that you can read written material, comprehend spoken english and speak relatively well.  If you have looked over our website and feel confident comprehending the information there, this may be a way for you to gauge if you will understand the information presented in the course.  If you are still unsure, please feel free to contact our office.

Updated January 2026

How do I enroll in training/which cohort is right for me?

1st – Decide if you are ready to register for the Forest Therapy Guide Certification Program

2nd – Decide if you want your training to Start In-person or Start online

If you choose to Start In-person:

Check the start in person trainings available HERE
Check dates and availability for the 7-day in person training
Check the 4-month online live session schedule fits your schedule and timezone

If all the above fit your schedule, enroll.

If you choose to Start Online

Check the Start online trainings available HERE
Check the 6-month online live session schedule fits your schedule and time zone

If all the above fit your schedule, enroll.

NOTE: For Part 2 of the Start Online training which is the 4-day Immersion you do not have to decide which one to attend right now.

How many hours should I plan on dedicating to my studies?

Start In-Person Training

7 Day Immersion

Full daily schedule from 8am to 6pm with a 2 hour lunch break. A couple of evening sessions may be included.

4 month online consolidation training

8 to 12 hours each week between live meetings (on Zoom, which are recorded in the event you miss them), online course work (such as reading, videos, quizzes), and field work in nature (practicing invitations, sit spot, and walks)

Start Online Training

Part 1 – 6 month online journey

Part 2 – 4 Day In-person immersion

Full daily schedule from 8am to 6pm with a 2 hour lunch break. A couple of evening sessions may be included.

Updated January 2026

Why do the trainings have different names? And why are the schedules not exactly the same?

All ANFT Guide certification trainings follow the same curriculum and yield the same level of certification.

Start In-Person First Trainings

The names of these trainings are the names of the locations and venues where the 7 Day in Person part of the training takes place.

Start Online First Trainings

Part 1: 6-month online

The online 6-month trainings all follow the same curriculum and the same content and scope of learning. The name of each cohort is just a name to identify the different groups and is not an indicator of a different content.

The schedules are all similar and yet differ in some aspects. You might notice that some of the groups have longer and maybe fewer calls and other groups have shorter but more calls. The training teams will cover the same content and learning experience in different ways.

Some training teams like to do shorter calls and allow some time to discuss the content in a different call, other training teams prefer to have longer calls and do the content and the discussion in the same call. Depending on what works with your learning style but also with your schedule, you can consider one or the other option.

Part 2: 4-Day In person training immersion

The names of the 4 day in-person immersions are names of the locations and venues where they take place.

In the Start In-Person First Guide certification training, am I required to complete the four month online consolidation training after the 7-Day in person training?

We are committed to the integrity of the practice. We’ve learned that every element of the training is essential for people to become fully confident, skillful and effective guides. This is true even for people who have had prior deep nature connection experience, leadership backgrounds, and so on. Your prior qualifications will be helpful, but our training is centered around The Way of the Guide, which is a different way of working that requires practice and dedication.

Therefore, the 4-month online consolidation training is required for certification. The initial 7-day in person part of your training will be an opportunity for experiential, hands-on training. The 4-month online will support the digestion, integration and consolidation of the training and offer ample time for you to practice your guiding within the learning environment of your cohort.

Updated January 2026

In the Start Online First Guide certification training, am I required to complete the 4-day immersion after I've completed the six-month core training program?

Therefore, the 4-day immersion is required for permanent certification. Through the six-month core program you will earn the provisional right to identify as an ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide. The provisional status will be removed after you complete the four-day immersion.

Updated January 2026

Do I have to be a hiker to apply? A naturalist? A therapist?

The only prerequisite for this training is a personal connection with nature, a willingness to deepen that connection, and the desire to guide others. Many of our applicants work in the wellness industry or are therapists, social workers, and teachers. However, none of these careers paths are necessary to train or become a great forest therapy guide.

How do the remotely guided walks work?

In the remotely guided walks, we invite trainees to go to a park, forest or whatever place they prefer. Some people choose their garden, backyard or balcony. Others that cannot go outside can still experience it from inside their houses. Trainees connect through their phones using earbuds. One of the trainers will guide the trainees remotely, but everybody experiences the walk in the place where they are. 

Do I have to attend all the calls? Are the calls live/recorded?

On the Online part of the guide certification training, all of the classes listed in the schedules are live and online.  The main content and Lab calls are recorded. If you miss them you can go back and watch.   We expect you to attend at least 8 out of 14 live main content sessions to get the most out of your training.

In an effort to hold a respectful container for all students: please plan on being present and participating during the live sessions. We understand that there are times people may need to miss some or part of some sessions, but it is expected that students participate in group discussions and even co-guide walks during the live sessions.

Do you offer Professional Development for Certified Guides?

ANFT wants to support you on your continued learning journey. We offer a few different Professional Development courses and you will also have an opportunity to join our Professional Guide Network.  The Professional Guide Network connects forest therapy, shinrin-yoku, and forest bathing guides and leaders from across the globe. Operated by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs, the network provides members with an international community for personal and professional development as guides. 

What Wilderness First Aid Course should I take?

Certification requires that you obtain a Wilderness First Aid certificate. This certification can be obtained from third-party organizations like NOLS, REI, Institute for Wild Med, etc. The class is typically a two-day event that costs $175-300 USD; online versions of the class may be less expensive. ANFT has negotiated with Institute for Wild Med to enable you to take a low-cost online training and you will have access to a discount code once your cohort begins.

Is a CPR/First Aid certification the same as Wilderness First Aid certification?

While these two certification programs are similar and have some overlap, there are distinct differences between the two. Most First Aid/CPR certification classes cover what to do while waiting for the arrival of EMS (Emergency Medical Services, i.e. the Fire Department, EMTs and/or paramedics), a Wilderness First Aid course specifically addresses patient needs in those situations or environments where EMS is not readily available or may be significantly delayed.

In a wilderness setting, there may be more responsibility placed on the first responders, i.e. those who are with the patient when they are discovered, or the incident occurs. It is for this reason that ANFT requires completion of a Wilderness First Aid course in order to become a certified Forest Therapy Guide.

How does ANFT address Land Acknowledgement?

During the learning journey we ask that students learn the history of the land and write a short introduction including the indigenous history of the place they’ll be guiding at.

Human Communities, Like Forests, Thrive On Diversity

The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs is committed to creating and sustaining a welcoming, equitable, and inclusive environment for new guides, participants and contributors from all cultures and backgrounds. We strive to be a place of belonging for all people interested in cultivating healthy relationships within human communities and the natural world.