Electrofishing Certification

Each NRTG course includes free, lifetime admission. Enrol once – come back anytime.

Description

Backpack electrofishing is one of the most effective fish sampling methods in fisheries management and environmental assessments. The NRTG Electrofishing Certification Course is a 1.5-day online and field-based training program that teaches participants how to safely and effectively operate a backpack electrofishing unit.

NRTG is the leading provider of electrofishing training in Canada. Since 1994, NRTG staff have successfully trained more than 10,000 Canadian industry practitioners in the practice of safe and effective electrofishing. NRTG personnel are highly respected and recognized leaders in the delivery of backpack electrofishing certification training.

View Upcoming Electrofishing Courses →

Course Overview

This fisheries field training course includes:

Electrofishing theory & principles
Equipment operation & safety procedures
Backpack electrofishing techniques
Fish sampling and handling best practices
Water quality assessment & environmental impacts

Prerequisites

First aid requirements vary by province or country. Generally, a Level One first aid course with CPR is required. Please check with the appropriate WorkSafe or safety regulatory agency.

Note: First aid training may be completed before or after this program but must be completed before participating in actual electrofishing fieldwork.

Electrofishing Certification Flyer

Who attends?

The electrofishing certification in British Columbia and across Canada is ideal for:

Fisheries field technicians & biologists
Environmental consultants & resource workers
Individuals new to fisheries fieldwork
Graduates of natural resource programs

Electrofishing Certification in British Columbia & Beyond

This course is available across Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta, and other provinces. We offer:

Scheduled courses for individuals – Register online via our course schedule.
Custom group training – Available for organizations, community groups, and industry teams. Contact us for contract delivery options.

How do I attend?

This course is available for individual registration via our website schedule page, or on contract to organizations/community groups. Are interested in a contract delivery of this course? If so, please contact us.

What should I bring or supply?

Participants must supply:

Leak-free chest waders with non-slip soles (felt, cleated, or rubber-soled wading boots)
Field binder with waterproof paper
Appropriate field clothing
Bag lunch & refreshments

Please ensure your wading equipment is free of invasives and Whirling disease. More information is found here.

Why Choose NRTG’s Electrofishing Training?

Industry-Recognized Certification – NRTG is the leading provider of electrofishing certification in Canada, training over 10,000 industry professionals since 1994.
Hands-On Electrofishing Course – Learn backpack electrofishing techniques through field-based instruction.
Expert-Led Training – Taught by highly respected fisheries biologists and experienced trainers.
Comprehensive Safety Training – Understand electrofishing safety protocols and environmental compliance.
Lifetime Access – Enroll once, and return for free anytime!

Enroll Today!

Advance your fisheries management and aquatic fieldwork career with this essential electrofishing certification in Canada. Register today and become certified in electrofishing!

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the course offered?

We offer this course beginning in February in coastal regions and March in interior regions throughout North America. Please refer to our calendar page for course timing and locations.

Do I need to complete first aid training prior to taking this course?

First aid training may be obtained before or after this training program and should be in place prior to conducting electrofishing activities as a paid employee or worker.

What is an appropriate first aid training program?

Ensure first aid training is recognized and endorsed by WorkSafe agencies in North America. This one-day training program may be referred to by different titles, such as “Occupational First Aid” or “Standard First Aid”. Consult with your provincial or state WorkSafe authorities for more information.

Where can I purchase field gear?

You can purchase chestwaders from Canadian Tire, any flyfishing shop across Canada, Cabela’s, or industry suppliers such as Dynamic Aqua Supply (Surrey, BC), IRL Supplies (Prince George, BC), Winners Edge (Lillooet, BC), Surplus Herby’s (Williams Lake, Kamloops, Vernon BC), Forestry equipment suppliers across Canada and other outdoor equipment outfitters.

What is the best or most appropriate type of chestwaders?

First, always ensure your chestwaders don’t leak! You can do this easily by holding a flashlight (or your phone) in your waders in a dark room. Beams of light coming out in small pinholes might indicate a small hole. Patch using Aqua seal or Shoe Goo.

Neoprene chestwaders are appropriate for spring, fall and winter conditions but may be too warm for summer field work. Nylon chestwaders and Gore-Tex ® or breathable chestwaders are excellent choices for most seasons, where crew members wear warm layers (e.g., fleece, polypropylene) underneath during colder field conditions.

What is the best or most appropriate type of footwear for backpack electrofishing?

Felt soles can offer stable footing in most types of stream substrates but may be poor choices when working in areas of extensive clay stream bottoms or snowy banks. Felt soles will provide very poor traction on clay and snow will stick to and accumulate on felt-soled wading shoes. Wading shoes with cleats (aluminum or tungsten) will provide stable footing in a variety of substrates (gravels, cobbles, clay, large boulders) and are less likely to transfer invasive species from waterbody to waterbody.

Does the Electrofishing Certification expire?

No, there is no requirement to recertify your electrofishing certificate. If there is a significant pause in your electrofishing fieldwork (e.g., four years or more), we would recommend that you recertify with NRTG. Note: all NRTG courses include free, lifetime certification. Enroll once – come back anytime.

Does the backpack Electrofishing Certificate course also certify me to conduct boat electrofishing?

No. Boat electrofishing is entirely unique from backpack electrofishing and requires different skills, abilities and knowledge.

What is the process to upgrade my certificate from Crew Supervisor In-Training to Crew Supervisor?

Simply contact NRTG via phone or email and request your upgrade. Please provide us with the previous NRTG course date and location. We will issue you a free upgraded Certificate!

My previous Electrofishing certification is from Ontario. Do I need to recertify to practice electrofishing in BC?

Yes, as this is a WorkSafeBC requirement. To certify in BC, attend our Electrofishing Recertification course where you can attend both the online theory session and/or field session.

What do I do if I can’t finish the self-paced training in time?

This course requires that you finish the Electrofishing Certification Self-Paced Training at least 5 days before your Electrofishing Field Studies session. If you cannot complete the Self-Paced Training in that time, please contact NRTG.

Alternatively, you can wait for NRTG to automatically deregister you from the course and you can use the tuition fee held by NRTG to schedule another course, or defer your Field session registration to a future date when the Self-Paced Training will be successfully completed.

Recertification

NRTG’s ‘Electrofishing Certification’ course includes free, lifetime recertification with our “Electrofishing Recertification” course. To be eligible, prospective registrants for NRTG’s ‘Electrofishing Recertification’ course:

1. Have previously attended an NRTG ‘Electrofishing Certification’ course.
2. May only attend an NRTG ‘Electrofishing Recertification‘ course that has met its minimum (paid) registration total (typically 10 registrants, may vary by location).
3. Please note: NRTG will limit the number of free re-certification ‘seats’ to three for any one course delivery.

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Testimonials

“Darren’s level of experience is obvious and his professionalism as an instructor is top-notch. Amazing course.”

— Michael Richard, Biologist, Burnaby, B.C.

“Eric was a great instructor; very knowledgeable, helpful, respectful, and passionate about course content. Field component was very valuable, and brought together the whole course.”

— Dylan Begin, Biologist, Cranbrook, B.C.

“This course exceeded my expectations. By far the most informative and engaging course I have taken. Amazing instructor and course!”

— Stacy Boczulak, Biologist, Burnaby, B.C.

“Darren was simply put the best instructor one could ask for on this topic. An informative, fun and incredibly relevant course.”

— Nadin Boegelsack, Biologist, Calgary, Alberta

“One of the most fun, educational courses I have completed. Wonderful instructor. Don’t change anything!”

— Dani McIntosh, Parks Canada Biologist, Banff, Alberta

“The most enjoyable certification course I have ever taken!”

— Ian Reynolds, Biologist, Victoria, B.C.

“Good balance of field vs. classroom time. I felt the length of each portion was perfect. The instructor was such an excellent instructor – clear, approachable, helpful, encouraging. Highly recommend!”

— Melanie Kuzyk, Ecologist, North Vancouver, B.C.

“Excellent course with very knowledgeable instructor. Will definitely attend future NRTG courses!”

— Hilary Goble, Biologist, Crossfield, Alberta

“Kyle’s delivery of your Electrofishing course was absolutely top-notch. He is knowledgeable, professional, and most of all, unfailingly cheerful and patient. Our field session was the third in two days, and I got the feeling from Kyle that he would not rather be anywhere else than right there teaching us about zapping fish. He took care to assist with review before the test, ensuring we all had the time we needed to be comfortable with the material. I believe the integrity of your program is superbly represented by this instructor.”

— Scott Klassen, Biologist, Vanderhoof BC

“Darren is awesome…learned so much. Best course I have taken in the industry.”

— Brendan Such, Biologist, Cochrane, Alberta