What is the Blue Badge Course?
The Scottish Tourist Guides Association (STGA) offers a Blue Badge Training
Course for those aspiring to be professional tourist guides in Scotland. The STGA Blue Badge is a recognised mark of quality and professionalism, trusted by tour
operators and agents across the world.
The Blue Badge Training Course is based on STGA, UK and European standards
and is the only course of its kind that leads to a professional guiding qualification that
covers the whole of Scotland.
Through this course, which is delivered and assessed in English, you will learn about
Scotland’s land, people, culture and society and will develop the skills required to
plan and lead a variety of tours, from walking tours to driver-guiding to shore
excursions and more. You will also learn about running your own business.
The course is open to adults who are resident in Scotland, have a genuine interest in
working as a professional tourist guide in Scotland, and can demonstrate the
relevant attributes and skills. As places on the course are limited to 36 there is a
selection process involving the application, practical activities, and an interview.
Successful completion of the course and its assessments is the first stage in
becoming an accredited STGA Blue Badge guide.
You then have to pass the STGA Final Accreditation Examination and join the STGA in order to be awarded the badge and practise as a Blue Badge guide.
What does the Blue Badge Course involve?
The 18-month STGA Blue Badge Training Programme is delivered in English through three integrated modules:
Core Knowledge
Regional Studies
Professional Skills
The delivery of these modules incorporates PowerPoint presentations, talks, seminars (delivered online and in class), group work, individual presentations, practical training on walks, sites and in moving vehicles, online resources, study away-days, written and practical assessments as well as
ongoing feedback and discussion.
Students are expected to be self-driven and take responsibility for their learning. The minimum requirement for self-directed study for this course is 1200 to 1600 hours.
2025 - 2027 Blue Badge Course
The next STGA Blue Badge Training Programme will begin in Autumn 2025.
Blue Badge guide course numbers are limited to a maximum of 36 who:
☞ are absolutely committed to a future career as a professional tourist guide in Scotland
☞ can demonstrate the skills and attributes required of a professional tourist guide
☞ have the time and resources to commit to an intensive 18-month course
☞ are prepared to work substantial hours in the main tourist season (April-October)
The STGA are now accepting applications for the 2025-27 Blue Badge Course.
The deadline for applications are the 9th December 2024.
FAQs
The fee for the Blue Badge Course is likely to be in the region of £7,800-£8,200:
- This price includes a first payment of 10% which is required to be paid on accepting a place
- The balance is due to be paid by the 15th July 2025
- As the course is completely self-funding, we regret there are no refunds for non-use of services provided or if a student withdraws from the course/part of course
Please note that not all applicants will progress through all stages. You may have the opportunity to apply again if your application is unsuccessful at any stage, or you decide to delay your application
Once offered a place on the course you will need to be available for the following classes:
- streamed lectures from 6pm on Wednesdays
- classroom sessions, field trips and practical guiding activities on Saturdays and Sundays, usually twice a month. These sessions take place in Central Scotland where possible, for example Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Linlithgow.
- one week in October 2025 for seminars and away days to different locations
- one week (with overnight stays) in July 2026, when course activities will take place in different parts of the country.
Students must be prepared to commit a substantial amount of time to self study and preparation for assessments.
Upon completion of the Blue Badge Guide Course and the Blue Badge exam, students become self-employed members of the STGA. Members of the Association get work via many different avenues including tour operators, Destination Management Companies (DMCs), shore excursions companies, and independent tourists.
Once qualified each guide is self employed. This means the amount an individual works as a guide is up to that individual. Tourism in Scotland is growing and there has not been any shortage of work in recent years.
All STGA guides are self-employed members of the Association, it is up to each member to determine their own rates for the services they provide.
Our indicative rates can be found here.
Get in Touch
For all Blue Badge enquiries, please contact a member of our Training office team:
- Training Manager
- training@stga.co.uk
- 07944 470 371
- Training Support Administrator
- trainingsupport@stga.co.uk
- 01786 451 953
