Summary
The OTC Leader qualification names are being changed. The aim of this is to clarify the environment in which the qualifications are designed to be used. The actual content of the qualifications is not altering, as this is all accurate and pertinant to their use. There will be a period of transition where qualifications have their previous names tagged on to enable a clearer process change. Candidates who hold award certificates with previous names will be able to get replacements or statement of name change if required.

New Names
Leader Awards will continue from 2005 with the following names:

Assistant Leader will remain as Assistant Leader
Level 1 Leader will become the Trail Mountain Bike Leader
Level 2 Leader will become the Technical Mountain Bike Leader
Level 3 Leader will become the Advanced Mountain Bike Leader
Leader Trainer will remain Leader Trainer

Qualification names may be shortened in general use, for example the Trail Mountain Bike Leader may be referred to as the Trail Leader, the Technical Mountain Bike Leader as the Technical Leader, and so on.

Why change the award names?
There are two key reasons for this name change. The first is simply to clarify the environment each qualification is able to be used in. For example, the Trail Leader can clearly be used in the 'trail' or 'non-technical' environment, The Technical Leader in a 'technical' environment.

The second reason for the change is the Level descriptors did not match up with the National Occupation Standard level descriptors. These have within a five level structure, for example, their Level 1 essentially as an assistant role to an existing coach or leader. Clearly this is not compatible with what the OTC Level 1 Leader Award expected of candidates.

Have the qualifications themselves changed at all?
No. The qualifications content, level or expectations of leaders at training or assessment level has not changed. Obviously as we continuously review the teaching, learning and assessment methods that we use, we have added different ways of developing candidates abilities, but this has not changed the outcomes of any sessions.

I hold a qualification with a previous name (for example a Level 1 Leader Award). What does this mean to me?
The name change doesn't alter the validity of your qualification. There will be a period of transition where the qualifications will be referred to as, for example, 'Trail Mountain Bike Leader Award (formerly Level 1 Leader)'.

If you require a replacement certificate which has the new qualification name on it, simply send us a stamped, self addressed A4 size envelope and we will issue you with a certificate with the new award name on it.

I have more questions about the name change
Then contact us and we will do our best to answer them.