Fly Casting Education Program (FCEP)

Many talented and dedicated individuals served on the CBOG for over three decades. However, there is a dwindling number of master level instructors willing to participate at this level. More Casting Instructor Certification Program (CICP) members are needed to do the work, and the administrative structure did not meet identified needs. Additionally, FFI leadership recognized the need for more outreach to FFI members and to the entire fly fishing community. A design group was formed to consider alternative directions and governance of the CICP. The design group identified objectives and then came up with a new structure to meet them. The new organization is called the FFI Fly Casting Education Program (FCEP).  There is a six-person Leadership Team that makes decisions and provides direction going forward.  The FCEP Leadership Team is comprised of a Chair and Vice Chair appointed by the FFI Board of Directors, the two Co-Leads of the Angler Casting Education team, and the two Co-Leads of the Casting Instructor Education team. The FFI Board of Directors enthusiastically and unanimously approved the new direction and structure, and many recent and past CBOG members are participating in various roles. Response to the change from the CICP community has been positive.

Historically, the Casting Instructor Certification Program (CICP) has focused on instructor certification and built a world-class certification program.  But now our scope is expanding, and our audience is broadening.  We are expanding to include casting education not just for certified casting instructors but also for certification candidates, the casting instructors for local FFI clubs whether certified or not, members of the angling public, and the fly-fishing industry.  This will increase the real value of casting instruction and instructor certification.  Our activities now include working with FFI Councils, Clubs, & global FFI members, providing online casting education resources and videos, facilitating Fly Casting Skills Development on a global scale, expanding our continuing education program, developing a certification candidate pipeline, creating a teacher development program, and supporting regional and international casting education events.

We do not believe so. In fact, increased teaching activities by CIs at all levels will improve awareness of instructor certification, its value, and indeed the value of improved casting skill. Shared positive experience, shown to be a major way in which clients communicate value, should rise. Prospective client numbers could increase! We should work toward the goal of having the angling public ask for and expect an FFI certified Casting Instructor. If there is increased demand for certified instructors at all levels, there should be increased demand for candidates to become certified. 

We want to grow our international presence. This will start by improving the organization of our efforts worldwide, such as establishing regional casting directors overseas. This is already underway.

Absolutely not. It has been revamped into a more streamlined version and workshops and requirements have been revised to reflect the changes. 

We do not believe CICP standards are too high. We do believe there could be more and better preparation materials and methods. In doing so, the journey could be more efficient without lowering standards. The shift to teaching the public is about engaging more fly anglers and making them aware of the value of casting and of certified instructors. Some of these members of the public may become certified, thus increasing the number of candidates and instructors. 

The Certification Pipeline is a process and a support team meant to offer more and improved preparation materials and structure such that more candidates will have resources to prepare efficiently for certification at all levels. A Roadmap with a preparation timeline and Study Guides are just a few examples of the Pipeline process. Video and virtual resources are being developed. If more candidates have directed, realistic, efficient methods of preparation worldwide, the number of candidates should grow along with their pass rate on the exams.

We believe just the opposite will occur. We have far more to gain as an organization (FCEP and FFI) by offering our teaching expertise to those that wish to teach. This improves the image of the organization from one of being a closed, exclusive culture to one of openness with a willingness to share our expertise. It will reduce the barrier of exclusivity, sometimes characterized as snobbery and arrogance, that keeps some who might otherwise be interested in becoming certified from doing so. Couple this with Pipeline efforts to create a more directive, efficient approach to becoming certified, and perhaps more candidates will appear. Additionally, more anglers will be taught casting with improved methods. We know that improved casting skill leads to better, more enjoyable fishing and keeps people in the sport. If more anglers know about FFI, its certified instructors, and their teaching skill, everyone wins. 

There are no plans for additional levels of instructor certification. Bronze, Silver and Gold Fly Casting Skills Development (FCSD) levels are casting achievements and not instructor certifications.  Attainment of those casting skill levels should never be confused with casting instructor certification which requires a significantly higher level of casting expertise plus an equally high skill set for teaching. 

This discussion is underway, and some plans are being considered. Recent market research tells us that “shared experience” (think “word of mouth” advertising) appears to be the strongest motivator of fly fishers. If so, our plan to reach as many as possible with certified casting instruction is a good approach--if the angler knows the instructor is certified by FFI!  Other avenues are being discussed.  

Absolutely. It is important to reward those volunteers that do exceptional work. These awards and the timing of nominations and presentations will carry forward into the Fly Casting Education Program.