How do you check a mountain guide is certified?

Ask which body awarded the qualification and for the membership number, then check it against that body's public register rather than the guide's own website. Also confirm professional liability insurance and that the award covers the specific terrain of your trip.

Three checks that take ten minutes

The register: national guide associations publish member lists. A current entry is the single strongest signal.

The scope: confirm the award covers your terrain — a hiking award on a glacier trip is a mismatch even when it is genuine.

The insurance: professional liability cover is standard for working guides, and a guide should be able to name their insurer without hesitation.

How MadeToHike handles it

Guides upload their certification documents during onboarding and the profile is only published after review. Certifications are shown on the public guide profile so you can check them before you enquire.

Related questions

What if a guide will not share their certification?

Treat it as a refusal to answer a routine question and book someone else. Working guides are used to being asked.