RCA Training
Become an accredited River Condition Assessment (RCA) surveyor with our CPD‑approved training programme, designed for environmental consultants who want to apply the method for Biodiversity Net Gain and other purposes.
Book your Place #
We run public online courses monthly from February to November. Choose a cohort and complete the short booking form.
| Feb/March 2026 | March/April 2026 | |
| Start Date | ||
| End Date | ||
| Individual Price | £500+VAT | £500+VAT |
| Group price | £4000+VAT for up to 10 attendees | £4000+VAT for up to 10 attendees |
| Book Now | Book Now |
River Condition Assessment training courses are run by Cartographer Studios under our Training Terms .
Availability may be limited. If your chosen cohort is full, we’ll offer the next available date.
At a Glance #
- Format: Online, cohort‑based
- Duration: 6 weeks + two site visits
- Runs: Monthly, February to November
- Individuals or groups of up to 10 people
- RGS‑IBG CPD approved (25 hours)
Who It’s For #
- Ecologists and river practitioners
- Consultants working on Biodiversity Net Gain
- Local authorities, NGOs, and infrastructure teams
- Anyone who needs to produce RCA outputs using the Statutory Biodiversity Metric
What You’ll Learn #
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Plan and carry out MoRPh field surveys and upload data to Cartographer
- Complete River Type desk studies and integrate results
- Generate preliminary and final RCA condition scores
- Prepare RCA evidence for the Statutory Biodiversity Metric
How the Course Works #
- Weeks 1–4: Self‑led videos and practical assignments combining field and desk study work, with progress checks along the way.
- Weeks 5–6: Live trainer‑led sessions:
- Two 2‑hour group conferences
- Two 20‑minute 1‑to‑1s for personalised feedback
- Weeks 6–12: Final assessment at an approved site
Tools and Support #
- Cohort community and trainer support throughout
- Flexible study windows that fit around work commitments
- Free access to a dedicated training workspace in Cartographer
- A six month free trial of Cartographer starting on completion of the course
Questions? #
You can read more about the course syllabus, structure, and requirements on the RCA Training Logistics page. If you have any questions please get in touch, and join our newsletter for ongoing updates and additional support: