Licensed Tour Guide Course-English
Two Year Program (527 Academic Hours)
Supervision and Licensing by the
Israel Ministry of Tourism
Program’s Objectives:
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Training Tour Guides to lead excursions in Israel with Foreign and Local
tourists.
Providing Tour Guides with knowledge about the Land of Israel, in the
fields of Archaeology, History, Religions, Flora and Fauna, Geography,
Art, Architecture, and Israel’s current affairs in Social, Governmental,
Economic and Political subjects.
Acquiring the ability for the Tour Guide to show visitors around the
Country in a manner suitable to the diversity of the clientele.
To whom is this program designated?
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Everyone who is interested to work as a Guide with Foreign or Local
groups of tourists in Israel.
All those who love excursions and would like to deepen their knowledge
of subjects related to the Holy Land.
Graduates in Studies of the Land of Israel, Archeology, History, Bible,
Geography, Geology.
Speakers of languages that are requested in the Tourism Sector - like
German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and more –an advantage!
Academic Acknowledgments:
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Graduates of this course will enjoy the acknowledgment of up to 40
points by the University of Haifa, in the following courses: Geography,
Studies of the Land of Israel, General History and Archaeology;
candidates will be subjected to the enrollment conditions of the
University and will need to fulfill the academic requirements determined
for each course.
Enrollment Requirements:
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Maturity Diploma. (TAWJIHI) *
Knowledge of the English Language – Additional languages an
advantage!
Israeli Citizen or Resident (Permanent or Temporary Residence Visa
holders).
Suitable capability of oral expression.
Successful completion of the selection procedures established by the
Israel Ministry of Tourism.
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Candidates from age 30 and above who do not possess a Maturity
Diploma will be required to submit proof that they have completed
High School (12 School Years).
Program Extent and Classes:
The Course includes 527 academic hours in class and 71 field trips, designed to make
proper acquaintance of Israel. The field trips will not be consecutive, and they will
usually be performed on a predetermined day of the weekly studying schedule.
Students will be notified well in advance about trips that will last several days.
Class Location, Program Type and Schedule:
Location
Program Type
Classes
Timetable
Field Trip Day
JERUSALEM
Regular
Tuesday
Thursday
17:30 – 20:45
17:30 – 20:45
Sunday
Among the learning subjects: *
Bibliographic guidance and Tour preparation according to the areas and subjects involved.
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Geography and Climate: Maps and their use by the Tour Guide; Israel’s
Geography and Climate.
Geology and Geomorphology: Basic knowledge of Geology and
Geomorphology; The main shapes and outlines of Israel’s landscape.
Botanic Science and Zoology: Flora and Fauna in the Land of Israel.
Religions and Minorities: Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Minorities in
Israel.
Archaeology: Introduction to Archaeology and Pre-History; Biblical
Archaeology; Classical Archaeology; Early Muslim Archaeology.
Art and Architecture: Introduction to Art and Architecture; Islamic Art
and Architecture; Modern Architecture in Israel from the beginning of the
19th Century.
History of the Land of Israel and periodical classification: Biblical
Period; First Temple Period; Second Temple Period; Roman and
Byzantine Periods; Early Arab Period; Crusader and Ayyubid Periods;
Mamluk and Ottoman Periods; The New Epoch up to our present day
(1799 – 2005).
Current Affairs in the State of Israel: The Government of Israel, State
and Religion; Society, Immigration, Absorption and Settlement;
Economy, Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Water Resources;
History of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Peace Process; guidance
methodology; typologies of incoming and local tourism.
 Guidance tools and aids: Acquisition of guiding experience and skills for
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tour management and organization; Suitable guidance methods for
different topics and diverse types of clientele; Workshops managed and
operated by the students; Manners and Behavior; Security and Safety;
Relations between Tour Guide and Tourism Authorities; First Aid
Course; Learning how to look up bibliographical sources on the Internet.
Seventy touring days: Didactic one-day guided tours, regional or by
subject.
Certification:
Students who will fulfill the program’s requirements, attend classes and join the tours
on a regular basis, successfully pass examinations, present required assignments and
complete their projects will receive the Diploma of “Graduate of Tour Guide Course”
from the National School of Tourism in Israel, under the management of the University
of Haifa.
Licensing by the Israel Ministry of Tourism:
The License of “Israel Tour Guide” will be appointed by the Israel Ministry of Tourism
to those who will have fulfilled the following requirements:
 Graduated from the National School of Tourism in Israel.
 Received a certificate of absence of criminal indictments from the Israel
Police.
 Successfully passed the governmental final exams. (Written and Oral)
Tour Guide Course Tuition Fees:
The tuition fee for The Tour Guide Course is 20,000 NIS. This amount may be divided in
15 equal installments, to be paid by credit card or personal checks.
The tuition fee includes: 71 touring days; support materials; entrance fees to the sites;
overnight and half-board for excursions that will last more than one day.
The enrollment fee of 350 NIS is not included in the tuition fee for the Tour Guide
Course, and will need to be paid separately.