Becoming A Member

If you are interested in becoming a tour guide or becoming a member of the San Francisco Tour Guide Guild please read the following Tour Guide Membership Information, then click on the link for the appropriate application form. Please note: Your contact information will be made available to other guild members, but it is not provided to anyone outside the organization. Membership in the guild is for the current calendar year and must be renewed annually prior to the start of the new year. PRINTABLE APPLICATIONS:

Tour Guide Online Membership Application

Business and Individual Friends of the Guild Online Application

When mailing in your form, please complete the form, print it, sign it, and mail it with a check or money order to:

San Francisco Tour Guide Guild Attention: Membership P. O. Box 170610 San Francisco, CA 94117-0610

PRINTABLE INFORMATION GUIDES (Click on an image or select a link below):

how to become a tour guide how to become a certified tour guide or tranport lead

How to Become a Tour Guide

How to Become a Certified Tour Guide or Transportation Lead

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Tour Guide Membership Information

All members of the Guild agree to adhere to the Guild By-Laws which include a Code of Ethics and Professional Standards.

Certified and Associate Members

Any person who is in good standing and:

  1. has been accepted by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees;
  2. agrees to abide by the Guild’s Code of Ethics and Professional Standards;
  3. currently resides and works in or about the San Francisco Bay Area as a tour guide or tour escort;
  4. agrees to actively pursue continuing education by attending two Guild events annually, with non-compliance resulting in a non-active membership status. These members will be dropped from the current job referral list.
  5. has dues paid current.

Certified Member

In addition to the above:

  1. has passed all parts of the Guild’s Certification Examination;
  2. has documented the required tours/hours of experience; (Download here Tour Company Work Summary and/or Itemized Tour History forms)
  3. has demonstrated compliance with the Guild’s Code of Ethics and Professional Standards during a minimum of one year (12 months) membership in the Guild.

For more information on becoming a certified member, please click here.

Beautiful red Chinese lanterns in Chinatown of San FranciscoAssociate Membership

In addition to the above:

  1. agrees to seek certified status;
  2. has submitted membership application and has two professional references checked and approved by the membership committee;
  3. has one year in good standing with the SFTGG.

Membership Dues

The application fee for new members is $80.00 (January – June) and $55.00 (July – December). Each year thereafter dues are $75.00. The Guild offers a discount for early payment, pay before December 31st and the renewal is $70.00. A penalty is charged for late payment, pay after March 1st, and the renewal is $80.00. Application fees and dues are subject to change by the Board of Trustees.

Upon certification, the option to be listed in the Guild’s Directory of Certified Guides.Benefits of membership include:

  1. Also upon certification, the option to receive referrals for work assignments.
  2. Subscription to the Guild’s newsletter, The Guidepost.
  3. A Complete membership list.
  4. Participation in general business and special meetings.
  5. Professional contacts through networking.
  6. Exposure to employers through the Guild’s general membership list, which is available to tour-related businesses that are members of the SFTGG.
  7. Industry up-dates through E-mail.
  8. Invitations to attend educational programs and events.
  9. Various industry discounts.
  10. Each member will receive a membership card.
  11. Membership in the National Federation of Tour Guide Associations (NFTGA).

Rights

  1. Certified and Associate Members may vote in elections for Trustees and on other Guild business at its semi-annual membership meetings or special membership meetings.
  2. Certified members may use all Guild facilities and services, use the title “Certified Tour Guide,” use the initials “CTG” after their name, and use the Guild emblem on their business cards.

Business and Individual Friends of the Guild Membership Information

Lombard Street in San FranciscoThe San Francisco Tour Guide Guild offers two types of membership to non-guides: Business Friend and Individual Friend.
Members in the Friends of the Guild categories include Destination Management Companies, Tour Operators, Motorcoach and Limousine Companies, Meeting Planners, Cruise & Sail Charters, and others in the tourism and convention industry.

Friend of the Guild

  1. has been accepted by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees.
  2. is any business or individual that supports the goals of the Guild.
  3. has dues paid current.

Membership Dues

The application for a new business friend of the guild is $100.00. Each year thereafter dues are $100.00. The application for an individual friend of the guild is $50.00. Each year thereafter dues are $50.00. Application fees and dues are subject to change by the Board of Trustees.
SFTGG Friend Memberships 

SFTGG Friend Memberships  

Question/comment

Benefits of membership include:

  1. Subscription to the Guild’s newsletter, The Guidepost.
  2. A complete membership list.
  3. Participation in general business meetings.
  4. Professional contacts through networking.
  5. Industry up-dates through E-mail.
  6. Invitation to attend educational programs and events.
  7. Each member will receive a membership card.
  8. Membership in the National Federation of Tour Guide Associations (NFTGA).