Make sure safety topics such as rules of the road and hypothermia are covered in detail. Ask about instructor qualifications. Self-trained instructors are often qualified, but instructors certified by a national certifying agency have proven their competency based on national standards. Compare facilities, course content and, of course, prices to find the best course for you. If you can't visit all potential schools, get a list of schools from a national association or a telephone directory and run the same comparison.
Some schools look quite a bit different in person than how they appeared in the brochure.
There's no substitute for an in-person visit. Inc. How things get done. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy .