USCG has offices in Seattle,Bellevue,Tacoma and Everett, also a few places on the coast. You can sign up for classes by contacting them, they usually have a sub-contractor handle it. Might want to wait til the spring. Part of it is pulling a 200 lb person out of the water I hear. Most guides I see don't have it. In this state its required to have on all navigable waters. USCG certification for a guide is a good thing. I wouldn't go with one that doesn't have it. Chances are when you know what hits the fan, they will be able to handle most situations. Some rivers are considered unnavigable for now, but I think starting next year the new law says, all water.