Rock Climbing Instructor

The Mountain Training Rock Climbing Instructor course content is designed to equip candidates with the knowledge and practical skills required to safely supervise climbing and abseiling sessions on single-pitch crags and climbing walls. The course covers a range of essential topics, including the use of personal and group climbing equipment, effective ropework and belaying techniques, setting up safe climbing and abseiling systems, and managing groups in a variety of outdoor environments. Candidates will also develop their ability to assess and manage risks, solve common problems, and provide basic coaching to help participants improve their climbing skills. Emphasis is placed on creating positive, engaging, and inclusive climbing experiences while maintaining high standards of safety and good practice. 

Duration: 3-day training course and 2-day assessment course 

Location: CCAT Capel Curig, Snowdonia National Park
CCAT Halton near Lancaster, Lake District & Yorkshire Dales National Park 

Course fee: £40

Eligibility: CFAVs 

Prerequisites: 

Prior to attended you need to meet the following prerequisites for attending the MT RCI training course: 

• Be at least 18 years old. 
• Be a member of a mountaineering council (e.g. BMC, Mountaineering Scotland, or Mountaineering Ireland). 
• Be a registered candidate with Mountain Training for the Rock Climbing Instructor scheme. 
• Have a minimum of 15 led climbs on well-protected traditional routes, using leader-placed protection, at a suitable standard (typically at least grade Severe). 
• Have led at least 15 climbing routes at a climbing wall. 
• Have led at least 5 outdoor bolt-protected sport climbs. 
• Have at least 12 months of rock-climbing experience. 
• Have an up-to-date logbook (typically using DLOG) showing evidence of your climbing experience. 

Meeting these requirements ensures that candidates have a foundational level of experience and are ready to build on their skills in a structured training environment. 

Prior to attend the MT RCI assessment, candidates must meet the following prerequisites: 

• You must be at least 18 years old. 
• You must have attended a Rock Climbing Instructor training course. 
• You must be familiar with the syllabus. 
• You must be competently leading Severe grade climbs on outdoor crags with leader-placed protection. 
• You must have led a minimum of 40 graded rock climbs with traditional protection at a variety of venues (of which at least 20 MUST be at Severe grade or above). 
• You must be proficient in the use of climbing walls and have a minimum of 30 climbing wall leads graded at F4 or above. 
• You must be proficient in outdoor bolt-protected sport climbing and have a minimum of 10 sport climb leads graded at F4 or above. 
• You must have assisted in the supervision of 20 instructed sessions. These sessions should be at a variety of different venues with 10 being on indoor climbing walls and the other 10 on outdoor crags. A session is a half day or evening. At least five of these sessions must have personal reflective comments recorded on DLOG. 
• You must have physically attended and completed (i.e. not online) a first aid course which involved at least two full days or sixteen hours of instruction and include an element of assessment 

These requirements ensure candidates are well-prepared and have sufficient practical experience to be assessed on their competence as a Rock Climbing Instructor. 

Course Certification: Mountain Training qualifications are widely recognised throughout the UK and show others that you have reached a nationally accredited standard recognised by: 

• Health and Safety Executive (UK)  
• Health and Safety Authority (Republic of Ireland)  
• Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority (UK)  
• Coaching Ireland  
• Ofqual (England)  
• SQA (Scotland) 

Please speak to your detachment or contingent commander if you are interested in attending this course.