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AMGA student "working" hard! |
AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) Single Pitch Instructor Course
The AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Program is the only nationally and
internationally recognized single pitch climbing instructor
certification program. In 2009 the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Program
was recognized for meeting the “training standards” of the
International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) and was
granted the prestigious title of “Approved Association.” No other
organization in the United States offering training in single pitch
terrain can make that claim. Also, the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
Program is recognized by many land managers, insurance companies, other
associations and of course the general public. The AMGA Single Pitch
Instructor Program has been created to fit in the AMGA Rock Discipline
training program, taking off from the AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor
Program and greatly improving the instructor’s skill sets and
integrating into the next level of training, the AMGA Rock Instructor
Course. The SPI Program curriculum has been designed with this in mind
and many of the SPI Program Providers work teaching higher level courses
for the AMGA and serve on the AMGA’s Technical Committee so they are
actively involved in all levels of instructor and guide training in the
AMGA.
The program is for current, active rock climbers that have a real
desire to teach the rock climbing to novices in a single pitch setting.
Candidates should be passionate rock climbers that have their own
equipment, regularly climb and have been rock climbing outdoors for at
least 12 months. Candidates could be current University Professors that
teach climbing, Climbing Instructors, Scout Leaders, Summer Camp
Professionals or climbers that wish to achieve additional training,
experience and certification to gain employment as a Climbing Instructor
in the Outdoor Industry. The SPI will be able to proficiently
facilitate and instruct the sport of rock climbing in a single pitch
setting.
For the purpose of the SPI Program a single pitch climb is one
which:
- Is climbed without intermediate belays and presents no
difficulties on approach or retreat, such as route finding, scrambling
or navigating.
Course Length
The SPI Program is a three-day (27 hour) training course and
separate two day (16 hour) assessment. Certification lasts for three
years as long as the candidate keeps current AMGA Membership and First
Aid Certification. After three years current SPI’s can re-take the SPI
Assessment to re-gain the SPI certification. Taking any higher level
AMGA Course also re-certifies the SPI certification for another three
years.
SPI Program Hours and Ratios
The SPI Course is:
- A minimum of 27 hours, normally run as three consecutive nine
hour days or day classes with evening sessions.
- SPI Courses will not exceed a ratio of six students to one
current SPI Program Provider.
- The maximum number of students on any SPI Program will be
twelve.
The SPI Assessment is:
- A minimum of 16 hours.
- The Assessment should be run over a two day period. Candidates
that meet the Assessment pre-requisites can take the Assessment directly
following the Course if they desire although this is not recommended.
- SPI Assessment will not exceed a ratio of six students to one
current SPI Program Provider.
- The maximum number of students on any SPI Program will be
twelve.
Prerequisites | Additional Information
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