AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Courses & Exams with Heidi Wirtz

The AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Program is designed to enable instructors to “proficiently facilitate and instruct the sport of rock climbing in a single pitch setting”.

This program is for currently active rock climbers who have an educator’s mind and real desire to teach rock climbing in a single-pitch setting.

Candidates should be passionate rock climbers who have their own equipment, regularly climb, and have at least twelve months of outdoor rock climbing experience.

Candidates come from a host of backgrounds and we’ll share some entryways below, this is not an exhaustive list.

University professors who teach climbing, climbing instructors, scout leaders, summer camp professionals, or climbers who wish to undergo additional training, experience, and certification to gain employment as a climbing instructor in the outdoor adventure/education industry.

Single Pitch Instructor certification is the second stage of the AMGA’s Climbing Instructor Certification Program and will significantly help candidates who wish to work toward the next stage, the AMGA Rock Guide Course (RGC). The SPI course presents many instructor-specific topics such as professionalism, teaching techniques, risk management, group site organization, climbing site conservation/LNT, and assistance/rescue skills.

The SPI Program is a three-day (27 hour) training course and a separate two-day (16 hour) assessment.

Certification is valid for three years as long as the candidate keeps current AMGA Membership and First Aid Certification. After three years, current SPIs can re-take the SPI Assessment to renew SPI certification. Any current SPI who attains certification in any Mountain Guide Program discipline attains permanent SPI certification status provided they maintain AMGA membership and the appropriate level of emergency medical certification.

**The SPI Course is not a “climbing” course. It is an instructor training course for active, proficient rock climbers and for current climbing instructors who wish to gain SPI certification.

The AMGA SPI Exam focuses on evaluating single-pitch climbing instructors to the internationally recognized standard while maintaining a learning environment of continually motivating and inspiring the next generation of US instructors.

Single Pitch Instructor certification is the second stage of the AMGA’s Climbing Instructor Certification Program and will significantly help candidates who wish to work toward the next stage, the AMGA Rock Guide Course (RGC). The SPI course presents many instructor-specific topics such as professionalism, teaching techniques, risk management, group site organization, climbing site conservation/LNT, and assistance/rescue skills.

The SPI Program is a three-day (27 hour) training course and a separate two-day (16 hour) assessment.

Certification is valid for three years as long as the candidate keeps current AMGA Membership and First Aid Certification. After three years, current SPIs can re-take the SPI Assessment to renew SPI certification. Any current SPI who attains certification in any Mountain Guide Program discipline attains permanent SPI certification status provided they maintain AMGA membership and the appropriate level of emergency medical certification.