Bouldering Wall Instructor

The Bouldering Wall Instructor qualification enables experienced boulderers to instruct bouldering on purpose built artificial bouldering-only structures in the UK and Ireland.

Course director

All courses must be delivered by an approved course director. Course directors must hold the Bouldering Wall Instructor/Climbing Wall Instructor/Rock Climbing Instructor AND hold Development Coach/Level 1 Climbing Coach or higher, plus national Mountain Training organisation requirements.

For course director responsibilities please see the Leadership Schemes Quality Manual.

Scope of the scheme

A qualified instructor can;

• Teach bouldering skills.
• Manage individuals and groups safely in these activities.

Terrain;

A qualified Bouldering Wall Instructor can operate on:

• Indoor and outdoor artificial bouldering venues.

Exclusions;

The qualification does not cover:

• The teaching or supervision of roped climbing.
• The bouldering skills needed to climb and/or supervise others on natural boulders.

Registration 

Candidate registration requirements

• Be at least 16 years old
• Have 3 months experience of indoor/artificial bouldering* including a major public bouldering centre. 
• Have 3 months experience of indoor/artificial bouldering* including a major public bouldering centre. 
• Be a member of a mountaineering council.

Training course 

Candidate requirements

• Be registered for the qualification
• Have recorded visits to 3 different indoor/artificial bouldering venues* on at least 15 occasions. These must include a major public bouldering centre
• Boulder proficiently at V2 or above

• 7 hours contact time
• Can be delivered over one day or two or three sessions
• Candidates are also encouraged to complete the optional online learning courses 'Pathway to Effective Leadership' and 'Leader responsibilities'

Group size

• 2 candidates minimum
• 12 candidates maximum

Staffing ratio

• 1 staff : 6 candidates.
  
  

Additional course staff requirements

Climbing Wall Instructor/Bouldering Wall Instructor or higher plus Foundation Coach or higher.

Please see Course Staff Requirements in the Leadership Schemes Quality Manual for further guidance.

Assessment course 

Candidate requirements

• Be at least 18 years old to attend the assessment.
• Have completed a Bouldering Wall Instructor training course or been granted exemption from training.
• Be familiar with the syllabus.
• Have logged a minimum of 30 personal climbing visits to at least three different indoor/artificial bouldering venues.
• Boulder proficiently at V2.
• Have assisted in the supervision of at least 10 instructed sessions on at least two different indoor/artificial bouldering venues, including a large public facility. A session is a minimum of an hour. At least five of these sessions must have personal reflective comments recorded on DLOG.
• Have observed an additional two sessions run by different instructors.
• Have physically attended and completed (i.e. not online) a first aid course which involved at least one full day or 8 hours of instruction and included an element of assessment.

Minimum course duration

• 3 hours
• Delivered in a single period

Group size

• 2 candidates minimum
• 8 candidates maximum

Staffing ratio

• 1 staff : 4 candidates.
  
  

Additional course staff requirements

Climbing Wall Instructor/Bouldering Wall Instructor or higher plus Foundation Coach or higher.

Please see Course Staff Requirements in the Leadership Schemes Quality Manual for further guidance.