This scheme is for experienced indoor climbers wishing to teach climbing on climbing walls.
Course Director
All courses must be delivered by an approved course director. For course director responsibilities please see the Leadership Schemes Quality Manual.
Scope of the award
A qualified award holder can:
- Teach climbing skills
- Take people climbing and bouldering
- Manage groups safely in these activities
A qualified award holder can operate on:
- Indoor and outdoor artificial bouldering venues
- Indoor and outdoor climbing walls
The scheme does not cover:
- The rock climbing skills needed to climb and/or supervise others on natural crags and quarries (these are covered in the Rock Climbing Instructor scheme)
- Multi-pitch rock climbing skills
- The teaching or supervision of leading
- The use of leader-placed protection
- The supervision of high or low ropes courses
- The supervision of ice climbing walls, including dry tooling
- The assessment of candidates’ personal qualities
Registration
Candidate registration requirements
- Be at least 17 years old (18 at assessment).
- Have at least 6 months of experience of using a variety of climbing walls.
- Have an interest in climbing and in supervising groups on climbing walls.
- Be a member of a mountaineering council.
Training course
Candidate requirements
- Be registered on the scheme.
- Have recorded visits to 3 different climbing walls on at least 15 different occasions; this must include at least one major public wall.
- Have led 10 routes at Fr 4 on walls.
- Have an understanding of the wider sport of climbing.
Candidates must complete a Climbing Wall Instructor training course before attending an Abseil Module training course.
Minimum course duration
- 12 hours
- Delivered in a 2 day programme or up to three sessions delivered within a three-month period.
- The course must visit two climbing walls, one of which must be a public facility.
- 4 hours for the Abseil Module. Delivered either as an addition to a Climbing Wall Instructor training course or separately.
Group size
- 2 candidates minimum (temporary change)
- 12 candidates maximum.
- Staffing Ratio
- 1 staff : 6 candidates.
Additional course staff requirements
Climbing Wall Instructor/Rock Climbing Instructor (incl. Single Pitch Award) or higher. Please see course staff requirements in the Leadership Schemes Quality Manual area for further guidance.
Assessment course
Candidate requirements
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have attended a Climbing Wall Instructor training course (or have been granted exemption).
- Be familiar with the syllabus.
- Have logged a minimum of 30 visits to at least three different climbing walls.
- Have led a minimum of 40 climbs on climbing walls.
- Be confident at leading routes at Fr 4.
- Have assisted in the supervision of at least 15 instructed sessions on at least two different walls, including a large public facility, in a variety of contexts. At least five of these sessions must have personal reflective comments recorded on DLOG.
- Hold a current first aid certificate, minimum 8 hours and relevant to your work as a Climbing Wall Instructor holder.
Candidates must pass a Climbing Wall Instructor assessment course before attending an Abseil Module assessment course.
Minimum course duration
- 6 hours.
- Delivered in a day.
- 2 hours for the Abseil Module. Delivered either immediately after a Climbing Wall Instructor assessment course or separately.
Group size
- 2 candidates minimum.
- 8 candidates maximum.
Staffing ratio
- 1 staff : 4 candidates.
Additional course staff requirements
Climbing Wall Development Instructor or higher.
Please see Course Staff Requirements in the Leadership Schemes Quality Manual for further guidance.
