The New River Gorge
local climbing experts.

HOW TO BECOME A CLIMBING INSTRUCTOR:

The AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) Program teaches climbers to proficiently facilitate and instruct the sport of rock climbing in a single-pitch setting. The SPI is the only internationally recognized single-pitch climbing instructor certification program in the United States. It was developed to fit in the AMGA Rock Climbing Guide certification program. Some of the benefits of becoming a Certified Climbing Instructor are:

• It significantly improves the instructor’s skill sets and integrates into the next level of training, the AMGA Rock Instructor Course.

• The program is for current, active rock climbers who have a real desire to teach rock climbing to novices in a single-pitch setting.

• The SPI Course is a 27-hour training course that normally runs for three consecutive nine-hour days or day classes with evening sessions.

• The SPI Assessment is a minimum of 16 hours run over a two-day period.

• Certification lasts 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 regain the SPI certification.

• Taking any higher level AMGA Course also recertifies the SPI certification for another three years.

 

PRE-REQUISITES:

The prerequisites are absolute minimums. Without having at least this amount of experience you are unlikely to make the best use of the training.

 

• Be a Professional Member of the AMGA. Join the AMGA

• You have a genuine interest in rock climbing and instructing novices on single-pitch crags.

• You are at least 18 years old at the time of the course.

• You have at least 12 months prior climbing experience.

• You are an active climber with traditional lead climbing experience (leader placing protection).

• You have led a minimum of 15 traditional rock climbing routes to register for the course, and have led 40 separate traditional lead climbs to register for the assessment.

• You are capable of comfortably climbing 5.8 while on a top rope.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Step 1: Join the AMGA (or log in to your existing account)

• Join the AMGA at the Professional Membership Level.

 

Step 2: Apply to a Course or Assessment through the contract provider. NRMG offers programs by SPI Provider Trainer Elaina Arenz. She was the first female provider in the US and has been instrumental in the development of women's specific programs for the AMGA. Her patient demeanor and calm approach will create a positive learning environment for you to learn and grow.

​​​