AMGA Single Pitch
INSTRUCTOR
Course
Single Pitch
amga
Instructor
Course
$695 Per Person
Advanced
Boulder & Golden, Colorado
3-Days (27 hours)
Smile's AMGA Single Pitch Instructor course enables instructors to proficiently facilitate and instruct the sport of rock climbing in a single pitch setting.
This program is for active rock climbers with an educator’s mind and real desire to teach rock climbing in a single-pitch setting.
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-April 4-6, 2025- Jeff Mascaro, Lead Provider
-April 17-19, 2025- Heidi Wirtz, Lead Provider
-May 9-11, 2025- Heidi Wirtz, Lead Provider
-May 26-28, 2025- Jeff Mascaro, Lead Provider
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Prerequisites from the AMGA Website:
+You are a Professional Member of 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 pro).
+You have led a minimum of 15 traditional rock climbing routes (any grade).
+You are capable of comfortably climbing 5.8 while on a top rope.
The above prerequisites are absolute minimums. Without having at least this amount of experience you are unlikely to make the best use of the training.
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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.
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SPI Course Itinerary –
Topics are broken down into teaching sessions and may be taught in a slightly different order.
Day 1 – 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
SPI and AMGA Program Overview Session
Professionalism
Equipment Session
Knots and Hitches
Belaying
Protection and Anchoring
Teaching Skills
Day 2 – 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Selecting the Climbing Site
Site Organization and Group Management
Base-Managed Sites
Assistance Skills – Base-Managed Sites
Programming and Risk Management
Day 3 – 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Instructor Demo Lead Climb ‘
Top-Managed Sites
Lowering
Assistance Skills: Top-Managed Sites
Rappelling
Climbing Movement
SPI Assessment Overview Debriefs
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FOOTWEAR
+Socks
UPPER LAYERS
+Synthetic T-shirt
BOTTOM LAYERS
BACKPACKS
+35-45 L Guide Crag Pack
ACCESSORIES
+Sunglasses, Sunscreen, Lip Balm, Sun Hat
+Nalgene, Minimum 1.5L
+Climbing Snacks: 100 calories an hour!
+ Buff
EQUIPMENT
Guide Protection Kit:
+Camalots: Singles from .3-3, Black Diamond
+Stoppers: Singles from #7-11, Black Diamond
+Alpine Draws: 6 Shoulder Lengths, One Carabiner
Guide Personal Equipment Kit:
+5 HMS Locking Carabiners (minimum)
+120cm Sewn Sling
+18’ cordelette, 7mm Nylon or Tech Cords Only
Guide Ropes:
+30m (or longer) Static Rigging Line
Bringing any personal climbing gear you have from the above list is encouraged, group gear can be provided by Smile Mountain Guides.
PREPARATION FOR THE AMGA SPI COURSE
TECHNICAL experience
The AMGA SPI course requires proficiency in many instructor-specific topics such as professionalism, teaching techniques, risk management, group site organization, climbing site conservation/LNT, and assistance/rescue skills. It is expected that candidates come prepared to make the shift from recreational climber to professional instructor.
Fitness
The AMGA SPI course consists of three, nine-hour days in the field with minimal breaks. As an instructor, you are expected to be physically fit for the day of programming and mentally ready to engage with the group of candidates in various weather conditions and at various crag locations.
Meet The Team
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Jeffrey Mascaro
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Heidi Wirtz
FAQ’s
Single Pitch Instructor Course QUESTIONS
The answers to our most commonly asked questions about climbing Single Pitch Instructor Course.
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As an AMGA SPI course candidate, you should come prepared with the gear you will need to work in the single-pitch environment of your program.
Although this is a “course”, these programs are designed for climbing instructors and imply you have most of your gear. Dynamic and static ropes can be provided with advanced notice if you are flying for the course and can not accommodate this item in your luggage.
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Smile’s AMGA SPI course and exam have a maximum 4:1 ratio and take a total of 8 students in both the course and exam.
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Please click here to review our domestic cancellation policy.