ROCK CLIMBING INSTRUCTOR

TRAINING

"Just completed my three day RCI Training with Paul, and it was great! I've had the pleasure of working with and learning from a wide range of climbing instructors, mountaineers and mountain training trainers - Paul is right up there as one of the best of them.

2019

THE

DETAILS

COURSE DATES

2025

2-4 May

6-8 June

I can arrange bespoke dates if you are a group of min 4 wishing to do a training course.

COST

£230 per person

(this is a non-residential course)

3 days

Ratio 1:4

HOW TO BOOK

It's simple!

Complete the online booking form and pay a deposit

Make sure you check out the terms and conditions on the Booking Page

Full payment details are on the booking form and you will receive confirmation of your booking, payment received in an auto reply and I will contact you shortly before the course with the final details

PASSION FOR

CLIMBING

The Rock Climbing Instructor allows climbers to take people climbing at outside crags within the UK, you can also head indoors to the climbing wall too if it’s a wet day! Rock Climbing Instructors often introduce people to the sport of climbing and influence them to continue beyond that day and all because of your passion, knowledge and love of the sport.

In addition to good personal climbing skills, a Rock Climbing Instructor will demonstrate safe group management, crag etiquette, environmental responsibilities, be an effective supervisor, encourage others to enjoy their climbing safely, whilst also be improving some of your own climbing skills. All my Rock Climbing Instructor training and assessment courses are based in Snowdonia, North Wales. TheRock Climbing Instructor is overseen by Mountain Training.

For full details and how to register click here.

Rock Climbing Instructor training course

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Here is a summary of the process from start to finish in gaining the award

STEP 01

Before you book onto a Rock Climbing Instructor training course, make sure you have done the following:

You must have led at least 15 graded rock climbs with traditional protection
You must have led at least 15 climbing wall routes
You must have led at least 5 outdoor bolt protected sport climbs

STEP 03

Attend a Rock Climbing Instructor training course which lasts 3 days.

STEP 06

Attend a 2 day Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment

STEP 02

Register with Mountain Training for the Rock Climbing Instructor and have recorded a minimum of 15 climbs outdoors on routes where protection is leader placed.

STEP 04

Before you attend a Rock Climbing Instructor assessment, make sure you have done the following:

You must be competently leading Severe grade climbs on outdoor crags with leader-placed protection.
You must have led (and logged) a minimum of 40 graded rock climbs with traditional protection at a variety of venues (of which at least 20 MUST be at Severe grade or above).
You must be proficient in the use of climbing walls and have a minimum of 30 climbing wall leads graded at F4 or above.
You must be proficient in outdoor bolt protected sport climbing and have a minimum of 10 sport climb leads graded at F4 or above.

STEP 05

Aquire a valid and appropriate 1st Aid Qualification.There will be a Zoom catch up event a number of months after which will continue to support you on your journey towards assessment.

STEP 07

Continue to gain and record experience and any relevant additional training.

WHAT WILL THE COURSE COVER?

The course will follow the Rock Climbing Instructor Syllabus over three days and is delivered practically at a number of crags and a climbing wall. It will demonstrate how to operate as a competent and safe Rock Climbing Instructor, the course is designed to promote discussion on the wide variety of technical equipment available and methods of working on a crag with a group.

This is a sample programme and is subject to change based on weather.

DAY 01

After an introduction to the Award we will spend the day at the climbing wall. We will look at a range of topics including belaying, how to maximise a group experience at the wall or crag covering warming up and the basic principles of movement. Everything will hinge on the methods of teaching this and how to keep the group engaged all day.

DAY 03

We’ll start the day with identifying why its important to know our access rights, after that we’ll visit a different crag and go climbing, this is an opportunity to get some leads in. A revisit of some of the skills from the previous day and starting to consider some scenarios of what might go wrong and how to deal with them.

DAY 02

We will visit 2 venues looking at how to operate at a sport and trad crag. The day will look at the different approaches to setting up rope systems for groups and hopefully do some climbing too! Throughout the day other topics that will naturally come up will be correct use and maintenance of technical kit, how to keep people safe at the crag whilst giving them an enjoyable day of climbing.

The next stage is now to go and explore new areas and crags and put all these new skills into practise before you return for your assessment at some point in the future. Mountain Training recommend that it’s no earlier than 3 months, many people use it as an excuse for lots of climbing adventures.

DO I NEED PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE?

You should be at least 18 years old

You should have at least a years worth of experience of rock climbing

You should have an interest in supervising novice climbing groups

To undertake the Rock Climbing Instructor training course you will need to complete the following;

You must be registered for the Rock Climbing Instructor and have an account on Mountain Training’s Candidate Management System

You must have led at least 15 graded rock climbs with traditional protection

You must have led at least 15 climbing wall routes

You must have led at least 5 outdoor bolt protected sport climbs

You must be a member of a Mountaineering Council (the British Mountaineering Council, Mountaineering Council of Scotland or Mountaineering Ireland)

WHO WILL RUN MY COURSE?

All courses are run by myself, occasionally if I have to use another Instructor then I will inform you of that. I don’t use instructors unknown to me or who aren’t close friends. The small team that I use are equally as qualified, experienced and keen to share their enthusiasm of the mountains in a relaxed and safe manner.

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?

You should ensure you are appropriately equipped to spend 3 days climbing, so a rope, harness, climbing rack, helmet and climbing shoes are essential. I will send you a detailed kit list when you confirm your place.

WHERE DO WE MEET?

I will meet you at the Beacon Climbing wall at 1015 on the 1st day.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

All instruction and specialist equipment like ropes and helmets if required.

Climbing Wall Entry

WHAT"S NOT INCLUDED

Accommodation

Food

Personal Insurance

Personal equipment

BOOKING

You will need to complete a booking form and pay the course fee at time of booking.

WHERE CAN I STAY?

There is a full range of accommodation options in Snowdonia to suit every budget and taste. The ones suggested in FAQ operate independently from Paul Poole Mountaineering.