NEW: Bouldering Wall Instructor coming soon

Mountain Training will soon be launching a new qualification: Bouldering Wall Instructor. Here’s the inside scoop on why it’s being created and what it will cover.

 

The number of bouldering-only climbing centres has increased in recent years, with the 2023 Association of British Climbing Walls survey finding that 67% of walls that opened over the preceding four years offer bouldering only. Bouldering walls are enjoyed by people of all ages for children’s birthday parties, NICAS Bouldering sessions, performance coaching, community meetups, coffee catch ups and as a more colourful and relaxed place to workout than most gyms.

 

Until now, managers in bouldering-only centres have had two ways to ensure the competency of their staff: Mountain Training’s Climbing Wall Instructor qualification, which involves training and assessment in supervising roped climbing as well as bouldering, or in-house, site-specific training provided by a suitable, competent person. Site-specific training can be very effective, but it may need to be delivered in full for each new employee, which can be costly and difficult to organise . How to instruct a group in roped climbing is not something that’s relevant in a centre with no ropes, so the only current nationally recognised qualification is too much. Which means it’s time for a bouldering-only instructional qualification to support this growing sector and meet the specific needs of the workforce.

 

What is it?

Bouldering Wall Instructor will be a nationally recognised qualification for people working or volunteering in indoor/artificial bouldering-only venues. It will cover all elements involved in the effective supervision and safe management of bouldering, such as planning and managing sessions, hazards and emergency procedures and teaching skills.

 

Expert consultation

Mountain Training consulted members of the Association of British Climbing Walls, NICAS and other interested parties in response to growing demand for a new qualification, before forming a working group of expert coaches and instructors to design the content and candidate requirements.

 

Key info

Minimum age for training: 16
Minimum age for assessment: 18
Training: 1 day (7 hours + online learning)
Assessment: 3 hours

 

Ideal for: bouldering wall staff, climbing coaches, volunteers or others who want to supervise groups on bouldering-only walls.

 

Launch details

Mountain Training is working hard to launch the Bouldering Wall Instructor qualification in Spring 2025.

 

Benefits