Climbing Wall Instructor Abseil Module

The Abseil Module is an optional module undertaken by those involved in the Climbing Wall Instructor scheme. Some Climbing Wall Instructor providers will offer the Abseil Module as part of the main training course if the facility they are planning to use is appropriate.

Ideal for: People who intend to run sessions on abseiling on artificial structures.

Climbing Wall Instructor courses delivered by Mountain Training England are regulated by Ofqual.

Registration for the Abseil Module is automatically added to your account when you register for the Climbing Wall Instructor scheme.

Before you attend an Abseil Module training course, make sure you have done the following:

• You must be registered on the Climbing Wall Instructor scheme and have completed the training course.
• You must have experience of at least 5 abseils from more than one location.

Training

Abseil Module training lasts for 4 hours and will be run by one of our approved providers in the UK or Ireland. Normally this will be part of a Climbing Wall Instructor training course, although occasionally it is run as a stand alone module. A variety of cost packages are available depending on what's included; food, accommodation etc. so you can choose one that's right for you.

Syllabus

Abseil Module holders should be competent in the following key areas, all of which will be covered, to a greater or lesser extent, during your training course.

•         Technical Competence (including equipment, belaying, abseiling)
•         Management and Decision Making (including planning, magaging participants, managing other staff, decision making and knowledge and demonstration of techniques)
•         Teaching and Learning Skills

Detailed information on each of the above topics can be found in the candidate handbook and the onus is on you to be competent in all of them by the time you come to assessment.

Assessment

Before you attend an Abseil Module assessment course, make sure you have done the following:

• You must have attended an Abseil Module training course
• You must have passed the Climbing Wall Instructor assessment
• You must have observed or assisted on a minimum of 5 abseil/top-rope sessions.

Assessments are run by one of our approved providers and a variety of cost packages are available, depending on what's included; food, accommodation etc. so you can choose one that's right for you.

Candidate handbook last updated: June 2026