Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor

Must be a qualified: Mountain Leader
Registration is an application process and requires approval from Mountain Training UK & Ireland
Training: 2 x 5 days
Assessment: 5 days.

Average time from training to passing assessment: 4.6 years

Ideal for: Experienced mountaineers and rock climbing instructors who want to lead and instruct scrambling and multi-pitch rock climbing, including teaching lead climbing.

Some amends to the prerequisites have been agreed and will be implemented between June 2026 and January 2028.

View the amends

*Rock climbing experience at registration:
The Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor scheme is UK and Ireland orientated and the experience recorded should reflect this. While experience gained trekking or climbing in the High Atlas Mountains, for example, is undoubtedly valuable, it is not necessarily the most appropriate experience for the scheme. Mountain Training UK & Ireland is looking for both depth and breadth of experience since candidates who have only the minimum experience are unlikely to benefit fully from either the training or assessment course.

In general terms, successful applicants will have climbed at least 100 multi-pitch routes.

Candidates should bear in mind that the 30 routes must be multi-pitch (described as such in the guidebook and climbed as such) and must be at least VS 4c.

As a general rule, at least two-thirds of the routes should fall into the mountain/major sea cliff category. Moss Ghyll Grooves, Dream of White Horses and The Clean Sweep are examples of the type of route expected rather than short, contrived climbs that may be more technically difficult, for example, Merlin Direct at Tremadog.

There should be evidence of recent climbing experience.

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 Training and assessment courses are delivered by Glenmore Lodge and Plas y Brenin. 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.

Training

Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor training takes place over two five-day courses.

Training Part 1 will cover:

• Risk management and risk assessment.
• Single pitch climbing - modelling good practice in all aspects of climbing and abseiling. 
• The foundation skills of problem solving and improvised rescue. 
• Mountaineering and scrambling introduction, including operating within and beyond the scope of a Mountain Leader, and short roping with one person.
• Multi-pitch climbing - good practice while taking people climbing, making use of in series and parallel rope systems.
• Navigation skills, including teaching navigation.
• Advice and action plans for candidate practice between training courses - maintaining safety and maximising learning.

During the course, you will receive advice about appropriate experience to be gained ahead of Training Part 2, how to do this safely and how to maximise learning. This experience is not mandatory, however one of the benefits of the two course format is the opportunity to learn and embed skills progressively.

Training Part 2 will cover:

• Teaching climbing - all aspects of guiding and teaching multi-pitch climbing including teaching lead climbing.
• Mountaineering and scrambling progression - including managing two people on the rope in complex terrain.
• Problem solving and improvised rescue skills on multi-pitch venues. 
• Teaching scrambling and mountaineering. 
• Advice and action plans for the consolidation phase and meeting assessment requirements while maintaining safety and maximising learning. Ideas for additional support, workshops and insurance.

Consolidation

The consolidation period begins after both training courses have been completed, use the feedback from your course director and the skills checklist (download below) to identify syllabus areas you need to practise. 

You can use the Effective Consolidation for Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor trainees course to help you make a plan for your consolidation period. The e-learning course is available for free to all MCI registrants and can be found in the e-learning area on tahdah.

Effective Consolidation for Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor trainees e-learning

Once both training course reports have been processed, you will receive an email offering you complimentary trainee membership of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) until the end of the membership year. Click the link in the email if you would like to accept the offer.

Association of Mountaineering Instructors offers trainee workshops and peer-led learning opportunities to help you during your consolidation phase.

Assessment

The Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor assessment is five days long. You will be assessed against the syllabus competencies in the candidate handbook. At the end of the assessment you will receive one of three results:

• Pass
• Defer (requires a partial reassessment)
• Fail (requires a full reassessment

Candidate handbook last updated: May 2026