Key info

Must be a qualified: Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor AND Winter Mountain Leader
Registration is an application process and requires approval from Mountain Training UK & Ireland
Training: 5 days
Assessment: 4 days

Average time from training to passing assessment: 3.4 years

Ideal for: Experienced winter mountaineers and leaders who want lead and instruct winter scrambling, snow and ice climbing.

Entry requirements

Register -> Record experience -> Book a training course [GIF]

To register
  • You must hold the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor qualification.
  • You must have gained 20 days experience teaching/leading post Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor assessment. These days must be logged in DLOG
  • You must have passed the Winter Mountain Leader assessment
  • You must have gained 20 winter quality mountain days as a leader, at least half of which must have been gained post-Winter Mountain Leader assessment. These days must be logged in DLOG
  • You must have led winter climbs at Grade III or above
  • You must have logged (in DLOG) at least 10 routes at Grade II or above and at least 10 at Grade III or above in a minimum of three main mountain areas of the UK
  • There must also be a reference* in the Referee tab of your DLOG, in support of your registration application.
  • Register for the Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor qualification (cost: £95)
  • On the ‘Share’ tab of your DLOG, click the ‘Send to MT’ button to let us know your DLOG is ready to be reviewed
  • Your logbook will be reviewed by a Mountain Training UK & Ireland technical officer – this can take up to 30 days
To book a training course
  • Your Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor registration must have been approved

To book an assessment course

  • You must have completed a Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor training course.
  • You must be familiar with the syllabus.
  • You must have logged a minimum of 10 days in the mountains managing parties in winter conditions
  • You must have logged a minimum of 5 days climbing experience at Grade III or above
  • You must have physically attended and completed (i.e. not online) a first aid course which involved at least two full days or sixteen hours of instruction and included an element of assessment
Courses

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

 

Training

Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor training lasts for five days and will cover:

  • The Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor syllabus
  • What to expect at assessment
  • Feedback and areas to focus on prior to assessment

 

Syllabus

  • Personal winter mountaineering
  • Winter mountaineering instruction
  • Winter climbing instruction
  • Assessment of risk and its application
  • National qualifications

 

Consolidation

After completing a training course, use the feedback from your course director and the skills checklist (download below) to identify syllabus areas you need to practise.

 

Association of Mountaineering Instructors logo

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

 

Assessment

The Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor assessment is four 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
Meet an instructor