AMGA Single Pitch Instructor

Do you have a passion for climbing, instructing and sharing meaningful experiences with others? The Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) Program is the perfect place to jumpstart your career as an instructor or guide.

The SPI program is a certification process through the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). The program is broken into two steps: the 3-day Single Pitch Instructor Course and the 2-day Single Pitch Instructor Exam.

During the Single Pitch Instructor Course, you will spend 3 days learning all the technical skills and decision-making tools required to work as a guide and instructor in single-pitch terrain. The course is broken into bite-sized lessons allowing students to move through the curriculum at a smooth and steady pace. Each learning module on the course includes an opportunity for hands-on practice to refine each skill while receiving valuable feedback from the instructor. Course topics will include: anchoring for institutional settings, top-managed climbing, base-managed climbing, rappelling, rescue skills, instructional technique, site selection, coaching movement, and more. By the end of this course, you have learned all the skills necessary to pass the 2-day SPI Exam. 

The Single Pitch Instructor Exam is a 2-day assessment of the skills taught on the SPI Course. The exam is broken into two parts. On Day One of the exam, candidates will demonstrate fluid proficiency in all the required technical systems either in one continuous exam scenario or in separate exam modules. On Day Two, candidates will demonstrate their instructional ability while facilitating a guided outing with real clients under the supervision of the instructor. Candidates who successfully pass the SPI Exam will become Certified Single Pitch Instructors through the AMGA.