AMGA

American Mountain Guides Association

AMGA Accreditation Established in 1986, the AMGA Accreditation Program endorses guide services, climbing programs, and school or university outdoor programs that offer climbing instruction, guided climbing, or skiing services.

Accreditation provides a consistent standard for assessing the reliability and professionalism of a climbing service by ensuring it:

Conforms to industry standards
Guarantees rigorous and uniform guide training
Is compliant with state and federal law
Promotes ethical business practices

Blue Ridge Mountain Guides is the only AMGA Accredited Business in the South East.

AMGA Scope of Practice The AMGA believes that all professional members and accredited businesses should operate under clearly defined minimum standards. The AMGA Scope of Practice (SOP) outlines the minimum training and certification a guide or instructor must have to work within specific terrain. The primary goal of SOP is to support and promote safety, quality of experience, and the public interest.

The mission of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) To be the leader in education, standards and advocacy for professional guides and climbing instructors.

International Representation

The AMGA represents the United States as a member country of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA).
The IFMGA is the international governing body responsible for guiding standards and education around the world - there are currently 27 member countries.

AMGA training and certification programs are designed to provide an individual with the necessary skill sets to effectively guide clients in Rock, Alpine, and/or Ski terrain.

The AMGA and IFMGA

AMGA Training & Certification Programs

Single Pitch Instructor Program

The Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) Program teaches climbing instructors to proficiently facilitate and instruct the sport of rock climbing in a single pitch, or small rock cliff setting.
The SPI Program is the only internationally recognized single pitch climbing instructor certification program in the United States.
This entry-level certification consists of a minimum of five days of instruction and examination plus personal pre-requisite experience.

Mountain Guide Program

AMGA Mountain Guide Programs train and certify working and aspiring Guides.
The programs consist of three disciplines: Alpine, Rock, and Ski. If an individual becomes certified in all three disciplines they become an American Mountain Guide/IFMGA Guide.
For each discipline (Alpine, Rock, and Ski) there is a series of courses and a final exam totaling between 26 and 42 days (86 days to terminal certification) of rigorous instruction and examination with experienced IFMGA/American Mountain Guide teachers and mentors.
Individuals must log additional guiding and climbing experience throughout the training and certification process, an undertaking which takes many years to complete.

AMGA Training & Certification Levels: Climbing Instructor Program

The AMGA certification process is extensive and a guide may be at various stages on their track.

The following definitions provide an explanation of the specific training and certification levels of an individual instructor.

Instructor: An individual who has passed the Climbing Wall Instructor Certification Course,

Single Pitch Instructor Assessment, Rock Instructor Exam, Multi-Pitch Instructor Exam or Ice Instructor Exam. Minimum trainings days to reach instructor certification shown.

AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor

2.5 Days

AMGA Single Pitch Instructor

5 Days

AMGA Rock Instructor

16 Days

AMGA Ice Instructor

21 Days

AMGA Multi-Pitch Instructor

23 Days

AMGA Training & Certification Levels: Mountain Guide Program
The AMGA certification process is extensive and a guide may be at various stages on their track.

The following flow chart and definitions provide an explanation of the specific AMGA training and certification levels of an individual guide. Additional non-AMGA prerequisites like Wilderness Medicine certifications and Avalanche training are not indicated below.

Apprentice Guide: An individual who has successfully completed any entry level course (Alpine Skills Course, Rock Guide Course, Alpine Guide Course, or Ski Guide Course).