Whether you are considering becoming a climbing instructor, certain of your path to being a climbing professional, or just looking to apply the AMGA SPI skillset in your personal climbing, the SPI Course and Assessment will provide you with professional level technical and interpersonal skills.

AMGA SPI Course

The Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) Program teaches climbing instructors to proficiently facilitate and instruct the sport of rock climbing in a single pitch setting. The SPI is the only internationally recognized single pitch climbing instructor certification program in the United States. It was developed to fit in the AMGA Rock program.

Benefits:
- It significantly improves the instructor’s skill sets and integrates into the next level of training, which includes the AMGA Rock Guide Course and the Multi-Pitch Instructor certification.
- The program is for current, active rock climbers who have a real desire to teach rock climbing to novices in a single pitch setting.
- The SPI Course is a 27 hour training course plus ~ 3 hours of pre-course eLearning that normally runs as three consecutive nine-hour days or day classes with evening sessions.
- The SPI Assessment is a minimum of 16 hours run over a two-day period.
- Certification lasts for three years as long as the candidate keeps current AMGA Membership and First Aid Certification.
- After three years current SPI’s can re-take the SPI Assessment to regain the SPI certification.
- Taking any higher level AMGA Course also recertifies the SPI certification for another three years.
- You are a Professional Member of the AMGA.
- You have a genuine interest in rock climbing and instructing novices on single pitch crags.
- You are at least 18 years old at the time of the course.
- You have at least 12 months prior climbing experience.
- You are an active climber with traditional lead climbing experience (leader placing pro).
- You have led a minimum of 15 traditional rock climbing routes (any grade).
- You are capable of comfortably climbing 5.8 while on a top rope.
The above prerequisites are absolute minimums. Without having at least this amount experience you are unlikely to make best use of the training.
You must submit an SPI Course Climbing Resume to BRMG by email by the time of the course.

Students/candidates will receive a "not pass" final mark if they are deficient in performance, fail to meet the program prerequisites, fail to complete eLearning, or breach the AMGA code of conduct & ethics.

AMGA SPI Assessment

- The SPI Assessment is held over two days and is at least 16 hours.
- During the assessment candidates are evaluated in nine categories while applying skills learned during the course and while guiding and instructing assessment clients.
- Day one is composed of operating technical systems and demonstrating climbing movement.
- Day two consists of candidates continuing to demonstrate technical systems or climbing as well as instructing assigned teaching segments.
- Evaluation categories include: Professionalism, Risk Management, Terrain Assessment, Technical Systems, Application, Instructional Ability, Client Care, Climbing Movement, and Mountain Sense.
- You are a current member of the AMGA.
- You have successfully completed an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Course within the past 2 years. For those renewing, their SPI certification must be valid or within 1 year expiration.
- You have led a minimum of 40 traditional routes, most of which should be 5.6 and on a variety of rock types.
- You are able to comfortably lead 5.6 traditional routes, which means you place protection.
- You are able to comfortably climb 5.8 on top rope.
- The SPI Assessment can be taken directly following the SPI Course if the candidate successfully completed the course and meets the assessment prerequisites. However, it is highly recommended that the SPI Course candidate take time practicing and consolidating the skills learned on the course before assessment (3-6 months).
- You do not need First Aid training to take the course or assessment. However, it is your responsibility to hold appropriate medical certification for the location that you are working in.
You must submit an SPI Assessment Climbing Resume to BRMG by email by the time of the course.
Students/candidates will receive a "not pass" final mark if they are deficient in performance, fail to meet the program prerequisites, fail to complete eLearning, or breach the AMGA code of conduct & ethics.

AMGA Climbing Instructor Program 2022 Policy Updates
- Effective January 1, 2022

2 Year SPI Course sunset time:
The SPI Course will have a sunset time of two years. After two years, if the SPI Course graduate has not passed an SPI Exam, they will need to retake the SPI Course prior to pursuing the SPI Exam.
SPI Course graduates do not have a minimum time limit to wait before enrolling in an SPI Exam as long as they meet the prerequisites for for the Exam.
For Frequently Asked Questions and Program make-up guidelines, please use the link at the top of this section.
12 Month SPI/CWI Certification re-entry period:
Any certified SPI or CWI whose certification expires will have a 12 month re-entry period to regain certification.
During the re-entry period their certification is no longer valid.
In order to regain certification they must pass a 2 day SPI Exam or 1 day CWI recert during the re-entry period.
If they do not pursue recertification during the 12 month re-entry period, they will be required to retake the entire SPI Course prior to an SPI Exam or the entire CWI Program to regain certification.
AMGA SPI Course Tuition
$675.00 per person
Includes print copy of The AMGA Single Pitch Instructors Manual

AMGA SPI Assessment Tuition
$475.00 per person

*WV locations +6% sales tax
*Great Falls, VA +20.00 park fee or applicable America the Beautiful Pass (present or pay at park entry)
Groups of 7+, AMGA Programs, and AIARE Courses
At the time of booking, a 50% deposit is due. Deposits are refundable 90 days or more prior to your program start. NC State Park Fees are charged at the time of booking and are non-refundable and non-transferable. Your deposit is transferable once within the calendar year if requested 30 days prior to the scheduled program start. Once a deposit is transferred to a new booking, the full program cost is due and is non-refundable and non-transferable. Within 30 days of all scheduled programs, the full program cost is due and is non-refundable and non-transferable. In the event of severe weather or other circumstances out of BRMG’s control, or if parks and forests close or are not able to issue permits, it may be necessary to reschedule or change the location or objective of your trip.