Rock Climbing Instructor: take groups onto real rock
Mountain Training's Rock Climbing Instructor award is for experienced lead climbers who want to instruct on single-pitch crags and climbing walls.
In this guide
- What it is: The award for instructing climbing on single-pitch crags and on climbing walls and towers.
- What you need first: You must be 18, be an experienced indoor and outdoor climber and be a member of the BMC, Mountaineering Scotland or Mountaineering Ireland.
- What you'll learn: The technical, leadership and teaching skills to run safe single-pitch sessions.
- How long it takes: 3 days of training (2 if everyone on the course has done Climbing Wall Instructor training) and 2 days of assessment. Mountain Training says the average gap is 1.1 years.
- Cost: Registration is £69. A typical UK course costs £450 to £1,000, with Rock Climbing Instructor training and assessment at the lower end.
- What's next: Climbing coaching awards (climbing track). Heading for multi-pitch and mountain crags? Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor also needs the Mountain Leader award.
Sun on the crag, ropes rigged and a group about to touch real rock for the first time. That's your office with this award.
Before training
- 15 led trad routes.
- 15 led routes at a climbing wall.
- 5 led outdoor sport routes.
Before assessment
- Leading Severe confidently on outdoor crags, on gear you place yourself.
- 40 led trad climbs at a variety of venues, at least 20 of them at Severe or above.
- 30 wall leads at F4 or above, and 10 sport leads at F4 or above.
- Helping to supervise 20 instructed sessions (10 on indoor walls and 10 on outdoor crags), with your own reflective comments on at least five of them in DLOG.
- A current first aid certificate from an in-person course of at least two full days (16 hours) with an assessment.
Our advice: the Rock Skills Learn to Lead Trad course is a solid stepping stone, and Mountain Training points people heading for this award towards it.
Source: Rock Climbing Instructor and Rock Skills Learn to Lead Trad Climbs, Mountain Training, checked October 2026.
Governing body: British Mountaineering Council (BMC) for England and Wales. Leader and instructor awards come from Mountain Training, and coasteering standards come from the National Coasteering Charter, so these are the official places to find out more.
Typical prices, checked October 2026. The club or coach sets and bills the price.
The club map lists some of the UK clubs for this sport. It is a starting point, so check with the club before you travel. To have a coach found for you, use the enquiry form.
