Climbing Wall Instructor (cwi) Certification

Provided by American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA)

The AMGA has developed a program to train and evaluate indoor climbing wall instructors. Upon successful completion of the course the participants will receive a certification as a certified Climbing Wall Instructor.

The course will be a minimum of (20) twenty hours of instruction, skills demonstration, and evaluation.

The course will address the technical skills necessary to manage an instructional program at an indoor / artificial climbing wall facility, and will address the following general topic areas:

  • Instructor roles, responsibilities and professionalism

  • Client orientation and instruction

  • Risk management

  • Lesson planning

  • Teaching basic climbing skills including movement

  • Teaching lead climbing skills

  • Teaching top-rope and lead belaying techniques

  • Equipment and facility use

  • Rescue and emergency procedures

Cost

$450 for 20-hour course & certification

$225 for one-day recertification

This does NOT include: room & board, AMGA membership (required for certification), or equipment.

  • The course is available for lead and non-lead instructors.

  • This is a recognized entry-level program for the AMGA.

  • CWI Certification lasts for three years. After three years current CWI’s can re-take a one-day reassessment to regain the CWI certification.

For more information about this program, please contact Chuck at: chuck@verticalrealms.com or 860-508-5273.

PLEASE NOTE

  • Online reservation is required.

  • All visitors must have a current RCF Waiver on file.

This course is non-refundable.

Schedule

Monday, August 25th: 8:30am - 5:30pm (8 hours)

Tuesday, August 26th: 8:30am - 5:30pm (8 hours)

Wednesday, August 27th: 8:30am - 1pm (4 hours) + time after to review some topics, if necessary


Requirements

  • Hold a current AMGA Membership (you’ll need to get a membership BEFORE the course starts in order to access pre-course materials). This is NOT included in the cost of the course.

  • 18 years older or older at the start of the course.

  • Current first aid and CPR (a minimum of American Red Cross Basic – 5.5 to 6.5 hours)

  • Experience climbing at an indoor climbing gym or climbing structure for a minimum of 1 year.

  • Ability to comfortably climb at 5.9 top rope and 5.8 lead while modeling & coaching climbing movement.

  • Can lead climb, correctly clipping, managing rope, and take a lead fall (if you plan to take the lead portion of the CWI)

  • Experience lead belaying (participants will be assessed using both a plate/tube style device AND an assisted braking device such as the GriGri or Cinch)

  • Knowledge in tying the following knots: figure eight follow thru; figure eight on a bight; overhand on a bight.

  • Understand and have had experience teaching (formally or informally) the use of personal climbing equipment, including shoes, harness, belay device, carabiners, and ropes.