Climbing Instructor Jobs
The qualification you will need to get started as a climbing instructor is the Mountain Leader Training Single Pitch Award. This is the one almost all employers will be asking for. This award allows you to supervise groups on single pitch crags and indoor walls. To qualify for the award you will need to demonstrate knowledge of climbing venues and rope management. You will also need to show you can control groups, and undertake emergency procedures. The course itself usually lasts a couple of days and you will learn a great deal from it. There is more information about the course, and other climbing courses offered here: mlte.org and here: mltuk.org. You should also make sure your first aid certificate is up to date, as you will need this as part of the course assessment.
If you are looking to go a step further, look at getting the Mountain Leader Award and the Mountain Instructor Certificate. These allow you to lead groups in more challenging conditions and environments. They will broaden your experience and improve your job prospects.
So once you are qualified to teach, what can you expect from a climbing instructor job? The main job requirements are going to mirror the information you learnt during the Single Pitch Award, namely being able to provide direct instruction to groups on various aspects of climbing. You’ll be responsible for the health and safety of the people you are teaching. There will probably also be some paperwork involved.
We spoke to Adam about his experiences as a Climbing Instructor in West Wales.
"I have been mad keen on climbing for years now. I went on an activity holiday in the Peak District as a kid and being allowed to climb all over these rocks without my Mum shouting at me to get down was fantastic. It all grew from there really. I found a local climbing wall and went there a lot to improve my skills. The staff there were really helpful and when I asked them about how to get more involved, they said I should do the single pitch award or the climbing wall award."
"I took that and started applying for jobs. There weren’t loads of jobs available so I did some more courses at college and I think it was that that helped me get my first job. I was an assistant climbing instructor with an outdoor pursuits centre in the Lake District. I imagined myself somewhere like Wales or Scotland to be honest I thought the Lake District would be a bit flat. I was wrong. There is some of the best climbing in the country. It was ace being able to climb in my free time, and climb while I was at work too. Teaching groups of kids from the city who had probably never seen a mountain before is so rewarding. Making sure they are aware of all the safety procedures and how dangerous it can be, then getting them out on the rock. Teaching people to climb is the best job in the world!"
"Recently I moved to a new company in Wales and I have started to take my mountain leader award so that I can take groups out away from the purpose built wall at the centre."
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