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Australian Climbing Instructors Assosciation

About BMCS & ACIA

The Australian Climbing Instructors Assosciation (ACIA) represents climbing interests throughout Australia and offers instruction at cliffs in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland.

The aims of the association are to promote professional standards of rock climbing instruction as well as to assist its member guides and instructors with issues such as accreditation, land management and licensing, cliff access and environmental responsibility.

More information about the ACIA Training & Assessment Structure can be found at this link.

The Blue Mountains Climbing School are stoked to be an ACIA Approved Course Provider.

We are always keen to facilitate custom dates, so if the dates of our scheduled courses/assessments don’t work for you, get in touch and lets see what we can do . * Discounts for group bookings may apply

TRG (Top Rope Guide) Training

About the Course:

  • 4 Days, 1:6 Ratio
  • Min 2 People to run

Entry requirements:  This course is designed for those who wish to gain qualification with the ACIA in order to work in the rock-climbing industry in a top rope / abseil guiding context. No previous guiding experience is necessary, though participants do need to be actively involved in rock climbing (indoors / outdoors) and have logged at least ten days personal experience with climbing/ abseil activities at outdoor crags in a variety of areas.

Candidates will be required to provide their own equipment and personal climbing gear for the course. Course content will include top rope bottom and top belay anchor construction; abseil construction, site selection; soft skill instruction – running a top rope session, pre & de-briefing, methods of group management; environmental impacts & etiquette at sites, ratios; teach belaying, rescue skills for top rope and abseil guiding.

Top Rope Guide consolidation period requirements (prior to attending assessment):

  • Logged experience showing at least five days guiding / supervising (assisting / co- delivering) Top Rope climbing and abseil activities.
  • Logged experience, minimum five days (min 20 routes logged) personal experience climbing at outdoor crags, at a variety of venues.
  • This mandatory logged experience is considered the minimum to enable prospective guides to develop the skills, knowledge and abilities, with candidates looking toward assessment ideally surpassing this

TRG (Top Rope Guide) Assessment

About the Assessment:

  • 2 Days, 1:3 Ratio
  • Min 1 Person to run

Entry requirements: • Must have completed an approved TRG training program or gained an exemption from the ACIA. • Must present a logbook detailing (at least) the minimum requirements of climbing and instructing experience (consolidation requirements) since the training course. Individuals who satisfy the assessment requirements will be competent to conduct top rope and abseiling sessions.

TRG Course

TRG Assessment

SCI (Sport Climbing Instructor) Training

About the Course:

  • 2 Days, 1:6 Ratio
  • Min 2 People to run

Scope: A qualified sport climbing instructor can instruct and teach the knowledge and good practice systems, required by individuals, who wish to lead climb independently at single pitch sport climbing crags.

This training course will cover a variety of approaches to help candidates to develop the skills and abilities to teach others to lead climb on Sport routes safely and effectively.

Prerequisite personal experience and qualification:

  • Current holder of ACIA TRG (Top Rope Guide) or SPG (Single Pitch Guide) Qualification
  • Minimum 20 days logged experience operating as a TRG or SPG, at a variety of crags
  • Minimum 80 sport routes, logged experience, at a variety of crags
  • Able to comfortably lead at grade 18 (minimum)

Consolidation period requirements (prior to attending an assessment)

  • Logged experience showing at least 10 days teaching / supervising lead climbing (assisting / co-instructing)
  • Logged experience, personal climbing, minimum 30 sport routes, variety of venues
  • Leading comfortably at a minimum of grade 18

SCI (Sport Climbing Instructor) Assessment

About the Assessment:

  • 1 Day, 1:2 Ratio
  • Min 1 Person to run

To be successful and qualified as an SCI (Sport Climbing Instructor) requires attendance and successful completion of all assessment components.

  • Successful completion of the practical assessment course, 1 day – competence with all aspects of the syllabus and all prerequisites is required, assessment to involve instruction to model clients (real climbers at appropriate skill level)
  • Successful completion of theory tasks (creation of session plan for practical teaching day)
  • Current first aid qualification

SCI Training

SCI Assessment

SPG (Single Pitch Guide) Training

About the Course:

  • 4 Days, D1&2 1:6 Ratio – D3&4 1:3 Ratio
  • Min 2 People to run

This course is for those who would like to work in the industry, or for recreational climbers who would like to learn about instructing techniques. The course fee includes Associate Membership of the ACIA for the current calendar year.

Entry requirements : Candidates may enter at this level bypassing the Top Rope Guide level if they feel they have sufficient lead climbing experience. It is expected that candidates be competent lead climbers on traditional gear up to a minimum of grade 14, and have their own personal climbing equipment to participate in the training program. Previous instructional experience is not necessary. However, candidates for assessment will be required to confidently demonstrate a minimum of grade 14 leading on traditional gear.

Over the four days, candidates will cover a full range of techniques and issues relating to climbing instruction, including:

  • The setting up of safe and efficient top rope and abseil teaching systems using a variety of belays and sites.
  • Methods for conducting clients safely and efficiently on single-pitch climbs.
  • Self rescue techniques and emergency situations relevant to single-pitch situations.
  • Site choice with relation to safety, environmental factors and outcome for the participant.
  • Teaching techniques and group management issues.
  • Environmental and land management concerns.

Single Pitch Guide Interim Training Requirements:

1. Complete either:

  • Forty (40) lead climbs at a variety of locations and rock types at least half of which should be at grade 14 or above or
  • 1000 metres of lead climbing at a variety of locations and rock types

2. Work experience (observation) days with qualified guides. These days are compulsory and must be completed before applying for assessment. The number of days for each candidate will be discussed at the end of the training course.

SPG (Single Pitch Guide) Assessment

About the Assessment:

  • 2 Days, D1 1:3 Ratio – D2 1:2 Ratio
  • Min 1 Person to run

Entry requirements: • Must have completed an approved SPG training program or gained an exemption from the ACIA. • Must present a logbook detailing (at least) the minimum requirements of climbing and instructing experience (interim requirements) as discussed during the training. Individuals who satisfy the assessment requirements at this level will be competent to guide single pitch climbing and single pitch abseiling activities. There is a minimum leading grade requirement of grade 14 on traditional gear for this assessment.

SPG Course

SPG Assessment

MPG (Multi Pitch Guide) Training

About the Course:

  • 3 Days, D1 1:4 Ratio – D2&3 1:2 Ratio
  • Min 2 People to run

Entry requirements: Must have completed the single pitch guide (SPG) training course, or gained an exemption from this training from the ACIA. Candidates do not need to have completed the single pitch guide assessment. It is expected that candidates will have strong multi-pitch climbing experience (typically to grade 16).

Course content: Over the three days the course will build on the skills gained in the single-pitch guide course and give instruction and practice in various techniques specific to multi-pitch guiding, including:

  • Efficient multi-pitch belay set ups.
  • Methods for conducting students safely and efficiently on multi-pitch climbs.
  • Self rescue techniques and emergency situations relating to multi-pitch climbing.

Multi Pitch Guide Interim Training Requirements:

1. Forty (40) multi pitch climbs at a variety of locations 20 of which are at or above grade 16.

2. Four days of observation/work experience. At least 1 of these days must be a practicum day under the guidance of a qualified MP guide – ACIA preferred. More details are provided during the MPG training.

MPG (Multi Pitch Guide) Assessment

About the Assessment:

  • 2 Days, 1:2 Ratio
  • Min 1 Person to run

Entry requirements: It is expected that candidates will be experienced single pitch guides and competent recreational lead climbers on multi-pitch climbs.

  • Must have completed an approved MPG training program or gained an exemption from the ACIA.
  • Must present a logbook detailing (at least) the minimum requirements of climbing and instructing experience. Must be a Full financial member of the ACIA.

Individuals who satisfy the assessment requirements at this level will be competent to guide people on multi pitch climbs and abseils. They will demonstrate all of the skills, knowledge and experience associated with the SPG level as well as demonstrating stronger technical, guiding and rescue skills appropriate to multi pitch climbs. The minimum lead climbing standard expected is grade 16 on traditional gear.

MPG Course

MPG Assessment

CI (Climbing Instructor) Training

About the Course:

  • 3 Days, 1:4 Ratio
  • Min 2 People to run

Entry Requirements: It is expected that candidates in the CI training program are experienced SPGs, have completed the MPG training course and are experienced lead climbers. Candidates should apply to the ACIA office with evidence of their suitability including details of the following minimum requirements:

  • Five years of climbing experience (minimum of 2000 metres/year) on a variety of rock types and including climbs up to grade 16.
  • Three years of regular guiding and/or instruction.

Course content: The focus of this course is very much on the distinction between guiding and the instruction of clients to operate independently. There is discussion of effective teaching models, the assessment of a client’s level of skill, developing an appropriate teaching progression and practical techniques to minimise risk during training and afterwards.

Practical sessions include:

  • Structuring a ‘learning to lead’ course with case scenarios.
  • Techniques for managing a student making their first lead climb.
  • Rescue techniques relevant to dealing with a student lead climber.
  • Teaching gear placement and belay set ups to clients.

Climbing Instructor Interim Training Requirements:

  1. Maintain personal lead climbing practice to at least the currency requirements for existing ACIA guides and instructors.
  2. Observe/assist a registered ACIA CI or ITA on a minimum of 4 days of climbing instruction of which at least 2 days must involve lead climbing instruction. Candidates should make every attempt to observe/assist more than one instructor.

CI (Climbing Instructor) Assessment

About the Assessment:

  • 2 Days, 1:2 Ratio
  • Min 1 Person to run

Entry requirements: Should be a qualified MPG and have completed the CI Training and all interim log book requirements. Individuals who satisfy the assessment requirements at this level will be competent to teach others to be independent climbers (top-rope, lead climbing and abseiling). They will demonstrate a high level of personal climbing competence and would normally be leading to a minimum of grade 16 on traditional gear.

CI Course

CI Assessment

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