AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) Training & Assessment in The Gunks

November 22, 2025 - November 23, 2025

Apr 04, 2026 - Apr 05, 2026

May 02, 2026 - May 03, 2026

Aug 01, 2026 - Aug 02, 2026 For all Women and Non- Binary. Taught by a female instructor

To apply, fill out the form to the left. Be sure to click on either the course or the assessment.

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 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.

• Successfully completing or passing any higher-level AMGA Course also recertifies the SPI certification for another three years.

SPI Course Prerequisites:

• 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.

SPI Assessment Prerequisites

• 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.