The single pitch award is the first step to becoming an outdoor rock climbing instructor. It is also the recognised qualification for teaching indoors but primarily a qualification that will allow you to take clients on a single pitch crag within the UK.

Your first step to gaining your SPA is to get registered on the scheme, you can do this at www.mltuk.org.

Training

The training course lasts for around 20 hours over two days. The courses are run throughout the most times of the year. If you have an exceptionally high level of experience you may apply for exemption from the training course.

Consolidation

Once completing your training you can then think of gaining experience as an outdoor climbing instructor, group days out can prove hard to get so be prepared and get in contact with lots of companies.

Consolidation period is usually a minimum of 6 months then if you have gained enough experience you can go onto your assessment.

Assessment

The assessment will last for a minimum of 20 hours and should include personal climbing, group supervision and the use of climbing walls.

In your logbook you should have completed a minimum of 40 climbs outdoors on leader placed protection, they should be on different types of rock and some should be of a minimum grade of severe.

At the end of you assessment you will have a possibility of three outcomes; pass, defer or fail.

Courses for 2011:

SPA Training

11-12/6/11, 23-24/7/11

SPA assessment

16-17/4/10, 14-15/5/10,

Dates available on request for groups of 4 or 8

SPA training – £130

SPA assessment – £135

Please contact us for bookings.