Rock Climbing Development Instructor Assessment

Post training and before presenting yourself for assessment:

• You must have logged a minimum of 10 rock climbing teaching days with students at a variety of outdoor venues.
• Be a current member of a mountaineering council.
• You must have led a minimum of 30 single pitch routes using leader placed protection in three different climbing areas at VS 4c or above and recorded them in DLOG. You may include full multi-pitch routes using leader placed protection (up to 50% of the requirement).
• You must have led a minimum of 30 sport climbs in three different climbing areas at 6a or above and recorded them in DLOG. Up to 50% of this experience can be outside the UK and Ireland.
• You must have physically attended and completed (i.e. not online) a first aid course which involved at least two full days or sixteen hours of instruction and included an element of assessment.

The Rock Climbing Development Instructor qualification is for experienced instructors wishing to develop a participant’s rock climbing proficiency. This development may extend to lead climbing.

Some of the main areas of competency which will be assessed are as follows:

Technical Competence

Rock Climbing Development Instructors will have a sound knowledge of lead climbing on both equipped and leader placed protection. They will be able to identify and evaluate commonly used climbing equipment and demonstrate and teach its use to individuals during a lead climbing session.

Management & Decision Making

Rock Climbing Development Instructors should be able to independently organise, plan, manage and deliver safe and progressive learning-to-lead climbing sessions to individuals with a range of climbing abilities.

Teaching Skills

Judgement and decision making within a risk assessment framework are central to this qualification. Rock Climbing Development Instructors will have a range of techniques through which climbers will learn and develop the skills of lead climbing

The Climbing Environment

Rock Climbing Development Instructors should be informed and experienced in a variety of outdoor climbing environments, including both ‘sport’ and ‘traditional’ venues. 

• Bring any of your own personal outdoor clothing and kit such as:
• Waterproof Jacket and trousers
• Climbing equipment
• Boots* or walking shoes
• Warm layers
• Fleece Jacket
• Hat & Gloves
• Head torch*
• Flask & water bottle
• 40L rucksack & liner*
• First Aid kit
• Notebook and pencil
• Items marked * can be borrowed from TNOC stores