Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program

Overview

"How Do I Become a Mountain Guide?"

Descending Mt. Baker using an advanced guiding technique called shortroping.  Coley Gentzel

This is one of the most common questions that we get from climbers who are just starting out. The short answer is to simply apply for a job with a guide service.

The longer answer is that it takes time and dedication to become a viable candidate for a guiding job. It is a very competitive industry and there are a lot of people out there who want to "live the dream."

The Mountaineering Instructor program was designed specifically to meet the needs of those who would like to work in the mountains as an instructor or a guide. This series of courses provides a climber with a backbone of skills and certifications that they will need in order to become a strong candidate for a position as a mountaineering instructor. Those who receive this certification will have a strong resume of entry-level mountain guide training: a respectable list of climbs that they have completed, level II avalanche training, an American Mountain Guides Association certification, two rescue certifications, a Leave No Trace certification, and an American Alpine Institute Mountaineering Instructor certification.

While the guiding industry is a competitive industry, the mountaineering instructor professional training program will give prospective guides a significant advantage. Many of those who have completed this program are working as guides today.

Courses Required to Receive the Mountaineering Instructor Certificate

Core Curriculum:

• Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership Part I(AMTL I)
• Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership Part II(AMTL II)
• Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership Part III(AMTL III)
• Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership Part IV(AMTL IV)
• Wilderness First Responder Certification Course    
• Technical Rope Rescue Comprehensive
• Professionalism for the Outdoor Educator
• Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor
• AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Course
• AIARE Avalanche Rescue Course 
• Avalanche Pro Level I
• AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Course*  

One or Two Advanced AMGA Courses (Depends on need and previous experience.):

• AMGA Alpine Skills Course 
• AMGA Alpine Guide Course
• AMGA Rock Guide Course
• AMGA Ski Guide Course

Additional Courses Eligible for GI Bill® Benefits: 

• Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor (Note: Curriculum for this covered in the Professionalism for the Outdoor Educator course)
• Glacier Skills and Crevasse Rescue (Note: Curriculum for this covered in the AMTL 1 course)
• Alpinism 1 - Introduction to Mountaineering (Note: Curriculum for this covered in the AMTL 1 course)
• Alpinism 2 - Intermediate Mountaineering (Note: Curriculum for this covered in the AMTL 1 course)
• Alpine Ice Climbing - Introduction (Note: Curriculum for this covered in the AMTL 2 course)

Certifications Conferred

Upon completion of the MIPTP course of study, you will be awarded the following certificates:

• Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor  Certificate
• AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Trained
• Avalanche Pro 1 Trained
• Wilderness First Responder Certificate
• Rope Rescue Technician Certificate of Completion
• Technical Rope Rescue Comprehensive Certificate of Completion
• AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Certificate *
• Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Expedition Leadership Certificate
• American Alpine Institute Mountaineering Professional Training Program Certificate

*Note: The AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Exam is not currently covered by Veteran's Benefits. However, Veterans may be able to request reimbursement for exam fees. 

Please note that some of these are certificates of completion, whereas others are certifications that require maintenance (i.e. you will have to take occasional recertification courses). 

The American Alpine Institute's guide training program formed the basis of the AMGA's national certification program for alpine guides, and AAI guides have played leadership roles as the designers, instructors, and examiners in the rock, alpine and ski certification courses and exams. AAI guide Michael Powers served as national coordinator of the American Mountain Guides Certification Program for many years. AAI staff members have been leaders in the design and implementation of the National Accreditation Program. AAI's programs have been accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association since 1987 when the accreditation program began.

Over the years our competitors have regularly sought out additional training through AAI with our senior guide staff. Arguably, we have one of the overall best trained staff's in the guiding business.

Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program

Instructor Certificate

The Mountaineering Instructor Certificate that candidates receive after they complete the program of study will include the following text:

American Alpine Institute
Mountaineering Instructor

The American Alpine Institute certifies that (your name) has completed our mountaineering instructor training program. This rigorous program requires candidates to complete a forty-eight day alpine climbing program or equivalent, obtain Avalanche Pro 1 training, pass an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor exam, obtain Leave No Trace Trainer Level 2 Instructor certification, obtain two rope rescue certificates including a NFPA rope rescue technician certificate and participate in an American Mountain Guides Association training course.

Those who have completed this series are considered to be quality candidates for employment in the guiding field. 

Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program

AMGA

The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) has been dedicated to supporting the guiding community since 1979. The organization has done this through excellence in education, standards and certification to enhance the quality of services provided to the public, while serving as a resource for accessing and protecting the natural environment. As a group the AMGA presents a strong, unified voice for high standards of the professionalism of guiding and climbing instruction in the United States. The AMGA is an organization grounded in powerful tradition that continues to evolve with the ever changing arena of mountain guiding and climbing instruction. The AMGA offers a series of training courses and exams designed to certify guides and climbing instructors to the highly respected, internationally recognized, standards of the organization.

Two AMGA Certified Guides practice their craft at an AAI gathering in Red Rock.  Jason Martin

The AMGA is the United States sole representative to the 25-member International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA), the international governing body responsible for guiding standards and education around the world.

The heart of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) is its membership. Spread across the country, AMGA members represent an incredible variety of educators, outdoor enthusiasts, and environmental stewards. Just about every aspect of mountain guiding and instruction is represented through the AMGA's vast member base: from the glaciated high-altitude peaks of the Alaska Range to the big walls of Yosemite, from the diverse climbing areas in the Rockies to the world class ice and rock climbing of the East Coast, you will most likely find AMGA trained and certified guides or climbing instructors. These professionals could work in any part of the industry from instructors who teach on climbing walls and single pitch cliffs to guides guiding long rock routes, alpine climbs, and ski mountaineering trips. As a collective group, the AMGA is closely connected to almost every issue that faces the industry and our treasured crags, peaks, powder covered slopes, and frozen waterfalls.

Guiding in the mountains has been a profession in the U.S. that spans back to the start of the nation. Only in 1979 did a group of 12 guides decide that it was time to formalize an organization to represent the greater guiding community. As a result, the American Professional Mountain Guides Association was born. Over the next few years the "P" was dropped and the AMGA developed and grew throughout the United States.

The organization sharpened its focus of supporting the guiding profession by providing representation for land use access, education, training, and examination based on international standards for guiding. In 1997, the AMGA achieved one of its most notable accomplishments with acceptance into the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations, IFMGA/UIAGM.  As a member of the IFMGA, the organization's educational and certification programs meet the international standards recognized by more than 20 nations worldwide.

Today the AMGA continues to develop its programs to meet changing standards and support the growing community of guides and climbing instructors in the United States. In addition, the organization has become a resource for land managers and outdoor industry leaders by promoting land stewardship, world-class training, and sustainable practices to protect our natural resources.

The AMGA is the post-graduate school of guiding and it is where professional climbing guides go to develop their skills in order to attain the highest level of certification.

There are three disciplines of certification in the AMGA. They are Rock, Alpine and Ski. Some of the disciplines have multiple levels of certification. For example, in the rock discipline one can be certified at the Single Pitch Instructor level, the Rock Instructor level or the Guide level. In each of the disciplines, the guide level is the highest level of certification. If an individual obtains AMGA certification at the guide level in Rock, Alpine and Ski, that person will be granted the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) certification, which is the highest level of certification available for a guide.

If you meet the prerequisites for the first upper division courses, the AMGA Rock Guide course or the AMGA Alpine Skills Course, it is recommended that you proceed directly to one of those courses and skip the MIPTP. The prerequisites for the Rock Guide program are as follows:

• Current AMGA Member.
• You have at least 5 years of rock climbing experience.
• Provide a personal climbing resume showing each of the following:
• That you have led or shared lead on at least 50 different multi-pitch traditional routes; 10 of which should be Grade III or longer
• That you have led at least 10 traditional routes rated 5.10a or harder on various rock types
• You can safely and comfortably lead crack and face climbs rated 5.9 at the time of the course.
• You are familiar with basic knots, including: figure-8, bowline, clove-hitch, munter-hitch, mule-hitch, prusik, double-fisherman's and klemheist.
• You are confident with placing traditional protection including: hexes, stoppers, tri-cams, and SLCDs.
• You are comfortable using mechanical (more than two types of belay devices including auto locking devices) and non-mechanical (hip belay) belay methods.
• You are familiar with the use of plate type devices on multi-pitch rappels.
• Provide copy of current basic first aid certification or better.
• You are at least 18 years of age.

The Rock Guide Course (RGC), is the first step in the Rock Guide education and certification process and is designed for aspiring guides who have a strong rock climbing background and for instructors who are interested in improving their skills and increasing knowledge. The Rock Guide Course places strong emphasis on maximizing client rewards while effectively managing risks. The Rock Instructor Course is a prerequisite to taking the Rock Guide Course and the Alpine Guide Course.

Course Area:

The Rock Guide Course trains aspiring guides on routes up to Grade III in length and 5.9 in difficulty. Course areas include, but are not limited to, Leavenworth, Joshua Tree National Park, Eldorado State Park, Lumpy Ridge, Crowder's Mountain State Park, Shawangunks, and Cathedral Ledge.

Course Length:

The Rock Guide Course is 10-days in length.

Alpine Skills Course

The prerequistes for the Alpine Skills Course are as follows:

• Current AMGA member
• Current CPR Certification
• Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification or higher that meets the Minimum Guidelines and Scope of Practice for a WFR
• Successful completion of a Level I Avalanche Course
• Two years personal climbing experience on a variety of terrain that includes snow, rock and alpine
• Confidence leading 5.6 in rock shoes, at the time of the course
• Confidence on 3rd and 4th class terrain, in mountain boots, at the time of the course
• Competence in overnight backcountry camping
• Experience up to 10,000' in elevation
• Familiar with basic knots, including: figure 8, bowline, clove hitch, munter hitch, mule hitch, prusik, flat overhand, double fisherman's and klemheist
• Confidence placing traditional rock protection
• Familiar with multiple types of belaying techniques, including plates and assisted braking devices
• Familiar with ascending methods
• Familiar with mechanical advantage systems
• Familiar with LNT practices
• Documentation of lead or shared lead on 5 rock climbs rated 5.6 or harder
• Documentation of 5 ascents that include snow climbing
• Documentation of 3 overnight backcountry trips

Course Area:

North Cascades or Rocky Mountains

Course Length:

5-days

Steps to IFMGA Certification

The American Alpine Institute does not teach these upper division courses.  As an AMGA contractor AAI can only provide the Single Pitch Instructor Course and Exam.  This first course and exam are the first steps into the AMGA environment and provide an excellent window into the organization.  If you have the prerequisites for the Rock Guide Course, it is possible to skip the SPI course and exam.

Following are the courses that one must take in order to achieve IFMGA status:

Shortroping on rock terrain requires extensive practice to perform effectively.  
Richard Riquelme

Rock Guide

1. Single Pitch Instructor Course
2. Single Pitch Instructor Exam
3. Rock Instructor Course
4. Advanced Rock Guides Course and Aspirant Exam
5. Rock Guide Exam

Alpine Guide

1. Rock Guide Course or Alpine Skills Course
2. Alpine Guides Course 
3. Ice Instructor Course
4. Advanced Alpine Guides Course and Aspirant Exam
5. AIARE Avalanche Level III
6. Alpine Guide Exam

Ski Mountaineering Guide

1. Rock Guide Course or Alpine Skills Course
2. Ski Guides Course
3. Ski Mountaineering Guides Course and Aspirant Exam
4. AIARE Avalanche Level III
5. Ski Mountaineering Guides Exam

After you reach the guide level in each of the disciplines you will be deemed an IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide.

Aren't all guides AMGA certified?

No, guiding is both a career and a lifestyle. Some people only work as a guide for a short period of time, whereas others make their career in the mountains. The result is that those who are career driven are the ones that jump through the hoops to become certified.

Why should I try to get guide level certification?

Guide level certification comes with a number of benefits. First and foremost, one has been tested by his or her peers and has met the national standards within the industry. As a result it is very easy to get a job.

Second, wages are higher for those who have attained guide level certification.

Third, it is easier to market yourself to prospective clients.

And fourth, it is a mark of professionalism. Most of the people who are important in the guiding world today are either certified at a guide level or at the IFMGA level.

Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for the Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program

Those who enroll in the MIPTP should have the following:

• Experience backpacking with overnight camping.
• An ability to toprope or follow 5.8 rock. Students who are new to rock climbing may be able to build this ability in a rock climbing gym prior to starting the program.
• Some of the elective programming includes skiing. If you intend to take ski electives, you must be able to ski black diamond runs in-bounds. Those who do not take ski programs will not have to have this prerequisite.

If you do not have these pre-requisite skills or experience, we have the following remedial courses designed to provide students with this introductory experience: 

How do I become a mountain guide?

The process of becoming a mountain guide is both quite easy and extremely hard. The quick answer to this question is to apply for a job.  If you have the prerequisites and a good resume, then - like any other job - you will get an interview where you will have to present yourself in the best light possible.

The baseline prerequisites for a job as a mountain guide on varied terrain (i.e. snow, glaciers, ice, rock) are as follows:

• Traditional Leadership Skills:  Guides should have an ability to comfortably lead 5.9 traditional climbing in their first year. Guides who work regularly in the rock discipline are expected to bring these skills up to 5.10+. Guides should have completed at least 10 Grade III to Grade IV multi-pitch rock climbs before applying for a guide job.
• Glacier Climbs: In the United States, there are only three states with real glaciers: Alaska, Washington and Oregon.  There is also a great deal of guide work in each of these places. Many guides make their living working on glaciers. Guides who expect to work in mountainous terrain should have a solid understanding of glacier travel and crevasse rescue on real glaciers with real crevasses.
• Alpine Rock Climbs: Most guides are expected to have a number of significant alpine rock climbs under their belts before they begin working in such a venue professionally.
• Alpine Ice Climbs: Individuals who would like to work on more technical terrain should have completed a handful of alpine ice climbs.
• Ice Climbing:  Individuals who wish to work on steep ice terrain should have the ability to lead WI 4.
• Wilderness First Responder/CPR: All guides are required to complete a Wilderness First Responder first aid and CPR course. They are also required to keep their certification current.

Arranging effective learning environments in a wilderness setting is crucial for mountain guiding. Mike Pond

The following experiences are above and beyond the prerequisites and will help you to get a job:

• High End Rock Climbing Skill: This is an ability to consistently lead traditional climbs at a level beyond 5.10c.
• High End Ice Climbing Skill: This is an ability to consistently lead ice at a level beyond WI 4.
• Avalanche Level I and Level II:  Avalanche courses show that you have an ability to understand objective dangers in the mountains. The more avalanche work you do prior to your application, the more likely it is that you will get an interview.
• Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor or Level 1 Instructor Certificate:  Leave No Trace courses are becoming a requirement for people to work in certain national parks and on certain forest service land. At some point this will be a requirement for all guides. Those who have this requirement will move up the application ladder.
• Backcountry Skiing and Ski Mountaineering: Many people become guides so that they can work in the ski discipline.  As such there is a lot of competition for ski specific jobs.  However, if you are a skier, even if you don't intend on ski guiding, you are more likely to be looked at closely by a staffing manager.
• Expedition Climbing:  An expedition to a remote range makes you look like an expert.  Multiple expeditions will provide an employer with a snapshot of your remote expertise.
• AMGA Single Pitch Instructor:  This is the first level of AMGA certification. Obtaining this shows that you are dedicated.
• Upper Division AMGA Course:  The completion of an AMGA Rock Instructor course or an AMGA Ski Guides course shows real dedication and professionalism.
• AMGA Guide Level Certification: Guide level certification can only be achieved after you begin working as a mountain guide. Guide level certification requires that you have a number of days in the field actively working with clients.  Once you obtain this level of certification, you will get an interview with any company you apply for.

What if I don't meet the prerequisites? How can I build my skills to a level where I will be taken seriously?

The Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program was designed specifically for those who would like to work as a mountain guide, but don't meet the prerequisites to get a job or to take upper division AMGA courses. The American Alpine Institute has put together a series of courses that will provide the aspiring mountain guide with the trainings and certifications needed in order to be taken seriously by a prospective employer.

When discussing this program, we often use an analogy.  Your climbing and outdoor experiences are like going to school:

Middle School and High School: In the climbing world, your middle school and high school experiences are akin to your development as an outdoorsman or outdoorswoman.  In other words, this is your personal experience.  This is where you engage in low-end outdoor adventure activities like camping and backpacking.  Some may also spend time in a rock gym, bouldering or even engaging in some top-roped climbing.

College: One should think of the Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program as akin to a college or university education.  The skills that you developed previously will be pushed to their limits.  And you will receive a tremendous amount of new instruction that you will then have to internalize in order to apply the new skills effectively.

Master's Degree: Your Master's Degree is the time between your Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program and employment.  This is when you take every skill you learned and put them towards building your mountain resume.  A prospective employer will want to see that you have done a great deal on your own before hiring you…

Doctorate: Once you've been hired by a guide service you will start to work in the field. At that time you may elect to continue on in your studies in order to climb to the top of the profession. Upper division AMGA course work is similar to working toward a doctoral degree. Those who get certified at the Guide level have a great deal of prestige in the American guiding community.

When you complete the Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program, you won't have the ability to get a job immediately with a guide service.  You will have the skills to get a job with a camp, or with adjudicated youth, or with a University.  However, you will need to expand your climbing resume before you will be able to work with a guide service.

Is it possible to obtain the skills and certifications required to get a job without taking the Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training program?

Yes, it is totally possible to build the skills required to get a job as a guide without this program. However, there are some parts of the program that you will need to complete via a class, such as the Wilderness First Responder, and the other recommended certifications.

Many people enter the guiding world without a lot of professional training, but they have extensive climbing resumes. If you do not have much climbing experience, or your experience is limited to one discipline, then the best and safest way to develop your skills is to take the Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program.

What if I have some climbing skills, but not everything needed to work as a mountain guide?

An AAI Program Coordinator will work with you to place you in the appropriate program.

Please note that all MIPTP course work is graded and if you have holes in your knowledge base, this could work against you in upper division coursework.

It is possible for students to take a Placement Assessment in order to be placed in the appropriate program in order to avoid redundancy?

Yes. Contact the American Alpine Institute office for more information.

Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program

FAQs

Following are a list of frequently asked questions. If your question is not addressed here, please download the Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program catalog from the right-hand side of this page. You may also call the AAI office or email us at [email protected] for more information.

1. How long will it take to complete this program of study?

Most students take two to three years to complete their program of study. However, highly motivated individuals may complete their training in one year.

2. If I want to complete the training in a year, how should I start?

The Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership courses 1 through 4 are considered our Core Curriculum. These courses are each 12-days in length and are comprised of intensive backcountry coursework.

Beginning summer 2025, we will ask that students interested in taking the full AMTL series plan to have at least a 1-month break between taking AMTL 2 and AMTL 3. We have found, from past experience, a much higher sucess rate when students take a break between these long courses. Students may take other MIPTP programs, such as the WFR course, Leave No Trace, etc. durring this time.

So, if you plan to take more than two AMTL courses in one season, please plan for your coursework to begin in April with one of the first AMTL 1 courses. AMTL 2 can be taken in May or early June. Followed by AMTL 3 in July or August and AMTL 4 in late August/early September. 

Please keep in mind that our AMTL series is very popular and fills up FAST. We start seeing courses fill up for the summer season as early as March of that year, so please plan ahead. 

If you would like help with your schedule, contact [email protected] or [email protected]

3. Is there any financial aid available?

There is currently no financial aid available for this program of study.

4. Are there any scholarships available?

There are scholarships available. To learn about these options, click here.

5. Will I be able to apply my GI Bill® to this program?

The American Alpine Institute accepts the federal VA educational benefits for approved programs. Most of the programs in the Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program have been approved. Also these courses are a part of our Vocational Training for the Outdoor Professional.

For more information about Veteran's Benefits, please contact the School Certifying Officer, Erin-Leigh Hardy, at [email protected].

6.  Do those who have previous climbing and mountaineering experience have to start at the beginning of the MIPTP?

No. To skip programs you will need to speak to the Northwest Program Coordinator or VA Programs Coordinator. This individual will assess where you are and help you to make a decision as to where you should start in the program. Please be ready to submit an informal outdoor resume.

Please note that MIPTP course are graded and if you have holes in your knowledge base, these may work against you.

Please contact the AAI office for more information.

7. Is the American Alpine Institute an accredited institution?

The American Alpine Institute is a Washington State Accredited Vocational School. Additionally, AAI is the longest continually accredited AMGA guide service in the United States.

8. If I meet the prerequisites to take an AMGA Rock Guide Course or Alpine Skills Course, do I need to take the MIPTP programs?

No. If you meet the prerequisites to take an upper division AMGA course, you may start your training directly with the AMGA.

9. What AMGA courses can I take using my Veterans Benefits?

We run the following AMGA programs in-house:

• AMGA Alpine Skills Course
• AMGA Alpine Guides Course
• AMGA Rock Guides Course
• AMGA Ski Guides Course

We typically run one of each of these courses per year. 

10. What kind of job opportunities will there be for me when I complete this program?

Please download the MIPTP catalog on the right-hand side of this page for an in depth discussion of this topic.

11. Do you provide job placement?

We do not currently provide job placement, but we can provide advise and resources to help you on your job search. 

Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program

MIPTP Courses

The following is a breakdown of the programs in the Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program, their length, and an overview of the subject matter: 

CORE CURRICULUM:

• ALPINE MOUNTAINEERING AND TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP PART I (12-days)

The first of the four-part AMTL series. Students who complete this course will be competent rope team members in multi-pitch terrain and will be able to lead moderate glaciated routes.

• ALPINE MOUNTAINEERING AND TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP PART II (12-days)

In the second section of the four-part series, students begin to lead traditional multi-pitch rock, study the basics of rock-rescue, study alpine ice technique, and begin to plan and execute climbs on alpine objectives with the oversight of their instructor.

• ALPINE MOUNTAINEERING AND TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP PART III (12-days)

The third section of the four-part series is designed to provide students with two different tracks that they might follow. Students may choose to study aid climbing and the basics of remote expeditions in the Cascades.

• ALPINE MOUNTAINEERING AND TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP PART IV (12-days)

The final installment of the four-part series is an expedition to either Little Switzerland in the Alaska Range or the Ptarmigan Traverse in the Casscades. 

• WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER (5-days)

The WFR course is a right-of-passage for outdoor educators. This first aid program was designed to provide backcountry travers with the essential baseline skills needed to deal with injuries and medical situations -- both serious and common -- in remote locations.

• TECHNICAL ROPE RESCUE COMPREHENSIVE (14-days)

The most complete rope rescue course offered in the United States. This is the only course available anywhere that addresses the techniques required for team-rescue as well as those needed for self-rescue.

• PROFESSIONALISM FOR THE OUTDOOR EDUCATOR (5-DAYS)

This program is designed to provide baseline information for new guides and instructors on how to get and hold a job, to understand industry standards, and to develop a plan of action for a commercial trip to a new location.

Mountaineering Instructor Professional Training Program

Related Courses

• 

  Vocational Training for the Outdoor Professional

  AAI's core mountaineering courses can be taken for credit under the GI Bill. American Alpine Institute is a licensed vocational school in the state of Washin...