The AMGA 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.

• It significantly improves the instructor’s skill sets and integrates into the next level of training, the AMGA Rock Instructor Course.
• 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 Exam 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 Exam to regain the SPI certification.
• Taking any higher level AMGA Course (like the Rock Guide Course) also re-certifies the SPI certification for another three years.

Locations:
Castlewood Canyon
Eleven Mile Canyon
Turkey Rock
Cheyenne Canyon
Garden of the Gods

Included:
-Certified AMGA Rock Instructor/Guide and SPI Provider

Not included:
-AMGA membership, Join the AMGA 
-Students must bring their own climbing gear
-Transportation,  11 Mile Canyon entrance fee ($6 if required), food, travel and medical insurance.

Participant expectations:

• 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 (trad) lead climbing experience (leader placing trad gear)
• You have led a minimum of 15 traditional (trad) 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.

How to Apply:

Step 1: Join the AMGA (or log-in to your existing account)
-Join the AMGA at the Professional Membership Level.
Step 2: Apply to Your Course or Assessment
-Sign in to your myAMGA account.
-Click the “Apply for a Program” tab.
-Select the discipline and course type you are applying to.
-Select the specific program you are applying to and click “apply.”
-Confirm your prerequisites.

$695   SPI Course, 3-day

6:1 max ratio

8am-5pm, 3-days

$530   SPI Assessment, 2-day

6:1 max ratio

8am-5pm, 2-days

Call 719-368-9524 or contact us for more information.

Course Dates 2024

Assessment Dates 2024