AMGA TRSM Climbing Instructor

6:1 Ratio

Course Offered: June 2-5 Cost: $500

Examination Offered: June 7 Cost: $125

ReCert. Course Offered: June 6-7 Cost: $250

For those registered for 2006 class - You need to fill out the following:

  • Acadia Mountain Guides Waiver, Registration and Health Form
  • TRSM Course and AMGA Membership Application (Form B)
  • TRSM Pretest
  • TRSM Course Evaluation (Form F) (for afterwards)
  • TRSM Course, Recert, Exam - Maryland 06 (this includes the pretest, which is open book)
  • Get forms at: : Acadia Mountain Guides (download-fill out-bring to class!)

AMGA TRSM Climbing Instructor: You are on the right track! Start here and build a solid foundation with the Nation's leading climbing association - AMGA. Don't settle for State Certs, get the hard skills from the person who wrote the book (literally) for the AMGA Top Rope Site Managers course. This course will change the way you approach your local crag and give you the skills to confidently lead in this risky environment. Hurry and sign up now - don't you want your future hanging in an AMGA-certified anchor?

The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) top rope site management program is the all important first step in the sequence of training climbing instructor and guides in America. The four day, forty hour course is intended to help transition already capable recreational climbers into climbing instructors. Any organization or individual who teaches top rope climbing or uses climbing as a medium for personal or social change should consider this course a required tool for improved risk management and state of the art information.

The course focuses on the learning and application of technical skills as they are applied in all forms of top rope climbing instruction including both bottom and top managed systems. The course addresses fundamental educational and environmental principles as they relate to teaching climbing.

Target Audience: It is designed to benefit outdoor instructors, aspiring guides, and climbers who facilitate or seek to facilitate top rope climbing programs in group settings such as camps, schools, universities, therapeutic groups, and climbing schools.

Sample Curriculum: Belay concepts, Managing belays, Bottom managed climbs , Top managed climbs, Protection, Anchoring, Rappelling, Risk Management, Equipment knowledge and care, Ascending, Raising, Leave No Trace, Teaching and Learning, and much, much more.

Comments Expressed by Graduates: "I wasn't sure what I would learn coming into the course as I thought I had a pretty good handle on teaching climbing. What I learned is the difference between climbing and teaching it. Now that I have taken the course, I applaud your desire to see standards raised and was blown away by your own cliff presence and set-ups. It amazed me that you could set up 5 - 6 climbs in the time it took most of us to set one and still keep an eye on what's going on around you like seeing an unlocked carabiner 30' away and then have time to drink a Coke and you still can't even bend over (ed. note: Jon was recovering from a serious spinal injury suffered in a skiing accident)."

Certification Standard: Those seeking certification may take an eight hour field evaluation on the day following the course or at any time within three years after taking the course. Candidates pursuing certification are expected to be able to demonstrate the technical and educational proficiencies necessary to instruct a variety of top rope rock climbing skills to both groups and individuals in an efficient, decisive, safe, and professional manner in any natural setting. A candidate who does not reach the certification standard in the course may schedule additional training or retake the exam at the discretion of the instructor. While not all course participants are ready for the certification standard by the end of the course, we are confident that you will significantly broaden your knowledge base of climbing knowledge and go home with many new ideas and skills.

If you wish to take the exam and took your original course from another course provider, then the AMGA requires that you take the two day update and exam.

Course participants receive daily evaluation and are granted a one-year associate membership in the AMGA.

Cource Requirements: You meet the prerequisites for the Top Rope Site Manager Course if you:

    1. are at least age 18

    2. have at least two years prior climbing experience

    3. provide a resume showing at least 40 days of recreational climbing and/or climbing instruction in the past two years or a minimum of five years climbing experience.

    4. are able to comfortably set-up top rope climbs, to belay, and to rappel without guidance and can demonstrate basic familiarity with anchoring principles, natural anchors and artificial anchors (wedges, hexes, passive and active cams). These skills may be assessed at the start of the course.

    5. are capable of comfortably climbing 5.7 terrain while on a top rope.

    6. Possess the personal equipment necessary in the course (rope, artificial gear rack, runners, cordellettes, belay devices, anchor line, etc)

    7. Lead climbing experience and possession of a GriGri or Cinch is highly recommended but not required.

First Aid Requirements: First aid training is not required to take the course or exam. However, the AMGA requires appropriate medical certification in order for the Top Rope Site Manager certification to be valid.

Certification Expiration and Renewal: The certification expires three years from the date of issue. There are several options for renewal.

    1. Certified Top Rope Site Managers who can provide an instructor carnet (include site, group size and type, type of top roping, and witness) demonstrating more than 25 days per year teaching rock climbing or personally climbing may take a two day AMGA Top Rope Site Manager Update course. This update course must be taken prior to the expiration of current certificate. If a course is not available prior to expiration, a written extension may be approved by the AMGA office, the Technical Director or the Discipline Coordinator extending a certification up to twelve months. See course listing above.

    2. Certified Top Rope Site Managers who take an AMGA rock or alpine course may use that course in lieu of an update.

    3. Certified Top Rope Site Managers who pass a rock instructor, rock guide or alpine exam are permanently granted Top Rope Site Manager Certification.

    4. Certified Top Rope Site Managers who do not meet the above requirements are required to participate in another course and exam.

Agency Accreditiation Programs and Standards: AMGA courses and exams exceed the climbing instructor training and evaluation requirements laid out by American Camping Association and the Association for Experiential Education. Accreditation or certification is now a requirement to instruct at many areas across the country including Joshua Tree National Park, New River Gorge, Ship Rock, Eldorado Canyon State Park and The Shawanagunks. The course also meets the State of Maryland certification requirements for climbing instructors.

Frequently Asked Questions:

I already know how to climb and have been teaching climbing for some time now. Why do I need this course?

Inevitably at the end of the class I hear that the course was "too short" and "I wish I had more days to practice." The course includes many new systems that have not yet made it into the climbing instructional books and it is packed with valuable information that many instructors know only a little bit about. This is a great foundation for instructors wishing to take the AMGA Rock Instructor Course.

Why should I take the course?   A professional is partly defined as someone who has had training and evaluation. If you are seeking employment as a climbing instructor, you will be more marketable. Summer camps, universities, and climbing schools are looking for certified instructors to comply with accreditation and land manager requirements.

Are there any economic benefits?

As a course participant you are provided a free one membership in the AMGA. Certified individual members are also eligible to use the The AMGA logo in marketing materials and have access to prodeals from most major climbing and outdoor companies.

Course participants also receive a 15% discount on any needed course equipment from Alpenglow Adventure Sports in Orono, ME (mail order as well) and a permanent 10% discount. And all AMGA Certified individuals receive a 20% discount on purchases.

Can I get university credit?

Several colleges and universities now offer college credit for the course. If you would like help in setting this up at your school please contact us.  

What if I don't have enough personal gear?

If you need to supplement your gear, we also offer an economical rack rental program.

How long is the course and how does the certification work?

The course is 4 days long, with a separate one or two day evaluation exam to gain the certification. On the final day of the course the instructor gives the candidate a written evaluation and suggests what they need to do before taking the exam. You then may take the exam immediately or have up to 3 years to take the exam.