Top Rope Climbing Instructor Certification
Prerequisites
Students entering the Top Rope Climbing Instructor certificate program must be 19+ years of age and possess the following recreational rock climbing experience:
- 2 years of outdoor rock climbing experience on a variety of rock types;
- 15 outdoor lead routes (minimum 5.9) flashed in the past year; and
- 15 outdoor top rope routes (minimum 5.10a) flashed in the past year.
Additional prerequisites include:
a current intermediate first aid and CPR certificate.
Top Rope Climbing Instructor Certification Course
The Top Rope Climbing Instructor certification course is a 5-day blended instruction and assessment program that introduces students to the preferred methods and best practices that are common to instructing clients, managing groups, and supervising outdoor experiential top rope climbing and rappelling activities. The curriculum and assessment process emphasize the following:
- teaching experiential top rope climbing skills;
- teaching experiential rappelling skills;
- risk management;
- front-country client care;
- basic environmental stewardship;
- anchor configurations and applications; and
- worker safety and anchor access methods.
Students who successfully complete the Top Rope Climbing Instructor certificate are eligible to become recognized as Association of Canadian Mountain Guides members, under the Top Rope Climbing Instructor designation.
Application Information
Adventure tourism activities and the environments in which they occur are inherently dangerous. When preparing and training independently for ACMG Training and Assessment Program courses and exams, choose objectives that are within your abilities, experience level, and individual risk tolerance.
Application Notes:
- Course fees are collected at the time of application and are subject to the Training and Assessment Program's withdrawal and refund policies, whereby the Training and Assessment Program does not issue refunds after the application deadline.
- You will receive an automated response when your application has been successfully submitted.
- Do not apply until all prerequisites are met in full. Incomplete applications are subject to a reprocessing administration fee of $110.
- Additional course information and logistics will be shared with you 4 weeks prior to the course date.
- Late application requests can be made by emailing the Training and Assessment Program office ([email protected]) and will be subject to a $110 late application fee.
To apply for entry in the Top Rope Climbing Instructor Course, complete the Top Rope Climbing Instructor Course Application Form and submit the following:
- An education and employment resumé;
- Attest to meeting the following prerequisites:
- 2 years of outdoor rock climbing experience on a variety of rock types;
- 15 outdoor sport routes (minimum 5.9) flashed in the past year; and
- 15 outdoor top rope routes (minimum 5.10a) flashed in the past year.
- A current intermediate first aid and CPR certificate.
Course Locations, Dates, Tuition and Deadlines
| Course Title | Location | Start Date | End Date | Tuition | Application Deadline | Payment Deadline |
| Top Rope Climbing Instructor Course | Bow Valley, AB | 2026-05-11 | 2026-05-15 | $1595.00 | 2026-03-15 | 2026-03-15 |
| Top Rope Climbing Instructor Course | Squamish, BC | 2026-05-11 | 2026-05-15 | $1595.00 | 2026-03-15 | 2026-03-15 |
| Top Rope Climbing Instructor Course | Squamish, BC | 2026-06-01 | 2026-06-05 | $1595.00 | 2026-04-15 | 2026-04-15 |
| Top Rope Climbing Instructor Course | Bow Valley, AB | 2026-06-22 | 2026-06-26 | $1595.00 | 2026-05-01 | 2026-05-01 |
| Top Rope Climbing Instructor Course | Bow Valley, AB | 2026-07-20 | 2026-07-24 | $1595.00 | 2026-06-01 | 2026-06-01 |