PCIA Scholarships

Interested in becoming a PCIA certified instructor? The PCIA is offering partial scholarships to applicants who need financial assistance. We are looking for people that have a passion for climbing, and a dedication to their students. Applicants need a solid climbing skill base, along with a willingness to learn. An understanding of risk management as well and the ability to keenly observe others are a plus. Prior teaching experience is great but not mandatory. In short, if you love climbing, want to impart solid and safe skills to your clients, and would like a bit of financial assistance, we encourage you to apply for a PCIA scholarship.

PCIA's scholarship fund was established through a donation from PEAK Rescue Institute. PEAK Rescue's initial dontation has made scholarships available to dozens of students.  If your organization would like to support the PCIA scholarship fund, please contact our office, bishopoffice@pcia.us.

Application Process

1) Click on the “Scholarship Application” link below.
2) Cut and Paste the application questions into the body of an email or attach your response as a word document to an e mail.
3) Please provide CONCISE answers to the questions.
4) Send the email to: scholarships@pcia.us on or near the submittal date. We process applications seasonally, following the submittal dates below.
5) Applications submitted on the submittal date will be reviewed and 12 complete, qualifying,applications will be selected for the next step of the process. Those 12 applicants will be contacted.
6) We will contact you by phone for a phone interview. The phone interview will be used in conjunction with your written application in the process of awarding scholarships.
7) If you are not available when we call, we will leave ONE message with a call-back number. We will also attempt to send you an email with this call-back number. You must return the call or e mail within 48 hours to be interviewed or your application will be discarded. We will be unable to correspond or conduct the interview by email.
7) If we are unable to contact you with the contact information provided in your application, we will discard your application. You may re-apply for the next scholarship cycle.
8) After the interviews are conducted, we will contact only the recipients to award the scholarships. We will not contact applicants that were not selected.
9) If you are not selected, you may re-apply as many times as you wish for future scholarships. Applicants will receive a maximum of one scholarship.
10) There is the expectation that those granted a scholarship will write a short summary of their experience on the course for the PCIA newsletter, On Belay!
The submittal date for this application process is: June 1, Sept 1, Jan 15 of each year.
The application form is here: