The Climbing Site Belayer (CSB) course provides a nationally standardized curriculum of instruction for individuals who supervise and belay at climbing sites. It is designed to train staff in the key skills required to safely operate a climbing tower or serve as a climbing site assistant under a higher-level practitioner.  The course curriculum helps participants develop professional climbing habits from the very beginning of their climbing instructor development.  It also resolves common climbing myths.

Climbing 

Site 

Belayer

(CSB)

The Climbing Wall Instructor (CWI) course emphasizes the instruction of fundamental skills to climbing gym participants, the formation of risk assessment and risk management skills, and basic problem-solving skills.  Participants are assessed on their knowledge and their ability to effectively teach related skills.  

Climbing 

Wall 

Instructor

(CWI)

The Sport Climbing instructor (SCI) course is designed to bridge the gap between indoor climbing instruction and outdoor climbing instruction. The purpose of this course is to allow CWI-Leads to be evaluated in outdoor, sport climbing instruction. It is designed to provide supplemental knowledge and specialized skills that will allow the SCI to effectively operate at outdoor climbing sites. The scope of this course is limited to sites where there is access to bolted top anchors via non-technical means or sport leading. 

Sport 

Climbing 

Instructor 

(SCI)

The Top Rope Climbing Instructor (TRCI) course provides students with an in depth and standardized understanding of the skills essential to teaching climbing in an outdoor setting. The TRCI course prepares instructors to set-up and manage groups of climbers on technical terrain with non-technical access.

TOP ROPE

CLIMBING 
INSTRUCTOR

(TRCI)

Top managed sites hold different risks and require different skills from base managed sites to effectively manage climbing groups. The PCIA TMCI course addresses these needs in a one-day course designed to build upon skills acquired in the TRCI course. Like other PCIA courses, the course continues to reinforce the importance of teaching technically accurate information and debunks many common climbing myths.

TOP MANAGED

CLIMBING 
INSTRUCTOR

(TMCI)

The PCIA Single Pitch Climbing Instructor (SPCI) can be taken as a stand alone course.  However, upon completion of all TMCI course components and demonstration of proficient 5.6 traditional leading ability, graduates are upgraded to a certified PCIA SPCI. There is no separate exam for this level unless an individual is challenging the exam.

SINGLE PITCH

CLIMBING 
INSTRUCTOR

(SPCI)

The SAT course is an entry level course focusing on understanding equipment, basic techniques, safety practices and slope assessment essentials.  Participants will learn and practice a variety of knots, basic anchors, rappelling, ascending, belaying, knot passes and simple self-rescue skills. An SAT works under the supervision of a Journeyman or Master Slope Access Technician.  A Level 1 challenge test is available for individuals seeking to demonstrate proficiency.

SLOPE ACCESS

TECHNICIAN

LEVEL 1

(SAT 1)

The Level 2 (Journeyman) SAT course broadens a participant's suite of skills to open access to Class III and IV terrain.  The course covers alternative tools for rappelling and ascending, complex anchoring, releasable systems, multi-rope systems, hauling and batwing systems, and partner rescue.  A Level 2 challenge test is available.

SLOPE ACCESS

TECHNICIAN

LEVEL 2

(SAT 2)

The Level 3 (Master) SAT course is for the experienced Journeyman and is the first step toward becoming a Slope Access Technician course instructor.  The course explores multiple tools and methods utilized to perform slope access tasks.  There is a significant emphasis on educational process, including lesson organization and practice teaching.  

SLOPE ACCESS

TECHNICIAN

LEVEL 3

(SAT 3)