Welcome to the Professional Climbing Instructors' Association!

The PCIA curriculum seeks to serve the climbing public in the best possible manner by providing training and credentialing of individuals who provide climbing instruction in climbing gyms, top rope, and single pitch environs. The PCIA believes that such training will help new climbers to gain access to accurate and consistent information and to utilize safer, more efficient techniques that are environmentally friendly. Participants in PCIA instructor training programs benefit from exposure to current research, on-going professional critique, and continual oversight and quality assurance reviews of instructors. The PCIA program has been designed to provide focused, sequential instruction and credentialing in the art and science of climbing instruction.

PCIA programs are intended for individuals who already do or desire to instruct climbing skills, facilitate climbing experiences or monitor climbing activities. Typical participants include climbing school instructors, climbing gym staff, camp staff, leaders of scouting groups, and university and school adventure program leaders. Many recreational climbers take courses simply for the purpose of becoming a better informed and safer climber. For individuals aspiring to be professional mountain guides, the PCIA curriculum provides a very comprehensive exposure to fundamental climbing knowledge and instructional skills that are will prove invaluable for future entry into more advanced guide training programs.

We invite you to take a look!