AMGA Brand Use Policy
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The AMGA Logos and Certification Titles must be used in an unaltered state. Members must only use the certification-specific logo or title that matches their current certification(s).
Any advertising or promotion of products and services using AMGA Logos and/or Certification Titles must adhere to the following terrain guidelines respectively:
- IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide
IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide certification is designed for individuals certified as AMGA Rock, Alpine, and Ski Mountaineering Guides. IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guides are trained and assessed to operate in all alpine, rock and ski terrain. - AMGA Certified Alpine Guide
AMGA Alpine Guide certification is designed for guiding glaciated and non-glaciated peaks, approaches and climbs, with no limitation with respect to season and elevation. It includes rock climbs, peak ascents, waterfall ice climbs and expeditionary climbing.
AMGA Certified Alpine Guides are trained and assessed to operate in all alpine and rock terrains that:- Are Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) Grade V or shorter (for rock routes)
- Are not conducted on skis where the main objective of the outing is either a ski tour or the enjoyment of downhill skiing
- AMGA Alpine Guides who hold both Alpine and Rock Guide Certifications are allowed to guide alpine rock routes that are YDS Grade V or longer.
- AMGA Certified Ski Mountaineering Guide
AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guide certification is designed for guiding either ski tours or ski ascents/descents, on alpine touring or free-heel equipment.
AMGA Certified Ski Mountaineering Guides are trained and assessed to operate in all terrains that:- Includes as the main objective, either ski touring, off-piste and/or mechanized skiing
- Are on slopes up to 50°
- May employ use of rope including short-roping techniques with the use of ice axe and crampons
- Requires travel on crevassed glaciers
- Have significant avalanche hazard
- Involve multi-pitch ice or rock
- AMGA Certified Ski Guide
AMGA Ski Guide certification is designed for guiding mechanically accessed out-of-bounds skiing, 1-day or multi-day backcountry ski and ski mountaineering tours in non-glacial terrain, on alpine touring or free-heel equipment.
AMGA Certified Ski Guides are trained and assessed to operate in all ski terrain that:- Includes as the main objective, either ski touring, off-piste and/or mechanized skiing
- Are on slopes up to 50°
- May employ use of rope including short-roping techniques with the use of ice axe and crampons
- AMGA Certified Rock Instructor
Rock Instructor Certification is designed to apply to most “cragging” rock climbing areas in the US. Approaches and descents are generally straightforward, climbs are not in a remote setting, routes are generally short and do not involve technical snow, glaciated terrain or significant short roping in either the approach, the climb or the descent.
AMGA Certified Rock Instructors are trained and assessed to operate on all rock routes that:- Are Yosemite Decimal System Grade III or shorter in length
- Do not have approaches or descents where extensive use of short-rope techniques is appropriate for security
- Are not remote in nature
- Do not involve technical snow, glacier travel, the use of skis or exposure to avalanche risk
- AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Rock Guide certification is designed to apply to all Rock Instructor terrain, but also includes climbs of much greater length, including big wall and aid climbs, and on climbs where significant short roping is appropriate for the safeguarding of clients on either approaches or descents. AMGA Rock Guide certification is not, however, applicable to terrain, which is alpine in nature, that is, remote, or involves technical snow or technical glaciated or icy terrain.
AMGA Certified Rock Guides are trained and assessed to operate on all rock routes that:- Are Grade IV or Grade V in length
- Approaches and descent may require extensive use of short-roping technique for security
- Routes may be remote in nature
- Do not involve glacier travel, the use of skis or exposure to avalanche risk
- AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructors are trained and assessed to operate on all routes that:
- The anchors are accessed by either non-technical terrain or by leading technical moderate 5th-class terrain.
- Are climbed without intermediate belays.
- Present no difficulties on approach or retreat from the area, such as route finding, scrambling or navigating.
- AMGA Certified Climbing Wall Instructor
AMGA Certified Climbing Wall Instructor-Top Rope Terrain Description AMGA Certified Climbing Wall Instructors (Top Rope) are trained and assessed to operate on indoor climbing and bouldering walls, and climbing structures that:- Do not involve lead climbing.
- Do not include the instruction of lead climbing.
AMGA Certified Climbing Wall Instructors (Lead) are trained and assessed to operate on indoor climbing and bouldering walls, and climbing structures that:
- Involve lead climbing.
- Include the instruction of lead climbing.
- Logo use is restricted to the following current AMGA Programs and Sponsors:
- AMGA Accredited Program
- AMGA Diamond Partner
- AMGA Benefactor Partner
- AMGA Patron Partner
- AMGA Supporting Partner
- AMGA Media Partner
- Approved Industry Affiliates
- For Programs that employ a number of AMGA certified (and non-certified) guides or climbing instructors, the logo, AMGA name and certification title(s) may only be used when referring to the guide(s) that hold the AMGA certification(s). Text must state who holds the certification. The logo, AMGA name or certification title(s) may not be used to imply that all employees, owners or partners in a business are certified.
- Participation in any AMGA course does not warrant the use of the logo. If you wish to state that you took part in an AMGA course you must clearly state the completed course name and the year of completion (e.g., Completed AMGA Ski Guides Course — 2009).
- You may not refer to yourself as an AMGA Guide or AMGA Climbing Instructor (certified, trained or otherwise). When using the AMGA name, you must use your certification–specific title — AMGA Certified Alpine Guide, AMGA Certified Ski Mountaineering Guide, AMGA Certified Rock Instructor, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, etc.
- The Aspirant title is reserved for those seeking IFMGA/AMGA certification that have successfully passed all–three Aspirant Exams (Alpine, Rock and Ski Mountaineering).
- Examples of misusing of the AMGA brand:
- AMGA Guide
- AMGA Mountain Guide
- AMGA Climbing Instructor
- AMGA Instructor
- AMGA Certified Instructor
- AMGA Certified Guide
- Certified Mountain Guide
- AMGA Certified Climbing Instructor
- AMGA Trained Guide
- AMGA Trained Climbing Instructor
- AMGA Aspirant (Alpine, Rock, Ski Mountaineering) Guide
- AMGA Certified Top Rope Site Manager (As of 2011 this certification no-longer exists)
- Professional member of the AMGA
- It is the responsibility of all AMGA members to be sure any publicized information regarding their certification level and membership status is current and accurately represented, (e.g., bio, business cards, marketing materials).
- You must hold current Membership of the AMGA for your certification to be valid. An expired member may not use the AMGA logo, certification title or name, or advertise him or herself as holding any type of AMGA certification or as having a current affiliation with the AMGA until his or her membership is up to date.
- No AMGA member shall use the AMGA logo or name in any way that could mislead the general public as to his or her level of certification or affiliation with the AMGA.
Failure to Adhere to Brand Use Policy
Individuals or Programs found to be in violation of the AMGA Brand Use Policy will be given 30 days to rectify and remove any unauthorized use of the AMGA logo, name or misleading text from any and all advertising. The AMGA office will notify the individual or Program via email or mail stating what must be done to rectify the situation.
Failure to comply with the AMGA Brand Use Policy and directives from the AMGA office or Board of Directors within 30 days of receiving notification will result in the individual or program losing its AMGA Membership, Certification or Accreditation for 12 months.
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