How to Apply – Mountain Guide Programs

Join the AMGA, and start applying for your AMGA course or exam today!

Registration and payment instructions:

Step 1: Join the AMGA (or log-in to your existing account)

• Join the AMGA at the Professional Membership Level.

Step 2: Apply to Your Course or Exam

• Sign in to your myAMGA account.
• Click the "Apply for a Program" tab.
• Select the discipline and course type you are applying to.
• Select the specific date of the program you are applying to and click "apply."
• Confirm your prerequisites.
• Pay your non-refundable $65 application fee.
• You will be notified immediately when we receive your application fee.
• Download your resume template.
• Fill out and upload your resume to your account.
• Click on the "My Profile" tab.
• Fill out your AMGA Health Statement.
• Upload any required Avalanche Certification (if pertinent to your program).
• Be sure you have completed the above by the application deadline for your course or exam and you're done!

To be considered for enrollment you must submit a complete application. A complete application includes the following:

• You meet all of the prerequisites for the course or exam for which you are applying, including any previous coursework that needs to be completed.
• You have paid the $65.00 application fee.
• Your resume is complete (there are no climbs or ski tours missing).
• You have filled out the AMGA Health Statement.
• You uploaded your certification forms for avalanche education (where necessary).

Application Review

Applications will not be reviewed for enrollment until after the application deadline has passed for that course or exam. If you apply for a course or exam after the application deadline has passed, your application will be reviewed in the order it was received.

Enrollment decisions are based on a number of factors including the following:

• Priority enrollment is given to scholarship recipients.
• Priority enrollment is given to employees of Accredited Businesses (15% of spaces reserved).
• Application is received by the application deadline.
• Previous wait list status.
• Evaluations from previous courses and exams.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted and conditional enrollment will not be granted. If your application is complete and received by the application deadline, the AMGA will make every effort to enroll you on your course or exam. However, space is limited. If we are unable to enroll you on your course or exam, you will be added to the wait list and contacted immediately if a space becomes available or if we are able to add another program.

Registration opens on August 18, 2014 for all 2015 Programs.

Below are the 2015 application and notification deadlines. The application deadline is when your complete application is due. The notification deadline is the latest date you will be contacted in regards to your enrollment.

Update on 2015 and 2016 Mountain Guide Programs (2/17/2015)

• The last round of 2015 applications are currently under review. If you have applied to a 2015 program you will be notified as to the status of your enrollment by March 15, 2015 at the latest.
• Once the final round of applications have been processed, any 2015 programs with remaining spaces available will re-open to applications.
• Once the final round of applications have been processed, the remaining 2015 programs will open up for wait list applications. You will be able to apply to the wait list for all remaining 2015 programs after March 15, 2015.
• For more information on how resumes are reviewed and the 2015 application and notification deadlines, please click here.
• The 2016 schedule will be posted in July of 2015.

Applications received after the application deadline will be reviewed on a rolling admission.

You're Enrolled!

Once your application is approved and you have been accepted into a course or exam:

• An acceptance letter will be e-mailed to you with important dates and information regarding your program.
• Pay your $500.00 deposit (due two weeks from your date of acceptance). Visit my.amga.com to pay your course deposit ($150 is nonrefundable if you drop out of the course or exam).
• Payment in full is due 10 weeks before the course or exam begins.
• At 8 weeks from the start of your course or exam, you will receive an e-mail from the AMGA with important course information, including: a Welcome Letter, a Course Roster, a Logistics Packet, and a Course or Exam Manual.
• At 1 to 2 weeks from the start of your course or exam, you can expect to hear from the Course or Exam Director with more program details.

• You’ll receive a full refund if the AMGA cancels the program prior to the start.
• $150.00 of your program deposit is always non-refundable.
• If you cancel your program before ten weeks prior to the beginning of the program, you’ll be refunded all but $150 of what you have paid.
• If you cancel your program within ten weeks of the beginning of the program, you lose any money you have put toward the program.
• You can transfer from one program to another (within the same calendar year) as long as there is room in the program to which you want to transfer and it is before ten weeks prior to the beginning of the program. There is a $150.00 transfer fee.
• If you would like to transfer within ten weeks of the beginning of the program, you lose any money you have put toward the original program.
• Although rare, the AMGA reserves the right to change a program location at any time due to unforeseen circumstances (for example, local snow or ice conditions that make the venue unsuitable.) The AMGA is not responsible for costs associated in these cases.
• We recommend that you consider purchasing refundable airplane tickets and travel insurance for your AMGA Program.

Other important information:

• If you work for an accredited guide service you are eligible to receive a NEWLY INCREASED discount of 10% off the full tuition cost for any AMGA program. You must prove you are an employee by having your employer submit a letter on your behalf to [email protected].
• The AMGA is happy to extend a 10% discount to veterans. Please submit proof of status to [email protected].
• If you fail to pay your program deposit or balance by the applicable due dates, you may dropped from your course or exam.
• If a program is full you can get on the wait list by contacting the AMGA Office at [email protected].
• If a course is cancelled because of inclement weather, you are not eligible for a refund.
• We recommend that you purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance in case you need to drop your course due to last-minute injuries or family emergencies.
• Prices, program dates, ratios, and locations are subject to change without notice. Prices are subject to change depending on course enrollment. If a program does not meet the minimum ratio the original cost may vary or the program may be canceled.
• The AMGA reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a program for any reason.
• The AMGA reserves the right to deny admission to anyone the AMGA deems unable to meet the physical, mental, social, or safety demands of our courses and exams.