Become an SPI Provider

What is an SPI Provider?

Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) Providers are a vital component of the AMGA. Based throughout the country, SPI Providers teach AMGA SPI Courses and facilitate SPI Assessments.

As representatives of the AMGA and providers of the SPI curriculum – we look for dedicated educators with comprehensive teaching and/or mentoring experience that are committed to helping students succeed. In addition to climbing and technical expertise, being able to articulate written and verbal feedback is an essential skill for those interested in becoming a Provider. We are also seeking individuals who are committed to creating inclusive and supportive learning environments for all aspiring climbing instructors.

The process of becoming a Provider is a partnership between the applicant and the AMGA—the training program is taught and facilitated by the AMGA.

How do I become an SPI Provider?

Steps:

Start by applying to the 5 day Provider Training Course and Exam! Please see prerequisites and “how to apply” information below.

Participate in the 5 day Provider Training Course and Exam: those candidates who successfully pass are approved to teach SPI Courses independently as a Provisional Provider, at the 6:1 student to Provider ratio.
Teach programs: once the Provisional Provider has taught, or co-taught a minimum of 4 SPI Courses within a 2 year timeframe, they will meet the teaching requirement for applying to the 3 day Provider Assessment. This, combined with performance that meets the standards expected of an AMGA SPI Provider, will make them eligible to apply to the Provider Assessment.
Apply to the 3 day Provider Exam: If they pass the Provider Exam, they will then be approved to facilitate SPI Assessments and administer SPI Certification in addition to teaching SPI Courses, both at the 6:1 student to Provider ratio.

Please visit the FAQ for more information.

Program Information

Prerequisites: SPI Provider Training Course and Exam
Prerequisites: SPI Provider Training Course and Exam

This program is for new providers
- Minimum training level required:
  - AMGA Rock Guide, AMGA Multi-Pitch Instructor, or AMGA Rock Instructor
- Minimum instructing experience:
  - 150 days instructing rock climbing
    - document at least 50 of these days in the resume template
    - Experience in group management, experiential education, and staff training is preferred
- Able to onsight lead 5.9 traditional climbs at the time of the training course
- Current AMGA Member
- Current CPR Certification and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification or higher
- SPI Providers are required to be in compliance with AMGA Scope of Practice
How to Apply: SPI Provider Training Course and Exam
SPI Provider Training Course and Exam Application Instructions:

In order for your application to be considered complete, please submit the following items prior to the application deadline.

Email all items in .pdf format, in a google drive folder, to the Climbing Instructor Program Manager, Andrew Megas-Russell [email protected] and pay the application fee prior to the application deadline.

1. Essay Questions:
Answer 5 out of the 6, limit 250-500 words per question

• What will make you an effective provider and what elevates you above other candidates?
• What would you bring that would be valuable to the Climbing Instructor Program?
• How do you provide an atmosphere that makes you approachable for instructors both professionally and personally?
• Share a time when you received tough feedback from a supervisor or boss?
• Describe key elements related to facilitating effective one-on-one feedback, and debriefs on a program.
• Provide a written example of feedback telling a student they did not pass their movement.

2. Professional Resume:

• Candidate MUST include the number of days instructing at each job and number of days guiding at each job.

3. Climbing instruction and teaching resume:

• Applicants must use the resume-template provided by the AMGA
• Document 10 - 5.9 (or harder) traditional climbs within the past year
• Document minimum 50 days of rock climbing instruction
• Optional - Applicants may document more than 50 days if they exceed the minimum documentation requirements

4. Example Lesson Plan:

• Choose an SPI Course curriculum session from the SPI Program Handbook
• Refer to the lesson plan section and use the template on pages 20-21 in the Falcon Guide Rock Climbing: The AMGA Single Pitch Manual
• You may be expected to teach this session during the program
• If accepted to the program, you will be expected to create lesson plans for all 19 SPI curriculum sessions outlined in the SPI Program Handbook prior to the program start.

5. Ensure your myAMGA account information is up to date:

• Upload current certification forms for WFR and CPR
• Fill out or update your AMGA Health Statement including emergency contact
• Update your Basic Information including apparel sizes and Public Profile information including current contact information

6. $75 non-refundable application fee:

• Email your application to [email protected] and you will receive an online payment link in return.

Please do not submit AMGA course evaluations or certifications with the application. These may be reviewed during the application process. You do not need to include these.
Prerequisites: SPI Provider Exam
Prerequisites: SPI Provider Exam

This program is for graduates of the Provider Training Course and Exam
- Has passed the 5 day Provider Training Course and exam
- Once the Provisional Provider (graduate of the training course and exam) has taught, or co-taught a minimum of 4 SPI Courses within a 2 year timeframe, they will meet the teaching requirement for applying to the 3 day Provider Assessment.
- Upon completion of the 4th course the provider has 1 year to apply to the Provider Training Assessment.
- If the Provisional Provider fails to meet this teaching requirement in the two year time frame they will lose their Provisional Provider status and be required to re-apply to and pass the 5 day Provider training program.
- Able to onsight lead 5.9 traditional climbs at the time of the training course.
- Current AMGA Member
- Current CPR Certification and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification or higher
- SPI Providers are required to be in compliance with AMGA Scope of Practice.
How to Apply: SPI Provider Exam
SPI Provider Exam Application Instructions:

In order for your application to be considered complete, please submit the following items prior to the application deadline.

Email all items in .pdf format, in a google drive folder, to the Climbing Instructor Program Manager, Andrew Megas-Russell [email protected] and pay the application fee prior to the application deadline.
- Essay Questions: Answer all essay questions, limit 250-500 words per question:
  - What are the tools and techniques used to manage risk in a scenario where:
    - You have candidates lead climbing
    - You have candidates working with volunteer clients
  - What are two ways you can best prepare a student for their assessment during their course?
  - What are your top 3 elements that make up an effective SPI Exam orientation on the morning of day 1?
  - You have a candidate whose score was substandard on day 1 of the exam and will be very hard to rebound from on day 2. How do you handle this situation? Describe a few techniques that might help this student along with learning even if it may be hard for them to pass?
- Lesson Plan: Submit a lesson plan that you have developed throughout the process of teaching SPI Courses. A lesson plan that you are most proud of and includes written notes about how it has evolved over time as they taught the topic. Notes section limited to 250 words.
- Minimum SPI Course Experience: A minimum of 4 SPI Courses are required to qualify for the Provider Exam. Submit a list of courses you have taught or co-taught including the following:
  - Program dates, location, number of students, co-provider if applicable, and any accidents or near misses
  - For each program describe within 200 words if there was anything notable about the program.
  - If you have not completed the required 4 course minimum prior to the application deadline, please share your plan and outline how you intend to complete the missing requirements. In doing so, you may be eligible for a conditional enrollment. If you are accepted under a conditional enrollment, you will be required to complete the requirements prior to the start date of the SPI Provider Exam. Priority enrollment is reserved to people who meet the prerequisite at the time of the application deadline.
Application Review:
Application Review:

Enrollment decisions are based on a number of factors including the following:
- Application is complete and received by the application deadline
- Essay Questions, lesson plan, and resume completeness and strength
- Teaching and instructing experience
- Previous wait list status
Best Qualified applicants considerably exceed the minimum prerequisites

Well Qualified applicants exceed the minimum prerequisites

Qualified applicants meet the minimum prerequisites
Tuition Information:
Tuition Information:
- Participants are responsible for other costs associated with the training including but not limited to food, travel and lodging.
- To accept and hold your space on a program, a deposit of $500.00 is due within two weeks of acceptance.
- Failure to pay your deposit will result in being dropped from the program
  - $150.00 of your program deposit is always non-refundable
- Your full tuition is due within ten weeks of the program’s start date. Failure to pay your full tuition will result in being dropped from the program.
Cancellation & Refund:
- If you cancel your enrollment for any reason outside of ten weeks prior to the program’s start date, you’ll be refunded all but $150.00 of your tuition.
- If you cancel your enrollment within ten weeks of the program’s start date, the AMGA will retain 100% of your tuition. Please note:
- If AMGA is able to fill your space on the program with another qualified participant, we will refund your tuition less the $500.00 deposit.
- You will receive a full tuition refund if the AMGA cancels the program prior to the program’s start date. The AMGA is not responsible for costs associated in these cases, outside of tuition.
- 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.
- If the AMGA cancels your program after the program has begun, you will receive a prorated refund or tuition credit.*
- If you have to leave your program after the program has begun, for any reason, the AMGA will retain 100% of your tuition. There is no refund or tuition credit option.
- We strongly recommend that you purchase Trip Insurance to protect your tuition investment and other associated costs with your program.
- There is no transfer option. If you drop from your training course you will need to reapply. The AMGA will waive your application fee one time.
COVID-19 Information:
Does AMGA require Provider Program or Mountain Guide Program participants to be vaccinated & boosted against COVID-19?
Effective January 1, 2023 AMGA will no longer require Provider Program or Mountain Guide Program students, participants, or employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
- AMGA’s vaccination policy may continue to change over time as the disease changes and recommendations from public health professionals evolve. If a change impacts your program, we will update you directly.
- AMGA will continue to adhere to any government requirements for vaccination.
- Vaccination and booster upkeep remain strongly encouraged.
What is AMGA’s COVID-19 Operating Plan?
The federal COVID-19 public health emergency declaration ended on May 11, 2023. With the public health emergency now over, the AMGA's COVID-19 Operating Plan, Policies, and Procedures are being suspended indefinitely. If it becomes necessary to reinstitute the COVID-19 Operating Plan, the AMGA will notify the membership. Otherwise, please remember COVID-19 remains present and may still affect AMGA programming. Common public health practices such as good hygiene, vaccination, and booster upkeep can prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please consider avoiding public interactions in large group settings, particularly indoors, before your program. If you become sick before or during a program, notify the office immediately for assistance.

What happens if I get COVID-19 before my program start date?
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, or are having symptoms of COVID-19 before your program, please call the AMGA office. Specific answers can not be given here for every individual scenario, as individual cases will be different based on timelines and program start dates. While we will do our best to work with you and get you onto your program, solutions will be based on individual situations and illness and program timelines. COVID-19 illness is NOT exempt from AMGA’s cancellation policy. Please purchase Trip Insurance.
Format:
FORMAT
The 5 day Provider Training Course program block is a combination of instruction, coaching, debriefing, and assessment.
The program is 5 days in length. There will be an ongoing format of coaching, education, and assessment while giving candidates strategies for framing and creating a positive learning environment, organizing effective program itineraries, and managing the administrative tasks for the program.

Critical review of course curriculum session delivery as would be taught on an SPI Course is core to this program block.

As a pilot program we make radical changes from the itinerary to best prepare candidates for becoming a Provider.

The 3 day Provider Assessment program block includes:
This program block includes a combination of instructional components and assessment scenarios.
Assessment and debriefing strategies are reviewed and practiced by the Provisional Providers through SPI Assessment scenarios and or real client interactions where candidates will need to evaluate and deliver written or verbal feedback.