AMGA SPI Exam: Rumney
Location
Rumney, New Hampshire
Group Size
Max 6 people
Duration
2 days
Location
Rumney, New Hampshire
Group Size
Max 6 people
Duration
2 days
Description
The SPI Exam is a minimum of 16 hours run over a two-day period. Candidates may enroll in an SPI Exam within two years of completing an SPI Course and meeting all Exam prerequisites, including required post-course resume experience. Most successful candidates spend an additional 3-6 months practicing, teaching, and refining their skills prior to taking the SPI Exam.
First aid training is not a pre-requisite for participation in an SPI course or exam. However, once an AMGA member is certified as an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, they must hold a medical certification for the location in which they will be working. The level of medical certification needed will depend on the requirements set by the guide service and the land management agency where the programming is conducted. It is the responsibility of individual instructors to maintain appropriate medical certification.
Prerequisites
Candidates meet the SPI Exam prerequisites if they:
- Course completion
- Have successfully completed an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Course within the past two years.
- For SPI recertification candidates, certification must be current or within one year of expiration.
- Traditionally led climbing experience
Have traditionally led a minimum of 40 rock climbing routes, including:- At least 15 routes completed after the candidate’s most recent SPI program (course or exam)
- At least 5 top-managed routes
- Post-program instructional climbing as outlined below:
- SPI Course graduates: of the 15 post-program routes, at least 5 must be mock instruction
- SPI recertification candidates: of the 15 post-program routes, at least 5 must be mock or paid instruction
- Leading ability (demonstrated during the exam)
- Be capable of comfortably lead climbing (leader placing their own protection) on any 5.6 traditional route.
- Candidates will demonstrate their leading ability on a variety of routes during the assessment.
- Top-rope climbing ability (demonstrated during the exam)
- Be capable of comfortably climbing 5.8 on top rope.
- Candidates will demonstrate top-rope climbing ability during the assessment.
Experience Considerations & Resume Notes
The following items clarify how route experience is evaluated and what constitutes a complete SPI Exam resume:
- Candidates are strongly encouraged to have substantial experience at the 5.6 grade and above, and to have climbed in varied locations and on a variety of rock types, as this breadth of experience supports success during the SPI Exam.
- Multi-pitch routes may be included; however, each multi-pitch climb counts as one route, regardless of the number of pitches. The requirement is 40 routes, not 40 pitches.
- All routes must be led clean by the candidate.
- Routes must have been completed within four years of the SPI Exam date.
