The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Single Pitch Instructor Course is the first in the AMGAsequence of climbing instructor and guide training programs.The SPI course was designed to help capable recreational climbers transition into capable and effectiveclimbing instructors. The course focuses on the technical skills required by an instructor as they are applied inall forms of single pitch climbing instruction. In addition to this, the course addresses the essential educationaland environmental tenets required to teach climbing. Those seeking certification may go on to take a two-dayfield examination following the course or at any time within three years after successfully completing thecourse.Certified Single Pitch Instructors are expected to demonstrate the technical and educational proficienciesnecessary to instruct a variety of single pitch rock climbing skills in a safe and effective manner to both groupsand individuals. While not all students are fully prepared for the certification exam by the end of the course,every participant will have the training to practice and prepare for an exam in the future and will leave thecourse with many new ideas and skills.The SPI course is intended for recreational climbers who are already proficient in both top-rope and leadclimbing. It was designed to benefit those who wish to facilitate outdoor climbing programs for groups such asthose offered by guide services, camps, schools, universities, therapeutic groups, churches and climbing gyms.Those who wish to teach climbing in the outdoors tend to have a much higher success rate in obtainingemployment as climbing instructors with this training and certification. The AMGA strongly suggests thiscourse as a precursor to those interested in pursuing Rock Instructor or Rock Guide training and certification.