Outdoor Instructor Qualifications Guide

Welcome to our guide on Outdoor Instructor Qualifications! If you're an adventurer looking for guidance on choosing an experienced and qualified outdoor instructor for your next adventure, you're in the right place.

Our comprehensive list of essential qualifications is designed not only to help outdoor instructors understand what they need to succeed in this field, but also to help adventurers understand what qualifications and experience to look for when choosing an instructor.

Hiking Qualifications

Name & Awarding Body	Description
Lowland Leader (LL) Mountain Training	Lowland countryside, woodland, coastal paths etc. Navigation is on footpaths which don’t generally stray more than 3km from access points. More Information
Hill & Moorland Leader (HML) Mountain Training	Open, uncultivated, non-mountainous high or remote country. Navigation on and off paths. Groups should be able to exit their route within about three hours. Movement on steep or rocky ground (planned or unplanned) is not required. More Information
Mountain Leader (ML) Mountain Training	Wild country which may contain unavoidable steep and rocky ground where walkers are dependent upon themselves for immediate help. Navigation on and off path. More Information

Rock Climbing Qualifications

Name & Awarding Body	Description
Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) Mountain Training	Trains and assesses candidates in the skills required to supervise climbers on single-pitch crags and climbing walls. Common activities undertaken by Rock Climbing Instructor will be roped climbing and bouldering. This scheme does not include the skills and techniques required to teach lead climbing. More Information
Climbing Wall Development Instructor Mountain Training	This qualification trains and assesses candidates in the skills required to teach lead climbing skills on indoor or outdoor artificial climbing walls and structures with fixed protection. It builds on the skills acquired in either the Climbing Wall Instructor or Rock Climbing Instructor schemes, one of which candidates must hold to access the Climbing Wall Development Instructor scheme. More Information
Climbing Wall Instructor Mountain Training	This qualification trains and assesses candidates in the skills required to supervise climbers on purpose built artificial climbing walls and boulders. The scheme does not include the skills and techniques required to teach lead climbing. More Information

Archery Qualifications

Name & Awarding Body	Description
Archery GB Instructor Archery GB	The Archery GB Instructor Award is an entry-level archery instructor course which teaches you to deliver fun and safe introductory archery sessions for beginners. More Information

Mountain Biking Qualifications

Name	Description
MIAS Mountain Bike Leader Level One (MBL1) Mountain Bike Instructors Award Scheme (MIAS)	Allows access into low-level terrain, with few potential hazards, i.e. country parks, canal towpaths, and non-wilderness areas where help is almost immediately accessible. Includes blue forest trail routes. More Information
MIAS Mountain Bike Leader Level Two (MBL2) Mountain Bike Instructors Award Scheme (MIAS)	Allows access into open country, with the potential hazards that surround such terrain. The leader will operate within 30 minutes of cycling assistance. AALS may also require you to hold additional qualifications to work in this terrain. Includes red forest trail routes. More Information
MIAS Mountain Bike Leader Level Three (MBL3) Mountain Bike Instructors Award Scheme (MIAS)	Covers areas defined as mountainous by the Mountain Training UK, but excludes ridges and potential hazardous routes such as ridges or routes involving scrambling. To lead groups on accessible routes to cyclists that are defined by map and ground. AALS may also require you to hold additional qualifications to work in this terrain e.g. ML, WGLA or equivalent MOD qualifications. Includes red/black forest trail routes. More Information

Paddlesport Qualifications

Name	Description
Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor British Canoeing	Designed for instructors running SUP taster/starter sessions with the safety management systems of clubs, centres or other organisations in very sheltered environments on standup paddleboards deemed suitable for a first-time experience More Information
Paddlesport Instructor British Canoeing	Designed for instructors running paddlesport taster/starter sessions with the safety management systems of clubs, centres or other organisations in very sheltered environments on craft deemed suitable for a first-time experience More Information
Coach Award British Canoeing	The coach award is designed for people whose core function is to coach paddlers who want to gain/improve paddlesport skills within their discipline. More Information
Performance Coach Award British Canoeing	This is a title for many specialist awards and allows a coach to guide on either sheltered water, advanced water, white water or the sea More Information

Archery

Paddlesport

Hiking