If you are interested in becoming a climbing guide, or if you are interested in simply learning how to rock climb, a rock climbing school is a smart step to take. Two categories of rock climbing school exist: one category trains experienced rock climbers to become rock climbing guides; the second category teaches novices how to climb indoors, outdoors, or both. Choosing the best rock climbing school depends on which category you fit into. If you are a novice, you will chose a different school than someone looking to become a guide, but in both cases, safety and experience are the most important considerations.
The novice climber should start researching online to find the best rock climbing school. Most rock climbing gyms offer classes on how to use common pieces of climbing equipment, how to develop proper technique, and how to take steps toward climbing safely in different conditions. When looking for the best rock climbing school, look for one with classes taught by experienced and certified climbing guides. As many experienced climbers are not be certified, be sure to ask about their credentials and experience. All climbing instructors should be first-aid certified in case an accident happens while climbing.
An experienced climber looking to get certified as a climbing guide will have a more difficult time finding the best rock climbing school. A local rock gym is, again, a good place to start looking, and even if the gym does not offer classes, chances are one of the employees of the gym might be able to point you in the right direction. It is vital that you choose a climbing school that offers Wilderness First Responder training as part of its coursework; this training teaches you how to deal with emergencies in the wilderness. First aid, transport, and search and rescue are all part of Wilderness First Responder training.
A climber can obtain different levels of certification as well. Some certifications give the climber the skills necessary to teach top-rope climbing, while other certifications will give the climber the skills necessary to teach lead climbing, multi-pitch climbing, or ropes course activities. Decide what kind of certification you would like before committing to a school. No central governing body dictates what rock climbing schools should teach, so be sure to research what each school offers and who is doing the teaching.
