Climbing Wall Award

Northern Mountain Sport offers the CWA UK wide but mainly in the North of England and the Central Belt of Scotland. We mainly operate with organisations (schools, youth clubs, scout groups etc.) but occasionally we can offer individual places.

1. What experience do I need to get the CWA?

Before attending a training course candidates must have registered for the CWA, be aged 17 as an absolute minimum, climbed on 3 different walls on 15 occasions and have led climbs. One of the walls visited must be a major public venue.
At the time of assessment, candidates must be at least 18 and have completed a training course or gained exemption from training. They must have recorded a minimum of 30 visits to at least 3 different venues and assisted on at least 15 instructed sessions on two different walls, one of which must be a large public facility. A current first aid certificate is needed to validate all of the MLTE awards.

2. Is abseiling included in the Climbing Wall Award?

The Climbing Wall Award covers bouldering and roped climbing supervised at ground level. The abseil module covers roped climbed and abseiling supervised from above. Training and assessment courses may combine the modules, or cover them separately.

3. If I have done Single Pitch Award(SPA) training can I skip CWA training and attend CWA assessment?

The content of the two schemes are quite different, particularly regarding the teaching of climbing movement skills. You will need to register specifically for the CWA, and there is a route to exemption from CWA training for SPA trainees who have sufficient relevant experience.

4. Does the CWA qualify me to teach people to lead on indoor walls?

No, the Climbing Wall Leading Award will qualify you to do that but you must be either an SPA or CWA holder to access the CWLA

5. How can I gain access to further training and development?

Through the Mountain Leader Training Association. www.mlta.co.uk

6. How can I gain consolidation experience of working with groups prior to CWA assessment?

Placing a note on the appropriate MLTA forum is potentially a good way to seek such experience; you might also consider asking around at local climbing walls in your area. Some volunteer organisations and youth services may also consider using you as support staff. It is worth remembering that you may need to get a CRB check.

7. I was ‘signed off’ two years ago to work at my local wall by a technical advisor. Do I need to do the whole CWA?

Not necessarily. If you think you are suitably experienced you can go straight for the CWA assessment by applying for exemption from training. Application forms are available by email or post; please contact the relevant Mountain Leader Training office.

8. The school I work at has just had an indoor wall built; do the staff who are going to work on the facility need to do a CWA?

No, we would suggest that school staff working on one venue probably only need to undertake some site specific training. Generally this will take the form of 6 – 8 hours training for up to 6 – 8 people and will allow staff with limited experience to undertake appropriate training rather than several staff having to gain the CWA. The CWA will also expand the skills they have and therefore the quality they deliver for you.

9. I manage a small wall and need staff just to work specifically here; what qualification do they need?

If the staff work exclusively at one wall, site specific training should be adequate; if however they are going to work on other walls in the future then the CWA is more appropriate. The CWA will expand the skills they have and therefore the quality they deliver for you.

10. Who can I get to deliver some site specific training for my staff?

The appropriate qualifications to deliver site specific training are Mountaineering Instructors Award, (MIA), Mountaineering Instructors Certificate (MIC) or British Mountain Guide (BMG). The person delivering this training should have experience of similar work at a variety of facilities. Northern Mountain Sport have a proven track record in this field.

11. We have an outdoor climbing tower at the back of the centre, should the staff working there have the SPA or the CWA?

Both these qualifications are appropriate. Other appropriate awards are MIA, MIC and BMG.

12. What qualifications do I need to work on a mobile tower?

Mobile towers don’t fit clearly into either the SPA or the CWA, although holding either of these awards should be a distinct advantage and demonstrate that you have a clear overview of indoor/outdoor climbing situations. The competences to manage a group are vastly different from those required to erect, manage and maintain machinery and apparatus. Therefore it is important that anyone working on mobile towers receives proper training and is familiar with the operator’s guidelines for that type of structure, particularly the belay systems, as well as having a general awareness of safety procedures.

13. I just want to work on an abseil tower; can I just do the abseil module?

No, you must hold the CWA assessment before attending an Abseil module assessment, but some courses provide these concurrently.