Top tips for working towards RCDI training

Sport climbing at Runestone Quarry

Working towards qualifications, especially advanced quals like the Rock Climbing Development Instructor award, can be hard. Whether it's a lack of free time, feeling a long way from the prerequisites, work demands, location, or feeling isolated.

I've put together a list of top tips for anyone working towards their RCDI training, but most will also be relevant to other award schemes too.

As always, feel free to get in touch with any questions, or let me know any top tips you think I've missed!

Connect with others

I've put this one first for a reason.

Chatting to others, asking questions, sharing worries, and feeling part of a community makes a HUGE difference for motivation and often provides a real boost to get out there and get things done. It's easy to find quals, climbs or goals daunting, and realising we're not alone is really important. Sometimes this is easier said than done though, so you might have to send that random message to someone you've never met, or put a post out on an online community group. It's really handy to chat to people that have gone through qualifications already, and lots of RCDIs will be more than happy to share their thoughts and experiences with you.

Take opportunities to watch people work

We learn SO much from watching others, and it can give you a real insight in to what it's actually like to do RCDI work. It can be hard to find these opportunities sometimes, but even if you can't find RCDI work to observe, you'll learn a lot from seeing any sports tuition with a developmental/progression focus.

Attend Mountain Training CPD workshops

Mountain Training have a huge variety of workshops on offer, aimed at supporting and expanding people's skills, confidence and experience. These workshops are also a great way to meet others in a similar boat to you, and also provide opportunities to ask the workshop provider questions about quals and courses.

I have two CPD workshops running this August, looking at 'Trusting your trad gear' and 'Movement on rock'....check out info here.

Developing teaching skills on trad routes

Consolidate your RCI skills

RCDI isn't just about learning fancy new ropework.....it requires solid RCI skills to build on. It will make a big difference if you are current and fluid in all of your RCI ropework, so try to make sure you are used to a variety of venues and can adapt to unfamiliar crags.

Try to keep the love and passion for climbing while you build up personal leads for your DLOG

This can be a tough one for people, and it's so easy to pile on the pressure and lose the love for climbing while trying to bag certain grades and climbs.

Pick routes and places that inspire you, find people you enjoy climbing with, try to enjoy the process of focussing on your climbing, and be strategic about how to help yourself improve. You'll learn lots along the way about progressing your own climbing, and this will help you work with clients in the long run too!

Aim for a variety of climbing and work experiences

Variety of crags, styles, rock types, people, ages, abilities, grades.

Know any climbers or instructors who seem to be really adaptable, experienced, and always 'one step ahead'? They won't have got there by chance and they won't have always been like that! Experience, communication skills and climbing ability is built up over years and there is no bypassing that. Take opportunities to climb in places unfamiliar and not your style, and spend time with people that are different to who you are used to.

Sharing ideas on an RCDI training course

Chat to RCDI providers directly

We're a friendly bunch and always happy to answer questions!

Whether it's about the practicalities of a course or you're unsure if the RCDI is for you...there's no stupid questions!

You can find all the RCDI providers on the Mountain Training course dates page, and I'll also be running an online Zoom Q&A soon for anyone considering the qualification.

And lastly, it's a training course not an assessment...you don't have to know everything beforehand!

You are not expected to know every RCDI skill before attending the course, and you won't be judged, assessed, or compared to others. The course trainer will give you 1:1 feedback and chats at the end of the course to help you move forward, but all you need to do is come ready to soak up the learning and enjoy the training experience.

Self lining next to a new lead climber on Glaciated Slabs

Our next RCDI training course is 16th - 19th August 2025 in the Lake District, and I have two CPD dates lined up for aspirant RCDIs on the 5th and 6th August.