The NNMGA conducts entrance exam for Aspirant Guide annually. This is the first step to becoming an IFMGA certified mountain guide.
To be eligible for the entrance exam candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Be over 18 years of age
- Be in very good physical shape
- Possess high moral standards
- Possess a very good level of: Mountaineering experience (rock, snow, ice and mixed terrain); athletic rock climbing skills, ice climbing skills, mixed climbing skills on all types of terrain. This experience certified by their list of courses and climbing certificates and references
Access to aspirant guide course is subjected to passing the entrance exam. The challenges set in the exam as well as the minimum technical requirements are defined below:
- An oral test on the candidate’s list of climbs and experience
- A rock climbing test: minimum 6a with mountaineering boot (Lead Climbing on equipped route)
- A rock climbing test, minimum 6b with rock climbing shoes (Lead Climbing on equipped route)
- A Glacier test: the ascent, traverse and descent (using all the points of the crampon with semi technical ice axe).
- Technical Ice Climbing test with ice tool, technical crampons (Lead Climbing on equipped route)
- Mixed terrain test: route over blocks/ascent and down-climb in mountaineering shoes.
Entry exam schedule
Date: December of every year
Duration: 3 days
Location: Kathmandu or Rolwaling or Langtang
