Training structure and overview

Candidate level · May 2026

Module / Location	When	Teaching & learning days	Formal assessment days
Entry test Climbing and skiing Chamonix	27 April – 2 May 2026	0	6
Entry test sub‑total		Training days: 0	Evaluation days: 6
Candidate level total		Training: 0 days	Assessment: 6 days

Trainee level · May 2026 – May 2027

Year 1 · Rock and Alpine · Training and exams

Module / Location	When	Teaching & learning days	Formal assessment days
Transversal Module I First Aid in specific conditions Chamonix + online learning	3–4 May 2026	2	0
Alpinism I Improvised rescue Dolomites	4–7 June 2026	4	*
Alpinism II Sport climbing and coaching Dolomites	8–11 June 2026	4	*
Alpinism III Rock guiding and via ferrata Dolomites	7–16 July 2026	10	*
Alpinism IV High mountain guiding / summer alpine terrain · Navigation Chamonix 26 July: individual work – no instructor time	21 July – 1 August 2026	11	*
Alpinism Aspirant Exam Chamonix	14–20 September 2026	0	*7 (I:1 + II:1 + III:2 + IV:3)
Transversal Module II Avalanche and winter safety (incl. weather) Romania	14–19 December 2026	6	*
Transversal Module III Soft skills and group management. Fundamentals of guiding. Romania	20–22 December 2026	3	0
Year 1 sub‑total		Total: 40 days	Total: 7 days

Year 2 · Ski · Training and exams

Module / Location	When	Teaching & learning days	Formal assessment days
Ski I Ski technique Austria	18–21 January 2027	4	0
Ski II Freeride and mechanised access skiing Austria	22–27 January 2027	6	*
Alpinism V Ice and winter climbing guiding Austria	February 2027	5	2
Ski III Touring in non‑glaciated terrain Poland?	February 2027	6	*
Ski IV Touring in glaciated terrain Chamonix	March 2027	6	*
Ski Aspirant Exam Georgia?	April 2027	0	*6 (TI:1 + SII:1 + SIII:2 + SIV:2)
Year 2 sub‑total		Total: 27 days	Total: 8 days
Trainee level total		Training: 67 days	Assessment: 15 days

* Assessment days are embedded within the training period. See exam breakdowns above for individual module allocations.

Total days to reach Aspirant Guide status: 88 days of training and dedicated assessment over 366 calendar days.

Aspirant Guide level · May 2027 – December 2028

Module / Location	When	Teaching & learning days	Formal assessment days
Transversal Module IV – Professional Life Module (online) · Legislation & professional code of conduct — Zoom · Business of guiding — recorded presentations · Climate change and adaptation — recorded presentations	May 2027	2	0
Alpine Guiding Practice Directly supervised days according to prerogatives (minimum days before indirect supervised work)	June 2027 – October 2028	10	0
Ski Guiding Practice Directly supervised days according to prerogatives (minimum days before indirect supervised work)	December 2027 – March 2029	10	0
Expeditions and Altitude Mountaineering Remote environment guiding TBD + complementary online presentations	2028	5	0
Aspirant level sub‑total		Total: 27 days	—

Total days of courses and directly supervised practice at Aspirant Guide level to qualify for the final guide exams: 27 days.

Guide course and exam · April – July 2029

Module / Location	When	Teaching & learning days	Formal assessment days
Ski Guide Final Exam	April 2029	2	5
Alpine Guide Final Exam	June 2029	2	5
Rock Guide Final Exam	July 2029	2	5
Final exams sub‑total		Prep: 6 days	Exams: 15 days

Total days for all final guide exams: 21 days (6 preparation + 15 dedicated assessment).

Complete cursus summary

Phase	Teaching / learning days	Assessment days
Entry Test	0 training days	6 evaluation days
Trainee Level (Year 1 + Year 2)	67 training days	15 assessment days
Aspirant Guide Level	27 days	—
Final Guide Exams	6 prep days	15 exam days
Total	100 training days	36 assessment days

Fully certified IFMGA Mountain Guide after no less than 136 training and assessment days
over 3 years and 3 months (1,193 calendar days).

Unless for relevant and documented medical reasons accepted by the training committee,
the candidate must conclude her/his education in no more than 5 years from the date of
the entry test (latest: 27 April 2031).