How to register as an Accredited Centre
Want to run our schemes? Great news! NICAS and NIBAS need to be delivered at approved facilities, known as Accredited Centres. This is to ensure there is consistency nationwide, and between centres, both in facilities and coaching experience. If your centre is open to the public*, is a commercial facility, or is used by any groups other than those coached by your own staff, it can potentially become an Accredited Centre. NB: are you reading this page as a freelancer?
Find out more about freelance coaches and NICAS/NIBAS.
To see what levels of NICAS or NIBAS your centre could offer first check the requirements for structures (e.g number of routes) and for coaches (qualifications). These are set out in our
NICAS and NIBAS Centre Handbook
. Please refer in particular to pages 14-17 (structural requirements) and 26-27 (qualifications required). NB: Mountain Training Award Names have changed, when we refer to CWA this is now CWI.
There are a number of key steps required to join as an Accredited Centre. These are set out in our
Application Process flow diagram
. At any stage, do feel free to
contact us for advice. We also have some
FAQs that will help. We're happy to help applicants and we can let you know the current status of inductions available, advise you on a Primary Centre (a major facility holding full membership of the
ABC that is a centre of excellence and a local hub) who you might want to approach, and any other relevant information to guide you through the process.
We'll let you know when your application has been reviewed and, if approved, you will be told about any special requirements (such as the Course Director completing a qualification, or the frequency of route-setting being increased).
Registration is valid for twelve months (from date of approval). We'll send out an invoice for renewal automatically. The current fees are as follows:
Awarding Centres
- £30 + VAT per year to deliver Level 1 (£36)
- £50 + VAT per year to deliver Levels 1 & 2, or 1-3 (£60)
- £75 + VAT per year to deliver Levels 1-4 or 1-5 (£90)
Primary Centres
- If you gain approval as a Primary Centre (major climbing wall/local hub centre), the first year fees are £450 + VAT (includes the cost of an induction at your centre)
- Thereafter, £150 + VAT per annum (£180)
VAT exemption is provided for centres outside the UK as applicable under HMRC guidance.
*If your centre is not open to the public and is never used by other groups you may qualify as an Awarding Organisation. An awarding organisation (for example Sea Cadets) is usually national and is approved to deliver NICAS or NIBAS exclusively to its own members or candidates up to Level 3, at multiple named artificial climbing facilities. The application process for these is the same but the form is different.