CTC Mountain Bike Leader Awards FAQ

Are CTC qualifications recognised?

Yes all CTC qualifications are recognised and approved as fit for purpose by the UK's agency for quality outdoor activity provision, the Adventure Activities Licensing Service.

Will my old OTC qualification remain valid?

CTC qualifications are identical to OTC qualifications. In order for your qualification to remain valid, you will need to:

One of the best ways of doing this is to move up a level in the scheme.

I'm a Road Cycle Instructor. Does this lead me into this scheme?

Your knowledge and experience will be very valid and useful, but you will still need to start at the Trail Leader Award as the contexts and expectations are very different. You will find you undertake different tasks in a different way to your Cycle Instructor course.

Can I enter the scheme higher up or do I need to go through all the courses?

Everyone over 18 should start at the Trail Leader Award, unless you fulfil the Fast Tracker course pre-requistes. The Trail Leader contains fundamental elements vital to the provision of good mountain bike leading in any environment.

I am / I want to be a CTC Mountain Bike Skill Instructor. How does this scheme integrate?

The Technical Leader Award leads you to the Skill Instructor course. There are vital elements to the Leader Awards that will help you and your group wherever you leave a contained environment.

Where/when/how much are the courses?

Courses run all over the UK with a few in Europe too. See the calendar for full details.

Do I have to join CTC for my qualification to remain valid?

No, but there are lots of other advantages to joining CTC.

Is CTC registered as a quality activity provider?

Yes CTC has it's own activity license under the Adventure Activities Licensing Scheme. The license number is R1537.

How much experience do I need to log before going on to the next qualification level?

Your logbook should contain at least 12 personal rides and 6 led rides. We recommend a minimum of 20 outdoor leading experiences for your skills to start to embed.

When will the Skill Awards be available?

Spring 2009

When will I be able to apply for a place on a course for 2009?

Full details will be available through November. Email us and we can pencil you in on any course. We will also email you as soon as the booking information is published.

Which qualifications do I need to hold to go to the Fast Tracker course?

You will need to hold mid to high level outdoor activity qualifications such as MLA; BCU Level 3; RYA Level 3 as well as having substantial mountain bike experiences. See the Fast Tracker for more.

I attended a Technical Leader training course. Will the Technical Leader assessments continue?

Yes you will be able to attend Technical Leader assessments until November 2009.