Steve Bechtel point to a screen during a lecture.

Climbing is evolving fast. Coaching standards should evolve faster.

For years, climbing coaches have operated without a defined professional benchmark. There has been no consistent standard for what a qualified coach knows, how they operate, or what they’re held accountable to. That’s not a criticism of coaches, it’s a gap in the industry. For years, climbing coaches have operated without a defined professional benchmark. There has been no consistent standard for what a qualified coach knows, how they operate, or what they’re held accountable to. That’s not a criticism of coaches, it’s a gap in the industry.

The Certified Performance Climbing Coach (CPCC), launching Fall 2026, establishes a clear, climbing-specific benchmark for professional coaching. It defines what a professional climbing coach actually knows. Movement. Physiology. Psychology. Programming. Communication. Safety. Business systems. It’s built entirely around the demands of climbing performance, evaluated through real-world application, and held to a standard that means something when it appears on a resume.

CPCC isn’t just a credential.
It’s a commitment to operating at a higher standard and the beginning of a defined profession. Stay tuned.