Do you have a passion for the mountains? Are you fit and would like to earn money with your hobby in the fresh air? Then training to become a mountain guide might be just the thing for you. In Austria in particular there are great training opportunities that are very comprehensive. In this blog article you will find out what skills you should have as a mountain guide, where and by whom courses are offered in Austria and what costs you should plan for.
What skills do I need as a mountain guide?
Anyone who wants to become a mountain guide should meet a few basic requirements in order to be admitted to the training course. To be able to become a mountain guide, you have to be a real all-round talent in the mountains. Candidates for mountain guide training must be able to demonstrate skills in skiing technique, in various climbing disciplines (sport, ice and alpine) as well as in rock and ice courses. The skills of the prospective mountain guide must be summarized in a tour report. These requirements may seem very demanding at first, but they are absolutely crucial in order to be prepared for all problem situations in emergency situations. It is also important to mention that mountain guide training is largely concerned with managing the care of groups of people, which means that the opportunities to improve one's own alpine skills as part of the training are possible, but rather limited. Instead, a special focus is also placed on the topics of communication and the ability to work in a team.
Several years of experience in various disciplines in the mountains is therefore essential in order to be admitted to mountain guide training. One of the biggest hurdles for many candidates is the aptitude test at the beginning, where all of the aforementioned skills are tested. All of the tests must be passed in order to be admitted to the training. But who offers this training in Austria and where, and how much does it cost me?
Where and when can I start the training?
The mountain guide courses in Austria are organized centrally by the Association of Austrian Mountain and Ski Guides and carried out together with the Federal Sports Academy in Innsbruck. In order to be trained as comprehensively as possible, the training consists of a total of 14 different courses on around 100 days, which extend over around three years. To be admitted, the candidates must be at least 18 years old and have a sports medical certificate of their health that must not be older than six months. The aptitude test for the new 2025-2028 class already started in January and will take place in Sportgastein and Matrei in East Tyrol. The summer part of the aptitude test will take place in May this year. If you are considering taking part next year, you can find all the latest information on the website of the Austrian Mountain and Ski Guide Association.
One aspect of mountain guide training that should not be underestimated is the cost of training. At the moment, the cost of training is €14,500 for the entire course and includes the costs of the instructors, a wide range of learning materials and insurance. The costs should not be underestimated, but they show that this is a really comprehensive training program. The costs do not include equipment and travel, which must be paid for separately by the candidate and are not provided by the association. If you are not yet completely sure about your own abilities, the various regional associations in the respective federal states offer preparatory courses for mountain guide training. The registration deadline for the preparatory course for rock climbing this year ends on April 1st, for example, and the courses themselves take place at the end of April or in May. Maybe this is exactly the first real test for you!
Conclusion: Challenging, but worthwhile!
It turns out that training to become a mountain guide in Austria (and in other countries) is not easy. However, if you are a real mountain enthusiast and want to pursue your passion more intensively, you may find working as a mountain guide is your calling. The right equipment is also important for every mountain guide. At NAKED Optics you will not only find the right ski goggles for winter, but also the right sports glasses for summer mountain excursions. In addition, as a trained mountain guide you can sign up for our ski instructor discount program and get our products even cheaper.