UKC

Is it worth doing this qualification?
Where does it get you?

In reply to The Ice Doctor:
International Mountain Leader now. Plenty of threads about it on here, with mixed views. Whether it's worth doing depends quite a lot of what you want to end up doing and where. And also where you are currently in the qualifications matrix, as if you're starting out with nothing, it's a massive investment in time and money and effort.

In reply to JayPee630:

Could you kindly provide links to said previous topics.

I will never become an IMG. Too old, not good enough. Is EML next best thing?

In reply to The Ice Doctor:
Do a search on here, it'll throw the same up results up as if I do one. Not sure what you mean by the 'next best thing'? It's a different qualification for different terrain, and for doing different things. What do you want to do and where? Only knowing that will make it easier to answer whether it's worth doing for you. And once again, it's now the IML not EML.

In reply to The Ice Doctor:

The EML is now an IML!

In reply to The Ice Doctor:

As you live in Cham, I'd be tempted to sound out some of the locals. For those in the UK one of the barriers is getting out to the mountains enough to gain the experience and consolidate the skills.

In reply to FrJ:

And speaking French, remember there's a requirement to be able to communicate in a foreign language in the IML award!

In reply to The Ice Doctor:

The IML award allows you to take groups on treks in summer and snowshoeing/winter walking on terrain where climbing/mountaineering equipment is not required and will not be used. You will need to obtain the UK summer ML award before you can start on your IML award which, after gaining sufficient experience and log book ticks, requires you to undertake summer training in the UK complete with a speed/navigation test, a summer assessment in the Alps/Pyrenees or similar, winter training in the Alps/Pyrenees etc and a winter assessment also in the Alps/Pyrenees etc. The IML award is increasingly being demanded by trekking companies when working overseas but in practical terms most people obtain it because they work in Europe and especially in France where you will be arrested if you are caught working without it. If you are living in France you can obtain the ILM award via the UK (PyB or Glenmore Lodge http://pyb.co.uk/courses-mountaineering-qualifications.php) and then apply for a Carte Professional, which is the key bit of paper in France. The alternative is to enroll in the French system which depending of your language skills and fitness levels will be challenging as the French have an excess of applicants and rather like they do with their ski instructors, have a stiff speed/nav test which has been likened to a cross between orienteering and mountain racing. Dependent on your experience/finances/available time, it will normally take 3-5 years to gain the required experience and undertake all of the training and assessment but at the end of it, if you go through the UK system, you will come out with one of the few qualifications that the French recognise as equivalent to their own and they regard theirs as equivalent to a degree. Good luck if you decide to go ahead.