The Society of Mountain Guides and Leaders (SGLM) provides professional training services for the profession of International Mountain Leader.
What is an International Mountain Leader?
The International Guide for Hiking -"International Mountain Leader" (IML) profession worldwide., trained in Romania by SGLM, is recognized and qualified to lead, teach, support, and instruct clients—whether for a fee or as a volunteer—in all mountain areas worldwide, in any season and at any altitude, up to the limit of permanent snow (glaciers).
Exceptions: Areas with permanent snow (glaciers) and terrains requiring technical mountaineering or climbing equipment for progression (mountaineering routes, rock climbing, via ferrata) are excluded.
Glaciers may only be crossed occasionally along nationally or internationally recognized trekking routes that are maintained as such, where a rope and harness are not required for progression. 
Mountain Leader Competencies:
- Summer mountain ascents on specially maintained trails (marked paths, cables, bridges, etc.);
- Summer mountain ascents in unmarked terrain, including "carpatism" routes (alpine hiking) with exposure levels E0-E1;
- Winter ascents with or without snowshoes.
Excluded from Competencies:
- Any form of skiing (ski touring, cross-country, or downhill);
- Any form of mountaineering (on snow, ice, or mixed terrain);
- Any form of rock climbing with technical equipment (climbing or via ferrata).
In Romania, the profession is practiced according to national laws and the regulations of the host countries.
According to Order no. 637/2004:
- The mountain guide/mountain leader is a specialized guide for mountain tourism services (Art. 2);
- Professional specialization is available only to those who already hold a Tourist Guide Qualification Certificate (Art. 8).
To maintain the international IML authorization, the leader must be a member of a national association affiliated with UIMLA and periodically participate in a CPD (Continuous Professional Development) / Re-validation program. UIMLA.
In Romania, the IML training, recognition, and CPD (re-validation) program is organized exclusively by the SGLM, the only professional organization in the country affiliated with UIMLA.
INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSE
The course is conducted in Romanian and is open to individuals residing in Romania or abroad who meet the following conditions:
Minimum Age:
- 21 years old at the time of the entrance exam.
Minimum Experience (Mountain Hiking):
- 5 years of mountain hiking experience;
- 40 quality dayson various hiking routes in the Carpathians;
- 15 quality days on various hiking routes in mountains outside Romania;
- 10 quality days on various winter hiking routes in the Carpathians and/or other mountain areas outside Romania
Physical Condition:
- Ability to complete a hiking route of at least 6 hours with a 1,500m elevation gain, carrying an 8-10kg backpack;
- Minimum ascent rate of 500m elevation gain per hour with an 8-10kg backpack.
Enrollment
Participation is granted via an entrance exam to verify the minimum required competencies.
Registration requirements: la examenul de admitere se face:
- Completion and approval of the Mountain CV (standard form);
- Payment of the examination fee to the SGLM account.
The Entrance Exam (2 days): se desfășoară pe durata a două zile și cuprinde:
1. Theoretical Component:
- Interview with the examination board
- A written test on general knowledge of the Romanian mountain environment (history, culture, flora, fauna, geography, etc.).
2. Practical Component:
- Field test to verify physical abilities and technical skills in mountain terrain.
Those who pass the entrance exam are considered admitted and can enroll in the professional training course.
All those who do not pass the entrance exam are considered rejected, with the possibility of enrolling for the next entrance exam.
Individuals who are unable to sustain the interview before the examination board, having included false information in their Mountain CV, are considered rejected, with the impossibility of enrolling and participating in the next three entrance exams.
Professional training course proceedings
The professional training course takes place over a period of two or a maximum of four years. In exceptional situations (e.g., chronic illnesses, pregnant women, or the post-natal period), the completion of the course can be extended up to a maximum of six years.
The course is designed to verify, consolidate, and correct the participants' existing knowledge, as well as to provide additional practical and theoretical information specific to the mountain leader profession.
The course comprises two years of training and knowledge consolidation, both at national and international levels. One year of instruction is formed of several professional training modules.
A module consists of 5-7 days of practical and theoretical activities in different mountain areas in Romania and Europe, with accommodation in tents, huts, or guesthouses, depending on the theme of the module.
National training
The first part of the professional training for mountain leaders (International Mountain Leaders), the national training, is composed of 8 training modules and two evaluation modules in Romania. 
Upon graduating from this section, the profession can be practiced on the territory of Romania.
Each session includes several training modules with a break for knowledge consolidation (for practical application and sedimenting).
The summer session is dedicated to professional training for mountain tours in the warm season:
- mountain movement on marked trails (mountain hiking).
- mountain movement in natural mountain terrain (off-trail);
- safety in rocky terrain (rock climbing/carpatism);
- safety in aquatic zones (water torrents);
The winter session is dedicated to training for winter mountain activities in the Carpathians:
- winter hiking (with snowshoes);
- safety on snow-covered mountain routes (classic alpinism);
- nivology;
International training
This is dedicated to international training, focused on the general specifics of the mountains in Europe, as well as the final evaluations (summer and winter).
It is formed of two international practice modules, summer and winter, with international evaluation, in mountains outside Romania. External activities will be carried out in collaboration with professional associations from partner countries.
At the end of this training period, upon graduation, the International Mountain Leader badge can be obtained.
In case one of the exams is not passed, the final evaluation can be repeated after a period of knowledge consolidation.
If one of the final exams is not passed even in the following year, after the knowledge consolidation period, the student will be removed from the IML training course with the possibility of re-enrollment.
Professional training course curriculum
The course curriculum is developed based on the Romanian professional training standard and is directly correlated with the international professional training requirements of UIMLA.
Periodically, the course curriculum will be modified and adapted according to changes in national and international requirements.
During the professional training, the following subjects will be taught and discussed in detail:
- professional legal aspects at national and international level
- professional organization at national and international level
- economic aspects regarding mountain guiding activity in Romania
- safety in mountain terrain specific to IML (winter/summer)
- nivology;
- mountain navigation (winter/summer)
- outdoor first aid (winter/summer)
- group management
- mountain pedagogy
- mountain environment (geography, ecology, economy, culture)
- ecotourism and adventure tourism in Romania
- human anatomy and physiology
- mountain meteorology
- mountain survival. Bivouac (summer/winter)
- specific physical skills (summer/winter)
- planning of mountain tours in the Carpathians
- organization of international tours in the mountains of Europe
- organization of international tours in areas outside Europe
For additional information regarding the mountain hiking guide/international mountain leader course, and the documentation required for enrollment, you can apply directly on our contact page. contact.