INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN LEADER

In November 2004, the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA) was founded. During the meeting it was decided that all mountain leader associations would receive the same carnet and the same badge which gives an internationally recognized identity. It also paves the way for other countries around the world to join UIMLA by setting a global standard for mountain leaders. The main objectives of the UIMLA are:

Promote the profession of International Mountain Leader (IML) and strengthen its identity outside Europe;
Develop relationships between professionals of various nationalities and participate in the evolution of IML training and qualifications;
Represent the profession at European and international level.
The UIMLA International Mountain Leader and the IFMGA Mountain Guide are the only internationally recognized qualifications for mountain group leaders.

The International Mountain Leader Award is the professional qualification for those who wish to lead trekking groups in all mountain areas, summer and winter, where mountaineering techniques or equipment are not required. On successful completion of the full training and assessment program and belonging to their recognized national body, the individual will gain the full IML award, a professional carnet and an internationally recognized badge, giving them comparability with other IMLs throughout the world.

UIMLA is a member of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) and of the International Alpine Rescue Commission

UIMLA is officially based in Switzerland in the municipality of Villars-sur-Ollon in the canton of Vaud.

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The Mountain Leader is a professional guide whose task is to lead the client or group of clients in mountain areas where there are no mountaineering difficulties.

The profession carries out guiding activities in mountain areas without altitude limits as long as there are no mountaineering difficulties (in which case we are talking about the accompaniment of mountain guides). The Guide receives training that leads him to be a connoisseur of the mountain area in all its aspects, to have good scientific and cultural skills, and to be a technician who practices with particular attention to safety and prudence, but also to nutrition and training.

The Guides are registered in a special list in the professional register of Alpine Guides.

Training
The training course lasts at least 55 days, distributed over a year, and includes very varied subjects, including: nutrition, training, first aid, BLSD, geology, botany, zoology, anthropology, mycology, hiking and accompaniment of minors, educational communication, topography and orientation, GPS, professional and environmental regulations, meteorology. At the end of the course, the students deemed suitable by the examination commission receive the professional qualification certificate issued by the relevant Region.

Regulations
The reference legislation is that which regulates mountain professions (Alpine Guide, Medium Mountain Guide, Volcanological Guide and Ski Instructor), and is based on Law 2 January 1989, n. 06, regarding “Regulation of the profession of Alpine Guide” (GU 12 January 1989, n. 9).

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