Route Setting Development

Route Setting Development (RSD) is the route setting division of the Association of British Climbing Walls (ABC).

RSD provides aspiring and established setters with recognised qualifications and workshops in order to improve setting safety, productivity and creativity, and to support the growth of the workforce.


Join today for access to RSD qualifications, industry newsletters, a public route setter profile, and more.

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New Pathway

New Pathway Launching in January 2025

 

Starting in January 2025, we are excited to introduce the new pathway for our Route Setting Development (RSD) courses. Here’s a breakdown of each course:

 

1. Setting Basics

  • Format: Online or in-person
  • Audience: General wall staff, reception staff, new setters, and strippers
  • Prerequisites: Must be 16 years or older (parental consent required if under 18)
  • Duration: 1 day (in-person) or ½ day (online)
  • Course Scope: Supervised boulder setting/stripping and unsupervised tightening of spinners
  • Re-Validation: Reassess every 3 years if no further qualifications are obtained.

Available Now: Begin online today with our Impact Setting Route Setting Essentials course.

Important: This course becomes compulsory for all RSD courses from January 1st, 2025.

 

2. Setting in Practice

  • Format: In-person training and assessment
  • Audience: Novice setters and strippers
  • Prerequisites: Setting Basics course, and regular climbing (at least once a week for 6 months)
  • Duration: 1 day
  • Remit: Independent setting/stripping of bouldering at any centre
  • Re-Validation: Resit the course every 3 years, if no higher qualifications

Launch Date: Available in-person from January 1st, 2025.

Note: Mandatory for Commercial Boulder Setter and Commercial Roped Setter certifications starting March 1st, 2025.

 

3. Commercial Boulder Setter

  • Format: In-person training and assessment
  • Audience: Setters with some experience
  • Prerequisites: Setting Basics, Setting in Practice, and a minimum of 20 quality boulder-setting days
  • Duration: 2 days
  • Remit: Use of rope systems for volume setting; suitable for those applying for head setter roles
  • Re-Validation: Resit course every 3 years

Launch Date: Available from January 1st, 2025.

 

4. Commercial Roped Setter Training

  • Format: In-person training
  • Audience: Setters with prior experience
  • Prerequisites: Setting Basics and Setting in Practice
  • Duration: 2 days
  • Remit: Supervised roped setting at different centres and angles, based on supervisor discretion
  • Re-Validation: No re-validation required, provided the assessment is completed

Launch Date: Available from January 1st, 2025.

 

5. Commercial Roped Setter Assessment

  • Format: In-person assessment
  • Audience: Experienced setters
  • Prerequisites: Setting Basics, Setting in Practice, Commercial Roped Setter Training, and a minimum of 15 routes set and stripped
  • Duration: 1 day
  • Remit: Unsupervised roped setting across various centres and wall angles
  • Re-Validation: Reassess every 3 years

Launch Date: Available from January 1st, 2025.

Current RSD Courses

RSD - Boulder Setter - Level 1

This qualification allows holders to route set and strip boulders and traverse walls.

To take part in an RSD Boulder Setter Level 1 course you need to have:

  • Route setting experience (desirable)
  • The ability to climb V3
  • The ability to safely and independently use basic hand tools & an impact driver

Assesment

The assessment is ongoing throughout the course and completed on the same day as your training.

RSD - Roped Setter - Level 1

This qualification allows holders to route set bottom rope, auto belay and lead climbing routes.

To take part in an RSD Roped Setter Level 1 course you need to have:

  • Route setting experience (desirable)
  • The ability to climb F6b
  • The ability to competently lead climb and safely belay a leader

Assessment

The assessment may be a single stand-alone day, or it might be directly following a two-day training course. In both instances the requirements remain the same. Thus, to proceed directly to an assessment straight after training you will need to have a minimum of fifteen routes roped experience prior to attending the training course.

Direct Entry to Assessment

  • Extensive roped setting experience
  • Evidence of previous RSA or RSD roped course attendance,or evidence of in-house training accompanied by a statement of competence
  • The ability to climb F6b
  • The ability to competently lead climb and safely belay a leader
  • The ability to identify and list the equipment needed to act as a setter
  • Knowledge and understanding to complete a theory paper.

Note: Direct entry to assessment is for the most experienced candidates only.

If you would like any further information on anything related to setting please contact our Route Setting Development Coordinator, Naomi Hatto, [email protected]