IFMGA / IVBV / UIAGM IN EUROPE AND THE WORLD
In most Alpine countries, mountain guiding is a regulated profession. In France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, and several others, leading clients in high mountain terrain requires meeting strict qualification standards that correspond to the IFMGA/IVBV/UIAGM framework. In some countries, this standard is directly embedded in legislation; in others, it is implemented through national training systems aligned with IFMGA requirements.
In countries where mountain guiding is not regulated by a single legal framework — such as Norway or the United Kingdom — IFMGA qualifications remain the widely recognized benchmark for professional guiding in alpine, glacier, and climbing terrain.
In North America, guiding is represented by the ACMG (Canada) and AMGA (United States). Training is structured into separate disciplines covering rock, alpine, and ski guiding. Completion of the full program leads to the internationally recognized IFMGA Mountain Guide certification, which is accepted by all member federations worldwide.
In the United States, regulatory frameworks vary significantly between states and land management agencies. Despite this complexity, the IFMGA standard — present in the country for more than 30 years — has become one of the key references for professional alpine, climbing, and ski guiding. In Canada, regulations in some regions also allow for legal consequences not only for unlicensed guiding services, but in certain cases also for clients who knowingly engage them.
Over the past decades, the IFMGA federation has expanded far beyond Europe. New member countries include Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, and several Andean nations such as Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. Across these regions, the number of locally certified IFMGA Mountain Guides continues to grow steadily. This development reflects both the quality of the training system and increasing client expectations, where IFMGA certification is increasingly seen as a natural marker of professional guiding competence.
Status w poszczególnych krajach w Europie
Francja
guide de haute montagne
Absolwenci Szkoły Narciarstwa i Alpinizmu (ENSA) w Chamonix zdobywają legitymację Przewodnika Wysokogórskiego zgodną ze standardem IFMGA.
Francja
Szczegóły
A HIGH MOUNTAIN GUIDE is a graduate of the Chamonix School of Skiing and Mountaineering (ENSA), which trains, among others, high mountain guides (guide de haute montagne) according to the IFMGA/IVBV/UIAGM standard. Following training, internships, and examinations conducted by ENSA, the UIAGM issues a HIGH MOUNTAIN GUIDE ID card and issues the IFMGA/IVBV/UIAGM Federation badge.
REGULATIONS: Decree of 16 June 2014 (NOR: FVJF1415619A JORF no. 0156 of 8 July 2014, (Sports Code: articles L.212-1 to L.212-8, articles R.212-1 to R.212-10, articles A.212-1 to A.212-1-1), updated on 01.01.201
Słowacja
horský vodca
Państwowe Stowarzyszenie Przewodników Wysokogórskich (NAHVSR) certyfikuje przewodników zgodnie z wymogami IFMGA.
Słowacja
Szczegóły
MOUNTAIN GUIDE – (horsky vodca) is the authority of the National Association of Mountain Guides of the Slovak Republic (Národná Asociácia Horských Vodcov Slovenskej Republiky - NAHVSR), which is a member of the International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA)
REGULATIONS: Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 544/2002 Coll. on HZS. Regulation of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic of 28 November 2007 (570/2007 Coll.), amended on the basis of § 11a point 9 of Act No. 544/2002 Coll.
Austria
Berg- und Schiführer
Szkolenia podlegają władzom federalnym i są organizowane przez Akademię Sportu w Innsbrucku.
Austria
Szczegóły
HIGH MOUNTAIN GUIDE – (Berg- und Schiführer) is the domain of the Verband der Österreichischen Berg- und Schiführer (VÖBS), a member of the IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA. Training and examination for Berg- und Schiführer licenses are conducted by the Sports Academy in Innsbruck, authorized by the federal authorities.
REGULATIONS: § 25a paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Tyrolean Mountain Guide Act (Art. II of LGBl. No. 71/2014 in the wording of Art. 3 of LGBl. No. 87/2015)
Szwajcaria
Bergführer
Standardy międzynarodowe IFMGA są jedynymi uznawanymi na poziomie państwowym dla przewodników wysokogórskich.
Szwajcaria
Szczegóły
HIGH MOUNTAIN GUIDE - training is conducted by the Swiss Mountain Guide Association, SBV, and ASGM according to IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA standards. In Switzerland, as in other Alpine countries, the certifying organization is the IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA. Certification also serves as a license to guide in countries that adhere to IFMGA standards. The international IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA standards are the only recognized standards for high mountain guide training in Switzerland. The national high mountain guide associations ASGM and the mountain guide association ASAM operate as umbrella organizations within the cantons.
REGULATIONS: Federal Law for Mountain Guides and Organizers of Other Risky Activities No. RS 935.91 of 10/12/2010, which only entered into force in 2014.
Włochy
guida alpina maestro di alpinismo
Zawód regulowany regionalnie. Absolwenci 5 ośrodków szkoleniowych otrzymują uprawnienia.
Włochy
Szczegóły
MOUNTAIN GUIDE (guida alpina maestro di alpinismo) is a regulated profession. Each region or autonomous province issues laws regulating the profession at the regional and/or provincial level. Graduates of training courses conducted by the Collegio Nazionale Guide Alpine Italiane (five training centers) receive a license. In the IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA, Italy is represented by three associations: Unione Valdostana Guide Alta Montagna, Verband der Südtiroler Berg- und Skiführer, and Collegio Nazionale Guide Alpine Italiane.
Identification cards and badges are issued by the Collegio Nazionale Guide Alpine Italiane. The IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA certificate and badge confirm the qualifications of high-altitude guides.
REGULATIONS: regulated by the Act of 2 January 1989 on the profession of Alpine guide; last amended on 21/09/2019 (Ultimo aggiornamento all'atto pubblicato il 21/09/2019)
Niemcy
Berg- und Skiführer/in
W Bawarii obowiązują regulacje państwowe. Szkoli Uniwersytet Techniczny w Monachium.
Niemcy
Szczegóły
HIGH MOUNTAIN GUIDE – only in Bavaria is there a regulated profession of high mountain and ski guide – Berg- und Skiführer/incl. State high mountain and ski guide licenses (Berg- und Skiführer) are issued after passed examinations by the Technical University of Munich (Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences), while the ID card and badge are issued at the request of the Association of German Mountain and Ski Guides (Vertretern des Berufsverbands der Berg- und Skiführer) by the International Federation of Mountain Guides IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA.
The international standards of the IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA and UIMLA are part of the national system. "UIMLA International Mountain Leader" and "IVBV Guide" are fully-fledged qualifications for leading tours in the Alps in Germany.
REGULATIONS: Article 128 paragraph 2 point 1 of the Bavarian Education and Teaching Act (BayEUG) published on 31 May 2000 (GVBl p. 414, ber. P. 632, BayRS 2230-1- 1-K), last amended by § 1 of the Act of 23 May 2014 (GVBl p. 186), Bavarian Ministry of Education and Culture, Science and the Arts.
Wielka Brytania
Mountain Guide
Zawód nie jest uregulowany prawnie, ale uprawnienia IFMGA wydawane przez BMG są rynkowym standardem.
Wielka Brytania
Szczegóły
In the UK, a MOUNTAIN GUIDE is an IFMGA licensed person. A British Mountain Guide (BMG) holds the IFMGA card, which is the only UK certification for providing off-piste glacier climbing and skiing services. This profession is not regulated.
British Mountain Guides (BMG) sets professional standards for the services offered by BMG members. As a member of the International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA), BMG adheres to international standards for training and examination. Upon request, the BMG awards the IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Guide Certificate and Badge.
