La profesionalización de guías e instructores/as de los deportes de inverno, montaña y escalada en España

Introduction:specific curricula for mountaineering, climbing and winter sports were published in Spain in 2000. Prior to that, guides and instructors were individuals whose legitimacy was largely based on personal experience and, in many cases, voluntary engagement. Today, various formal educational programs are available in this professional field, and the number of certified individuals has continued to increase.Objective: to examine the professionalization process of sports instructors in mountaineering, climbing and winter sports in Spain, addressing the following questions: a) To what extent have these occupations become professionalized?; b) What professional profiles currently exist in the sector, and how do they align with market demands?; c) How do certified professionals per-ceive the phenomena of unqualified practice and benevolent volunteering?; and d) How do reg-ulatory frameworks and international credentials influence the ability to practice both nation-ally and transnationally?Methodology:using purposive non-probability sampling based on inclusion criteria, a sample of 46 individuals was selected. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus groups and analysed using thematic analysis.Results and Discussion:distinct professional profiles with specific training were identified. The findings reveal tensions between certified professionals, individuals with other qualifications, volunteers, and practitioners who operate beyond their scope of competence. These results are consistent with the situation observed in similar sports occupations in other contexts.Conclusion:the occupations under study are undergoing a process of professionalization. The sector is calling for national-level regulation of professional practice.