KATHMANDU: The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has rescheduled its second Summer Skill Course for Professional Mountain Guide Training 2026, with the programme set to resume from August 17 after being previously postponed for technical reasons.

In a notice issued on August 13, the NMA said applications for the training will be accepted on August 14 and 15 at its secretariat in Nagpokhari, Naxal. Interviews are scheduled for August 16 and 17 at the same venue.

The training course is scheduled to run from August 16 to September 24 in Kathmandu and the Kanchenjunga region of Taplejung, according to the revised schedule issued by the association.

The NMA has set a maximum of 40 participants, with the course fee fixed at Rs30,000 per person. Registration forms are available from the NMA Secretariat for Rs100.

Applicants are required to submit a photocopy of their citizenship certificate, a certificate of the Fundamental Skill for Mountaineering course, a recommendation letter from NMA resource members, a medical report and two passport-size photographs.

Training returns amid earlier industry dispute

The resumption comes less than three weeks after the NMA suspended the same second summer phase of the Professional Mountain Guide Training 2026 following criticism from sections of Nepal's mountaineering community.

The NMA had announced the suspension on July 27 after concerns were raised over the programme's design, approval process, instructor qualifications and its relationship with Nepal's established mountain-guide training pathway.

The new 1,696-hour Professional Mountain Guide programme had also drawn criticism because the NMA's long-running Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) and Advanced Mountaineering Course (AMC) had remained suspended since 2019.

Six mountaineering organisations had earlier urged the NMA to revive the BMC and AMC, arguing that the prolonged suspension had weakened Nepal's system for developing qualified mountain professionals.

The organisations included the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, Everest Summiteers Association, Mount Everest Summiteers Club, Khumbu Climbing Association, Gandaki Alpine Club and Nepal Mountaineering Instructors' Association.

The NMA's latest notice does not state whether the BMC and AMC will be revived or whether changes have been made to the Professional Mountain Guide programme following the earlier criticism.

The revised notice instead focuses on the new schedule, application requirements and logistics for the second summer skill course.