Leadership Awards

The LCMLA and CIC Leadership Awards are nationally recognised and adopted award schemes for instructors and guides who lead groups underground. These awards are managed using our Qualification Management System (QMS) which you can access via the link below. Anyone can register an account free but in order to join the award schemes you must purchase a license. If you register the system will provide you will details of how to do this online. This license fee covers administration and support for the online system and scheme. Other fees will be charged by the Trainer/Assessors for training courses. Once qualified you will need to keep your award up to date by attending an update workshop every five years, for which there is an additional payment to the BCA.

Existing LCMLA/CIC Scheme Members Pre September 2020

If you were registered on the LCMLA or CIC schemes before September 2020, do not register again via the QMS as an account has already been set up for you. Instead call 01629 581113 or email the Training Administrator

The BCAs Qualifications Management Committee (QMC) manage a range of Nationally recognised leadership awards appropriate for those wishing to evidence their competence to lead groups underground.

  • Local Cave & Mine Leadership Awards (LCMLA)
    • Local Cave Leader
      • Award appropriate for those wishing to lead groups in caves
    • Local Mine Leader
      • For those wanting to lead groups in mines
    • Vertical Leader
      • A supplemental award for those wishing to lead groups in vertical systems (simple pitches up to 18m)
    • Includes optional additional awards: SRT for Leader & Tyrolean for Groups
  • Cave Instructor Certificate (CIC)
    • Award for those wishing to lead others in more complex systems

Latest News

Important Message for LCMLA and CIC Schemes

In July 2020 the British Caving Associations Qualification Management Committee launched a new on-line qualification management system to aid in the administration of the Local Cave/Mine Leader and Cave Instructor Certificate schemes.

The new system (referred to as the QMS) is hosted by Just Go. It enables users to check and update their details, register for any courses and download certificates. To engage with the system users have to become “Members” of the LCMLA/ CIC Scheme. Membership can be purchased through the QMS and needs to be renewed every 10 years. (This is not to be confused with actual membership of the BCA which is separate).

At the time of launch we requested all those who had been moved to the new system, to log in and confirm their details were correct. We also publicised the launch on the BCA and other websites as well as various social media platforms.

If you have not yet engaged with the QMS system your profile has now lapsed. To ensure the BCA are operating under GDPR we will be deleting lapsed accounts at the end of December 2023.

To ensure your details are retained on the system please log on to the QMS here: https://britishcaving.justgo.com/

Your username is normally set as your email address

If logging on for the first time go to the forgotten password section to create a new password and access the system.

Once logged in go to the Membership section purchase membership. If you enter the discount code: KeepMe2023 those eligible will have the membership fee reduced.

If we do not hear from you by the end of December 2023 your account details will be deleted from the system. Once deleted any record of any previous training or assessments will also be deleted and so you may have to re-attend these courses.

If you have any queries on the above please don’t hesitate to contact the BCAs Training Administrator by email at .

Sent on behalf of the BCAs Qualification Management Committee

Older news items can be found in the archive of Leadership Awards news.

Info for Military Personnel

Military caving award holders who wish to gain the BCA civilian LCMLA and CIC awards can gain exemption from training by:

Registering with the BCA LCMLA/CIC scheme through the Qualification Management System which creates an account, then buying a license – click the link below

  Qualification Management system

Under “Qualifications’ within your profile click “add qualification”

Select the appropriate military qualification you hold:

• CVF (gives you exemption from Cave Trader training)
• CVT (gives you exemption from Vertical Leader training)
• CVI (gives you exemption from CIC training)

Follow the instructions entering the name of the T/A who delivered your course & date

Upload a copy of your certificate to support your application

Once submitted your application will be reviewed within 30 days and, if successful, the qualification you added to your profile will be approved and you may begin the assessment process.

Info for Trainers/Assessors

Trainers/assessors can find guidance, documentation, and resources on the Trainers/Assessors Info page [password protected]

Elliot and Ball Voluntary Youth Sector Grant

Grants are available for those working in the voluntary youth sector to help fund their training and assessment under these schemes.

These awards commemorate Dave Elliot and Nigel Ball, two inspirational cave instructors who were influential in development of caver training and of the BCA instructor and leader award schemes.

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