;

The following transitional arrangements apply.

All applications for new or renewed authorisations must be assessed under these rules.

During the period from 1 March 2001 to 31 December 2003 all valid authorisations granted before 1 March 2001 will still be effective at their current level or at the level implied by the revised rules, whichever is the lower. On 1 January 2004, however, all such existing authorisations will automatically become invalid.

From 1 January 2004 the only authorisations that will be valid are those assessed under the revised rules.

From 1 January 2005 all those seeking a new or renewed authorisation must (at least) have attended the relevant formal training course (Walking Group Leader Award or Mountain Leader Award) unless they have been formally exempted from it by one of the UK Mountain Training Boards.