This article describes instructor criteria in three outdoor organizations: Outward Bound (OB), the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), and the Wilderness Education Association (WEA). Common requirements for outdoor leadership programs are outdoor experience and skills, advanced first aid, CPR, and a minimum age requirement. Traditionally OB, NOLS, and WEA trained instructors in-house. Candidates purchased experiences and skills training by taking a series of courses leading to an assistantship in the field. The requirements for an Assistant Instructor for the Colorado Outward Bound Schools include extensive people skills as well as mountaineering skills and river running skills. The National Outdoor Leadership School looks for qualities such as an ability to recognize potential hazards and a commitment to develop technical skills in numerous outdoor activities. The cost of the course in 1990 was $1,950 for 34 days. In addition to standard age and first aid requirements, the Wilderness Education Association requires instructors to have a college degree, a current physical exam, evaluations which acknowledge abilities, and a recommendation of a head instructor. Courses cost about $600. It costs thousands of dollars and requires a long time in the field to develop into a truly great outdoor instructor. All three programs are beginning to look for alternative ways to discover qualified instructors and to accelerate them through the instructor process. (KS)