Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 5
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Manuals; Airspace Structure; Procedure
Aircraft X requested to maintain his own terrain and obstruction clearance and a turn in higher terrain. I cleared him as requested and he turned into higher terrain below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA). I was advised by management that my phraseology was incorrect and I needed to verify the pilot wanted a VFR climb before approving the turn. I recommend briefings on requirements for this type of scenario.
Controller reported being told he misapplied a rule for climbing aircraft below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude.