United States Parachute Association > Experienced Skydivers > SIM > Section 3-1

3-1 USPA Licenses

A. Background

  1. License requirements are intended to encourage the development of the knowledge and skills that should be acquired by each skydiver as experience is gained.
  2. USPA licenses, recognized in all FAI member countries, serve as official documentation that the stated experience and skills have been attained.
  3. Licenses are a valuable instructional tool in that they serve both as goals to be accomplished and as a guideline to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to provide a reasonable level of safety and enjoyment.
  4. USPA license authority
    1. The United States Parachute Association is authorized by the National Aeronautic Association and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale to issue internationally recognized parachutist Certificates of Proficiency issued as A-D licenses.
    2. Licenses are issued based upon demonstration of skill, knowledge, and experience and are ranked according to the level of accomplishment.

B. General conditions for licenses

  1. USPA licenses are valid only while the holder is a current regular USPA member or a current temporary USPA member; there is no other renewal requirement.
  2. USPA ratings are only valid while the holder is a current regular USPA member.
  3. USPA licenses are valid in all FAI member countries and, while valid, entitle the holder to participate in open skydiving events organized in FAI member countries.
  4. USPA issues licenses only to USPA members who meet the conditions set forth for that license.
  5. License qualifications made during military training jumps and all the dive flows and ground training requirements outlined in the USPA ISP must be properly recorded on the USPA A license progression card or higher license application for that USPA license and verified by the appropriate USPA official.
  6. Total freefall time is defined to include both freefall and droguefall time.
  7. Static line and IAD jumps count towards jump numbers needed for licenses and ratings.
  8. USPA licenses may be refused, suspended, or revoked only when authorized by the USPA Board of Directors or in compliance with existing USPA Board directives.

C. Logging jumps for licenses and ratings

  1. Skydives offered as evidence of qualification must have been:
    1. made in accordance with the USPA requirements in effect at the time of the jump
    2. legibly recorded in chronological order in an appropriate log that contains the following information:
      1. jump number
      2. date
      3. location
      4. exit altitude
      5. freefall length (time)
      6. type of jump (formation skydiving, freeflying, canopy formation, style, etc.)
      7. landing distance from the target
      8. equipment used
      9. verifying signature to include a legible USPA membership number, skydiving license number, or pilot certificate number
  2. Jumps to meet the number of jumps requirements for USPA licenses and ratings must be signed by a witness of the jump who may be another licensed skydiver, pilot, Instructor, Examiner, S&TA, or board member.
  3. Jumps to meet skill requirements must be signed by a Coach, Instructor, Examiner, S&TA, or Board member. Special requirements and additional qualifying items needed for Examiner ratings such as FJCs, air evaluations, ground evaluations, and teaching requirements must be logged and signed by an Examiner.
  4. Use of digital devices for logging skydives
    1. Many skydivers use digital devices to log skydives, instead of traditional paper logbooks.
    2. Any jump logged in a digital device must contain the required information, including a signature verification from a licensed skydiver, the pilot, or a USPA National or FAI Judge who witnessed the skydive.
    3. Each Instructor, S&TA, or Examiner who verifies license requirements for a USPA license must review and verify the jumps logged in a digital device.
    4. For skydivers who are pursuing licenses and ratings, it is especially critical that the first 500 jumps are clearly logged and easily verifiable by the officials who must verify the jumps for licenses and ratings.

D. Verification of application

  1. Experience verification: The certifying official should verify that the number of jumps and total freefall time are correct and meet the listed requirements for the license sought.
  2. Skill verification: Jump numbers, scores, or date(s) of completion require the initials of a current USPA Instructor, S&TA, Examiner, or USPA Board member.
  3. Except for jumps to meet the number of jump requirements; all jumps needed to meet requirements for licenses or ratings must be signed by an Instructor, Examiner, S&TA, or board member. Special requirements and additional qualifying items needed for an Examiner ratings such as FJCs, air evaluations, ground evaluations, and teaching requirements must be logged and signed by the S&TA, Examiner, or board member.
  4. Signature Verification: Applications for all licenses must be signed by an appropriate official (as listed in this Section) before the application is forwarded to USPA Headquarters.
    1. USPA Instructors may verify A, B, and C licenses.
    2. S&TAs, Examiners, and USPA Board members may verify any license application.
  5. Every USPA B license must also include a completed and signed copy of the Canopy Piloting Proficiency Card.
  6. The completed Canopy Proficiency Card must be signed by a current USPA S&TA, Examiner, or USPA board member.
    1. The S&TA must ensure that a qualified course director conducts the training in this section.
    2. In some situations, the best candidate to teach this material may not hold any USPA ratings, but may have extensive knowledge about canopy control and landings.
    3. The signature of the S&TA on the proficiency card is to verify that the training has been satisfactorily completed by the candidate.
  7. You may not sign for your own license application or initial any of the verification blocks of your own license application.
  8. USPA will charge a separate license fee for each license number issued.

E. License privileges and requirements

  1. A License copy link
    Persons holding a USPA A license may jump without supervision, pack their own main parachute, engage in basic group jumps, perform water jumps, and must have—
    1. completed 25 freefall jumps
    2. completed all requirements listed on the USPA A License Proficiency Card
    3. completed five group freefall skydives involving at least two participants
    4. received the signature and official stamp on the USPA A License Proficiency Card or USPA A License Progression Card (ISP) which validates the A license for a 60-day time limit following the completion of the card
    5. The completed and signed USPA A License Proficiency Card or USPA A License Progression Card must be validated within 60-days of completion by sending the card to USPA Headquarters. Once validated, USPA will issue a license number that becomes a permanent record of the member.
    6. passed the USPA-developed written and oral USPA A-license exams conducted by a current USPA I, Examiner, S&TA, Judge or USPA Board member Note: USPA Headquarters will accept either completed card signed by a USPA Instructor without the official stamp.? The registration fee must be included.
  2. B License copy link
    Persons holding a USPA B license are able to exercise all privileges of an A-license holder, perform night jumps, with 100 jumps are eligible for the USPA Coach Rating, and must have—
    1. met all current requirements for or hold a USPA A license
    2. completed 50 jumps including:
      1. accumulated at least 30 minutes of controlled freefall time
      2. landed within 33 feet of target center on ten jumps
    3. successful completion of the planned formation(s) on ten formation skydives, or ten formation freefly skydives, at least five of which, in either discipline, must involve at least three participants
    4. documentation of live water landing training with full equipment in accordance with the procedures in the Skydiver's Information Manual
    5. complete all of the requirements listed on the USPA Canopy Piloting Proficiency Card
    6. passed the written USPA B license exam conducted by a current USPA I, Examiner, S&TA, Judge or USPA Board member.
  3. C License copy link
    Persons holding a USPA C license are able to exercise all privileges of a B-license holder, are eligible for the USPA Instructor rating (except USPA Tandem Instructor), participate in certain demonstration jumps, may ride as passenger on USPA Tandem Instructor training and rating renewal jumps, and must have—
    1. met all current requirements for or hold a USPA B license
    2. completed 200 jumps, including accumulating at least 60 minutes of controlled freefall time
    3. landed within seven feet of target center on 25 jumps
    4. Successful completion of fifty formation skydives, or fifty formation freefly skydives, at least ten of which, in either discipline, must involve at least four participants
    5. Passed the USPA written C license exam con­ducted by a current USPA I, Examiner, S&TA, Judge or USPA Board member.
  4. D License copy link
    Persons holding a USPA D license are able to exercise all privileges of a C-license holder, are eligible for all USPA ratings, and must have—
    1. met all current requirements for or hold a USPA C license
    2. completed 500 jumps including accumulating at least three hours of controlled freefall time
    3. completed at least two of the following skills requirements (a requirement may be repeated):
      1. night jump (following the SIM recommendations)
      2. landed within seven feet of the target center on 100 jumps.
      3. participated in a canopy formation of a 3 stack or larger, completing a full rotation.
      4. completed an intentional water jump.
      5. successful completion of one hundred formation skydives, at least twenty-five of which must involve at least eight participants.
    4. Passed the written USPA D license exam conducted by a current USPA Examiner, S&TA, Judge Examiner or USPA board member.

F. Restricted USPA Licenses

  1. Under extreme circumstances, such as physical handicaps, a USPA Restricted license may be issued to applicants who are unable to meet all of the specific license requirements.
  2. A person may be qualified for a Restricted license if the applicant has (all of the following):
    1. submitted a petition to the Safety & Training Committee, containing:
      1. type of license requested
      2. specific license requirement(s) which cannot be met
      3. circumstances which prevent compliance with license requirements
      4. license application completed, except for the restricted activities
    2. met all requirements for the license desired except for those listed in the petition
  3. Each application will be considered individually on its own merit, totally without precedent.
  4. If the waiver is approved by the board of directors, the license will be issued with the word "restricted."