Complete information regarding the United States Parachute Association, USPA, instructional ratings can be found in the Instructional Rating Manual (IRM). The IRM includes course outlines, evaluation forms, exams and proficiency cards for each rating.

About USPA Instructional Ratings

USPA issues instructional ratings to USPA members who have gained the necessary experience and successfully completed a certification course for three different levels of instruction:

• USPA Coach Rating
• USPA Instructor Rating
• USPA Instructor Examiner Rating

The USPA Coach Rating may be earned by jumpers with at least 100 jumps and a USPA B license who have completed the Coach Certification Course. Coaches can teach the general sections of the first-jump course and train and supervise students for group skydiving skills. Coaches work under the supervision of instructors.

The USPA Instructor Rating may be earned in four different disciplines:

• Accelerated Freefall Instructor (AFF)
• Instructor-Assisted Deployment Instructor (IAD)
• Static-Line Instructor
• Tandem Instructor

These are the four methods of first-jump instruction available to anyone interested in skydiving. Each instructor rating requires a higher level of experience than the coach rating, as well as successful completion of a certification course for each different method. Instructors may teach the entire method-specific first-jump course, as well as train and supervise students beginning with the first jump through to the completion of the USPA A license.

The USPA Instructor Examiner Rating may be earned in five different disciplines:

• Coach Examiner
• Accelerated Freefall Instructor Examiner
• Instructor-Assisted Deployment Instructor Examiner
• Static-Line Instructor Examiner
• Tandem Instructor Examiner

The examiner rating is the highest level of instructional ratings issued by USPA. Examiners are very experienced instructors who train new coaches and instructors. They have completed additional training that is necessary to become an examiner.  
PRO Ratings

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