What is USPA?

The United States Parachute Association (USPA) is the cornerstone membership organization for skydivers, serving as the official United States skydiving representative for the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Recognized by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), USPA ensures skydiving's rightful place in the airspace and fosters a community dedicated to safety and excellence.

What Does USPA Do?

USPA's mission is multifaceted, focusing on three core pillars:

• Promoting Safety: Through comprehensive training, robust licensing, and rigorous instructor qualification programs, USPA ensures a high standard of safety across the sport.

• Advocating for Skydiving: USPA works diligently to preserve skydiving's access to airports and the national airspace system.

• Fostering Competition and Records: The organization actively promotes competitive skydiving and supports record-setting programs, pushing the boundaries of human flight.

USPA Licenses: Your Path to Advanced Skydiving

USPA licenses are awarded based on a skydiver's demonstrated skill, knowledge, and experience, marking significant milestones in your progression. This guide delves into the USPA license progression guide.

A License: Your Foundation for Independent Flight

The A License is where your independent skydiving journey truly begins. To obtain it, you must have completed a minimum of 25 freefall jumps, mastered all the requirements listed on the USPA A-License Progression Card, and passed the USPA-developed written, oral, and practical A-License Exams conducted by a current USPA Instructor or higher rating holder.

With an A License, you gain the freedom to jump without direct supervision and engage in group jumps with other licensed skydivers. This foundational certification also significantly expands your opportunities, making it straightforward to jump at various dropzones worldwide. These are the core A-License skydiving privileges.ficantly expands your opportunities, making it straightforward to jump at various dropzones worldwide. These are the core A license skydiving privileges.

B License: Expanding Your Horizons and Skills

The B License is for the skydiver eager to refine their abilities and explore new facets of the sport. To qualify, you must have met all current requirements for or hold a USPA A license and completed a minimum of 50 jumps, including:

• Accumulated at least 30 minutes of controlled freefall time.

• Landed within 33 feet (10 meters) of target center on 10 jumps.

• Successful completion of the planned formation(s) on 10 formation skydives, or 10 formation freefly skydives, at least five of which, in either discipline, must involve at least three participants.

• Documentation of live water-landing training.

• Completed all the requirements listed on the B-License Canopy Piloting Proficiency Card .

• Passed the written USPA B-License Exam conducted by a current USPA Instructor, S&TA, Examiner, Judge, or board member.

With a B License, you may exercise all privileges of an A-license holder, perform night jumps, and are eligible for the USPA Coach Rating after making 100 jumps.

Enhance Your B License Journey with Skydive Fundamentals:

• Canopy Course: To truly "Unlock your parachute's full potential", our focused Canopy Flight Classes are designed to accelerate your mastery of essential canopy skills. This exceptionally thorough weekend coaching ensures you gain a deep understanding of your parachute, master landing patterns, and execute precise landings, dramatically improving your skills for your B-License canopy requirements. We provide personalized instruction to help you gain precision and control and for advanced canopy control training.

• Coach Rating Course: If you're ready to give back to newer jumpers, our Coach Course is the essential first step into skydiving instruction. This program focuses on USPA-mandated teaching and debriefing methodologies, crucial for training new skydivers and aligning directly with USPA's standards and priorities for the Coach rating. We offer a comprehensive Coach rating program to help you effectively transmit knowledge and mentor new students.

C License: Mastering Precision and Opening Doors

The C License signifies a significant level of experience and control. If you're looking into USPA C license requirements, to qualify, you must have met all current requirements for or hold a USPA B license and completed a minimum of 200 jumps, including:

• Accumulating at least 60 minutes of controlled freefall time.

• Landed within 7 feet (2 meters) of target center on 25 jumps.

• Successful completion of 50 formation skydives, or 50 formation freefly skydives, at least 10 of which, in either discipline, must involve at least four participants.

• Passed the written USPA C-License Exam conducted by a current USPA Instructor, S&TA, Examiner, Judge, or board member.

Holding a C License allows you to exercise all privileges of a B-license holder, you are eligible for USPA Instructor ratings (except USPA Tandem Instructor), you may participate in some demonstration jumps, and may ride as passenger during USPA Tandem Instructor training and rating-renewal jumps. This includes eligibility for AFF instructor rating requirements USPA and SL/IAD instructor rating prerequisites.

D License: The Pinnacle of Experience and Leadership

The D License represents the highest level of experience and proficiency in the sport. To achieve this, you must have met all current requirements for or hold a USPA C License and completed a minimum of 500 jumps, including:

• Accumulating at least three hours of controlled freefall time.

• Completed at least two of the following skills requirements (a requirement may be repeated):

  • Night jump

  • Landed within seven feet (2 meters) of the target center on 100 jumps.

  • Participated in a canopy formation of a 3-stack or larger, completing a full rotation.

  • Completed an intentional water jump.

  • Successful completion of 100 formation skydives, at least 25 of which must involve at least eight participants.

• Passed the written USPA D-License Exam conducted by a current USPA S&TA, Examiner, Judge Examiner, or board member.

With a D License, you may exercise all privileges of a C-license holder and are eligible for all USPA D license instructor ratings eligibility.

The FAA uses the term 'Master Parachute License' in its regulations to describe a level of parachuting proficiency required for certain privileges. In alignment with FAA terminology, a holder of a valid USPA D-License satisfies the requirements of the term 'master parachute license FAA equivalent.'

Your Next Step to Leadership with Skydive Fundamentals:

• Tandem Instructor Course: The D License is a prerequisite for pursuing your Tandem Instructor rating. If your goal is to guide new adventurers on their first tandem skydive, the D License paves the way for specialized instructor training like the Tandem Instructor Course.

How Long is My License Valid?

As long as your USPA membership is valid, then so is your license. Understanding USPA license validity period is simple: maintain your membership and your license is valid. Validity, however, is different than currency.

How Should License Requirements Be Logged?

Accurate and thorough record-keeping is crucial for verifying your progression and license eligibility. USPA requires the following information be logged (either on paper or digitally) for each jump. If you're curious how to properly log skydives for USPA certification, you should log each of these details:

• Jump number

• Date

• Location

• Exit altitude

• Freefall length (time)

• Type of jump (e.g., formation skydiving, freeflying, canopy formation, style)

• Landing distance from the target

• Equipment used

• Verifying signature, including a legible USPA membership number, skydiving license number, or pilot certificate number.

For jumps used to satisfy jump number requirements for a license, have another licensed jumper who witnessed the skydive sign the logbook entry. However, if a jump is used to satisfy a specific skill requirement, an instructor or higher rating holder should sign that log entry.

At Skydive Fundamentals, we believe in uncompromising thoroughness and quality training. Whether you're aiming for your B, C, or D license, or looking to become a certified instructor, our personalized attention and small class sizes ensure you receive the focused guidance needed to excel safely and confidently. We are here to support your journey through all USPA training programs and requirements.

Ready to take the next leap in your skydiving career?