USPA Tandem Instructor Rating: Your Path to Teaching Students

Becoming a tandem instructor is a rewarding step, allowing you to introduce new people to the incredible world of skydiving. If you're pursuing both your United Parachute Technologies (UPT) Sigma Tandem Rating and your United States Parachute Association (USPA) Tandem Instructor Rating, you're on a path to a comprehensive and highly respected qualification. This guide will outline the key steps, requirements, and what to expect as you work towards both ratings.

Understanding the Ratings

While both ratings certify you to conduct tandem skydives, they serve slightly different purposes:

  • UPT Sigma Tandem Rating: This is a system-specific rating issued by United Parachute Technologies, the manufacturer of the popular Sigma tandem system. It certifies you as proficient and authorized to operate the Sigma rig. You'll typically earn this by attending a UPT-certified course, which often involves specific operational procedures, emergency drills, and practical evaluations unique to the Sigma system. Learn more about our UPT Sigma Tandem course.

  • USPA Tandem Instructor Rating: This is an instructional rating issued by the United States Parachute Association. It certifies you as a qualified instructor under USPA's Basic Safety Regulations (BSRs). It focuses on broader instructional techniques, student supervision, emergency procedures, and generally requires a higher level of instructional aptitude.

Good News: Pursuing both simultaneously is efficient! A UPT Sigma rating course is a prerequisite or a highly integrated component of a USPA Tandem Instructor Course.

The USPA Tandem Instructor Course

The USPA TIC is a broader instructional rating that builds upon your personal skydiving skills and follows a manufacturer’s course. Candidates are required to arrive at this course with all prerequisites completed, as specified on the Tandem Instructor Proficiency Card.

  • Written Exam (taken before the course begins): You'll complete an online USPA written exam, correctly answering at least 80% of the questions. This is an open-book exam that covers material found in both the SIM (Skydiver’s Information Manual) and IRM (Instructional Rating Manual).

  • Course Content: This includes instructional techniques, emergency procedures, advanced canopy control for tandem loads, student psychology, risk management, and administrative responsibilities. The course extensively covers the USPA Integrated Student Training Program (ISP) as it applies to tandem training and subsequent training and jumps leading to the A license. Candidates must teach ISP ground training for Category A and B twice each* during the practice tandem phase, including a full debrief of the ride to altitude, jump, and landing.

  • Evaluation Jumps: You'll perform a minimum of 5 evaluation tandem jumps with a USPA Tandem Instructor Examiner. These jumps assess your ability to:

    • Brief and debrief students effectively.

    • Maintain control and stability throughout the skydive (exit, freefall, canopy, landing).

    • Handle simulated emergencies.

    • Demonstrate strong instructional presence.

    • This phase includes two (2) successful Category A and two (2) successful Category B jumps.

* Already have a USPA Instructor rating (AFF or SL/IAD)? You will not have to give the Catergory A and B briefings.

Automatic Unsatisfactory Performance (UNSATS)

Certain errors during the course will result in an automatic "Unsatisfactory" (UNSAT) mark for that particular evaluation, requiring a re-evaluation or additional training. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Missed Attachment Or Lateral Adjustment: All points of attachment must be secured.

  • Missed Pre-Exit Check: All attachment points and handles must be checked in the correct order.

  • Unstable More Than 10 Seconds: No drogue out or unstable drogue set.

  • Unable To Control Freefall Heading: Lack of ability to maintain heading (no drogue/Tandem Terminal).

  • Freefall Below 8,000 Feet: No drogue set by 8,000 ft AGL.

  • Missed Droguefall Handle Check: Not checking handles in the proper order after drogue is set.

  • Unable To Control Droguefall Heading: Lack of ability to maintain heading (after drogue is set).

  • Drogue Release Below 4,000 Ft.: Drogue must be released within 500 feet of the predetermined deployment altitude.

  • Bad Canopy Control Or Landing: Creating a dangerous situation (potential injury) to the Tandem Instructor or Passenger/Student.

  • Other Safety Issues: Such as an unstable drogue set, hazardous/dangerous landing approach, pulling the wrong handle, or out-of-sequence response to emergency situations.

Ready to share the thrill of skydiving with new jumpers?