Driving a car and skydiving are pretty similar. Both are zero-defect activities, where you cannot make a mistake without risking life or limb. You also need a driver’s license to operate a vehicle, but, do you need a license to skydive?
You do not need a license to skydive when attached to a licensed professional (also known as tandem skydiving). But, you do need a license to skydive solo. The first license for skydiving is known as “Skydiving A License” and one of the requirements is to log 25 supervised jumps.
In this article, we’re going to identify frequently asked questions related to skydiving, as well as the different types of licenses.
What are the Different Skydiving License Levels?
Skydiving isn’t an easy activity, for the brain or the heart. It takes skill, knowledge, and a whole lot of courage. Once you’ve surpassed tandem skydiving, you’ll want to know the next steps to getting your solo license. In skydiving, there are four different types of licenses. You are considered a student until you are issued an approved license.
The information I am providing for each license requirement comes from the USPA Skydivers Information Manual.
Let’s look at each license in detail.
Skydiving A License
If you are just getting started and you are curious as to what license you can obtain first it is Skydiving A License. This is the first license option you have that allows you to be able to skydive by yourself. With any type of license there are requirements, here are the requirements for your first solo Skydiving A License:
- You must log a minimum of 25 freefall jumps
- 5 jumps with minimum 2 skydiving participants
- You must complete all requirements laid out by the USPA A License Proficiency Card
- The USPA Proficiency Card is to be verified by USPA instructor (initialed and signed)
- Proficiency card is then submitted to USPA Headquarters
- You must get the USPA A-License stamp (located bottom right of the proficiency card)
- Complete the USPA 40 questions written exam
- Complete the oral quiz of minimum 20 questions from USPA Integrated Student Program syllabus
- Alternative to the proficiency card you can complete the USPA A License Progression Card
- Registration fees must be paid
To study for the exam you are to read the USPA SIM (Skydiver’s Infnformation Manual). This manual provides all the basic skydiving information and recommendations from USPA members for “the conduct of safe and enjoyable skydiving. You can see the online SIM here on the USPA website.
Skydiving B License
The A and B licenses are similar, but with a B license you are one step closer to your C and D license. With the B license title you can do a few more activities such as performing night jumps.
One of the most common reason people want a B license is to start their journey to becoming a USPA coach, after 100 jumps you can begin the pre-requisites to do so.
Here are the requirements to getting your Skydiving B License:
- Of course, to even consider getting a B license you must first receive your Skydiving A License
- You must log a total of 50 jumps
- You must have 30 minutes of a controlled freefall logged
- You must successfully land within 33 feet of the target on 10 jumps
- Successful completion of the planned formation on 10 formation skydives, or 10 formation freefly skydives, the formation dives must have involved at least 3 other skydivers
- Completion and full documentation of live water landing training
- You must complete USPA Canopy Piloting Proficiency Card
- You must write and pass the USPA Skydiving B Licensing exam
After 200 jumps and your B license, you can now fly in a wingsuit. Read about the safety of wingsuit skydiving here.
Skydiving C License
Nice work, you can now consider getting the Skydiving C License. At this point you have been skydiving for quite some time, you can do everything a license A and B holder can do. You can now get a non-tandem instructor rating. Also, you can now be a passenger on USPA Tandem Instructor training and rating renewal jumps! Pretty cool.
Here are the requirements for getting your Skydiving C License:
- You meet all the requirements for license B or you currently have a Skydiving B License
- You must log a total of 200 jumps
- You must have minimum 60 minutes of controlled freefall time accumulated
- Must land within 7 feet of the target on 25 jumps
- Completion of 50 formation skydives or 50 formation freefly skydives, at least ten of which must involve at least four skydivers
- You must write and pass the USPA Skydiving C Licensing exam
Skydiving D License
Finally, you have made it to Skydiving D License. What an accomplishment! As a D License holder you have the priviledge to do as A, B, and C license holders can do. In the skydiving world you are considered to be at the top when you reach license D. After 3 years and some other requirements you can get your tandem license!
- You meet all the requirements for license C or you currently have a Skydiving C License
- You must log a total of 500 jumps
- You must have minimum 180 minutes (3 hours) of controlled freefall time accumulated
- You must complete at least 2 of these skill requirements:
- Complete a Night Jump
- Land 7 feet of the target on 100 jumps
- You are to participate in a canopy formation of a minimum 3 stack, then complete a full rotation
- You are to complete an intentional water jump
- You are to complete 100 formation skydives, where a minimum of 25 are to include 8 other skydivers
- Finally, you must write and pass the USPA Skydiving D Licensing exam
See all information and requirements for each license on the USPA SIM Section 3 here.
How Do You Get A Skydiving License?
Now that we’ve gone over the four types of licenses it’s time we discuss how to obtain the first license.
The requirements to get your A license are set out for you to complete, and you can complete these almost anywhere. For USPA you will complete your required 25 jumps, you can book them at nearby skydiving locations and you will book “Tandem Skydive” as you cannot solo yet. When booking it is best to mention you are logging your jumps and they will likely have a training program for you to join. Also, your jumps need to be signed off as per USPA rules.
To get the A license you will need to complete the examination and the oral exam too. The exam can be completed at your skydiving school.
The best route to getting your skydiving license is to simply touch base with your nearest skydiving location and ask questions about getting your license. They will likely do training and get you going towards your license.
The fastest way to get solo skydiving is through the program known as AFF (Accelerated Freefall). It is offered at most skydiving locations. There are 8 levels to the program, you start off jumping with 2 instructors where they freefall holding on to you, your goal is to learn to pull your own parachute. The goal in AFF is to get the solo diver used to freefalling alone, controlling the parachute, solo plane exits, and more.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Skydiving License?
Time is kind of irrelevant when it comes to receiving your license. Instead, it is gaged by jumps. Once you’ve completed 25 solo jumps you then qualify to take the exam. The more jumps available, the quicker you can obtain your card. But, don’t rush, take your time and learn as much as possible.
The process of getting your A license can take anywhere from 3 weeks up to 1 or 2 skydiving seasons. Skydiving seasons are generally April to October depending on the weather.
If your schedule allows for more jumps you can get your license faster, if you are busy then you may have to wait to get your jumps in.
No matter what, do not rush the process. You want to learn as much as possible, the more you know the safer and more enjoyable your skydiving experiences will be. Take classroom days and the books seriously!
To get your membership card from USPA it can take 2-3 weeks. You can get an online digital copy at uspa.org/me.
How Long Does a Skydiving License Last?
For each license, you’ll need to stay current with jumps. Each license eventually will need proper refreshments, known as recurrency training, which is typically a coach jump and some training. Let me show you below:
| License | Days Elapsed of No Jumps | Refresher Training Required |
| A | 60 days or more since last jump | – Complete a jump with a USPA Instructional Rating Holder
– Must demonstrate altitude awareness, freefall control, tracking, canopy skills |
| B | 90 days or more since last jump | – Complete a jump with a USPA Instructional Rating Holder
– Must demonstrate ability to safely exercise privilege’s of license B |
| C and D | 180 days or more since last jump | – Complete a jump with a USPA Instructional Rating Holder
– Must demonstrate ability to safely exercise privilege’s of such license C or D |
Under Section 5-2 in the Skydivers Informational Manual you can read more about Recurrency Training.
How Much Does a Skydiving License Cost?
Although schools do vary in price, most class A skydiving licenses are pretty similar in costs. Just keep in mind that skydiving is not a low costing sport, to get all your jumps in to climb to a higher license will cost a lot of money.
Expect to pay anywhere from $2000 to $4000 to get your Skydiving A License. You can end up spending a lot more when you begin buying your own gear. You will be spending money on tandem jumps, but you may also be spending money on training sessions.
There is also a fee associated with having a USPA membership, the ‘New Annual Membership” is $78, the “renewing Annual membership is $66. You can also purchase a Lifetime Membership for $2500 or a Foreign Lifetime Membership $4000. There is a Temporary 3 month Introductory Membership for $30. See more info here on USPA.
Learn how much skydiving cost in our detailed post here.
Learn how old you have to be to go skydiving here.
What License Do You Need to Become a Tandem Skydive Instructor?
To become a tandem skydiver instructor you need to have your Skydiving D License. You must have 500 logged jumps, 3 years skydiving experience, get your USPA coach rating, FAA Class III Medical, and you must complete a skydiving tandem training course that has been approved by the USPA (United States Parachute Association).
How Long Does it Take to Skydive Solo?
Obtaining your class A license requires 25 jumps. The fastest way to skydive solo is through the AFF (Accelerated Freefall) program. Instead of logging 25 tandem jumps, you begin an 8 level program where you start solo skydiving right away.
The typical time to reach solo skydiving is by getting your A license requirements completed, such as your 25 jumps logged. This can take anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks or months.
Is it Illegal to Skydive Without a License?
You do not require a license to skydive when skydiving tandem with a licensed tandem instructor. However, according to the USPA , it is illegal to skydive solo without a skydiving license. When dealing with skydiving, the “law” is USPA. So be sure to refer to their guidelines.
Do All Countries Require Skydiving Licenses?
Although you don’t need to re-take your skydiving A license is each country, you will need to obtain a temporary membership for each country you jump in, unless you purchased the Foreign Lifetime Membership. Often, each country has their own courses and memberships for skydiving. The USPA is the United States Parachute Association.
Canada has their own association called the CSPA, which stands for Canadian Sport Parachuting Association. In Canada they have A,B,C, and D CoP (Certificate of Proficiency). These are similar to the USPA licenses, and the Canadian CoPs are recognized internationally.
Check locally with skydiving companies and training facilities for requirements.
What Type of Skydiving License Do Paratroopers Have?
In the armed forces, there are soldiers that are trained to jump fully equipped and ready for battle at a moment’s notice. These soldiers are skilled and imperative to the armed forces. But, a big question received is, are they licensed for skydiving? The answer is no. United States paratroopers are not licensed with the USPA.
In the military things are a bit different, they’re trained on a static line parachute, versus a ripcord parachute. Even with 500 static jumps, you are still not a qualified skydiver, although, still a paratrooper, which is an accolade in itself.
Final Thoughts
Skydiving is a sport that is dangerous and crazy. You’re training and preparing to throw yourself out of a perfectly good aircraft. But in life, we need to face our fears and tackle adversity. If skydiving is an interest of yours, be sure to do research, and find a school you truly feel comfortable with.
If you’ve never been skydiving before, start with a tandem jump, then move up from there. Face your fears, chase your dreams, and fall throughout the sky.
Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!
