USPA Examiner

USPA Examiner – Instructor Examiner

The Examiner is a seasoned instructor who evaluates and certifies candidates for instructor ratings. The Examiner Rating Course (ERC) takes place on the ground only, over 3 days, with no jumping. It focuses on leadership, course facilitation and teaching methods.

The teaching style is a “reverse classroom”: candidates present the material to the examiners instead of receiving a lecture.

1. General prerequisites

  • Experienced instructor with a mastery of teaching delivery and methodology
  • At least 100 freefall student training jumps
  • At least 15 solo student first jump courses taught
  • Good standing with USPA
  • Ability to read, write and speak English

2. Method-specific prerequisites

Coach Examiner

  • 100 freefall student training jumps within the past 12 months, or 300 freefall jumps in total
  • at least 25 solo student first jump courses (proven by manifest records)
  • at least 25 Coach evaluation jumps and 25 Coach ground evaluations
  • attended the Coach standardization meeting (every 2 years)
  • taught 2 full courses under the supervision of a Vetting Examiner

AFF Examiner

  • at least 500 actual AFF jumps
  • at least 50 solo student first jump courses (proven by manifest records)
  • at least 50 AFF evaluation jumps scoring candidates (practice jumps do not count) and 25 AFF ground evaluations
  • attended the AFF standardization meeting (every 2 years)
  • taught 2 full courses under the supervision of a Vetting Examiner

Static Line / IAD Examiner

  • at least 250 freefall student training jumps and 250 static line or IAD student dispatches
  • at least 50 solo student first jump courses (proven by manifest records)
  • at least 25 method-specific evaluation jumps and 25 ground evaluations (SL or IAD)
  • attended the SL/IAD standardization meeting (every 2 years)
  • taught 2 full courses under the supervision of a Vetting Examiner

Tandem Examiner

  • at least 500 tandem jumps
  • at least 50 solo AFF, SL, IAD or transition first jump courses, proven by manifest records
  • at least 25 tandem evaluation jumps (15 of them evaluating Category A or B candidates) and 25 ground evaluations (15 of them Category A or B)
  • a current manufacturer examiner endorsement for the equipment in use
  • attended the Tandem standardization meeting (every 2 years)
  • taught 2 full courses under the supervision of a Vetting Examiner

3. Course structure

The course covers almost all of the Examiner section of the IRM: leadership and situational leadership, conflict resolution, skill analysis, USPA structure and function, grading standards. Candidates prepare the classroom, schedule the lessons and manage their time over the 3 days. Learning happens mostly through discussion and workshops.

4. Requirements to pass

  • Before the course: score 100% on the open-answer Examiner test
  • During the course: score 100% on three presentations (two skydiving-related, one not related to skydiving)
  • Score at least 80% on two skill-analysis video debriefs
  • Understand and be able to apply the content of IRM Coach section 4 and the IRM Examiner section

5. Rating privileges

  • earn the Examiner rating in your chosen method
  • teach courses without supervision, depending on your progress through the pipeline
  • evaluate and grade candidates
  • supervise other instructor rating courses

6. Renewal and expired rating

To keep the rating:

  • have conducted, or attended and assisted in, a full rating course within the previous 24 months
  • have taught at least 50% of an Instructor rating course in each discipline concerned
  • meet the annual renewal requirements of the corresponding instructor rating
  • have attended the USPA standardization meeting (every 2 years)

If the rating has expired for less than 2 years: attend a full rating course and teach at least 50% of it in the discipline concerned under the direct supervision of a Vetting Examiner, obtain the supervising Examiner’s endorsement and attend the standardization meeting.

If the rating has expired for more than 2 years: requalify under the direct supervision of a Vetting Examiner, successfully conduct a full course in the discipline, act as evaluator for at least 2 air evaluations and 2 ground evaluations, and attend the standardization meeting.

7. Prices and registration

For our prices see: Pricing (ERC – Examiner Rating Course). Contact us at contact@airplayparachutisme.fr.