A25jumps
A licence
The first licence. Typically clears a jumper to skydive without direct supervision — to pack their own main, jump in groups, and exercise self-supervision in freefall and under canopy.
US
National body · United States
United States Parachute Association
The national body for sport skydiving in the United States — it sets the Basic Safety Requirements, issues licences and instructional ratings, and represents skydivers to the FAA.
Who they are
USPA is a voluntary membership association. Most US dropzones are USPA Group Members and expect a USPA licence — or current student status — to jump. It publishes the Skydiver's Information Manual (SIM), which defines the licence requirements, the Basic Safety Requirements, and the instructional rating syllabi.
The USPA licence ladder runs A through D. Each step adds privileges and is gated on a minimum jump count, canopy and freefall proficiency requirements, and a written exam. The jump-count minimums below are USPA's published figures — the proficiency and exam requirements apply on top of them.
Licences
The USPA ladder.
USPA licences run A through D. The jump-count minimums are shown below; each licence also carries proficiency-card and written-exam requirements.
B50jumps
B licence
Adds privileges such as water-landing training, and is a common stepping stone toward earning a coach rating.
C200jumps
C licence
Adds privileges such as night jumps and exhibition (demonstration) jumps, and is a prerequisite for several instructional ratings.
D500jumps
D licence
The master licence — all licensed privileges, and the prerequisite for the senior instructional and examiner ratings.
Jump counts are minimums only — each licence also carries proficiency and written-exam requirements. Always confirm the current rules on the official site.
Instructor ratings
USPA issues Coach and Instructor ratings (AFF, IAD, Static-Line and Tandem) and Examiner ratings. The higher ratings require a C or D licence and a minimum jump count.
In SkyLog, the coaches who hold these ratings show them on their profile as verified credentials, and the sign-offs they give are sealed into your logbook. See how coach sign-offs work.
The authority
USPA's official site is the last word.
This page is an orientation. Requirements, ratings and regulations change — before you rely on anything here, confirm the current rules with USPA directly.
uspa.orgYour logbook
Log to the licence.
Progression is built on a verified, signed-off record. SkyLog keeps exactly that — free for your first 50 jumps.