The 5-day SPRAT training and evaluation course is designed to provide certification for rope access technicians. This course will cover the necessary skills for Level 1, 2 or 3 SPRAT certification. Students who pass the evaluation, meeting the SPRAT Certification Requirements, will be awarded a SPRAT certification. The SPRAT certification is valid for three years.

All equipment required for training will be provided. Participants may use their own equipment after inspection by the course instructor prior to the training sessions. All such equipment must be in serviceable condition, with up-to-date inspection records.  Equipment may be denied use if it does not conform to current safety standard.

Course Information and Price

8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri

Class Mon – Thurs, Testing on Friday

Registration fee: $1,595.00 for all levels and includes the SPRAT fee for testing and certification

Lodging is not included in this cost. If you are coming from out of town, check out our section for traveler info or contact us for more information.

Student Requirements

Students must be 18 years or older and have valid, government-issued ID.

Maximum body weight of 280 lbs. due to equipment limitations.

Knot Practice, prior to the first day of class

The student should use an online knot site to learn the:

• End Loop knots – Figure 8 on a bight, bowline, figure 9 on a bight
• Mid Loop Knot – Alpine Butterfly
• Stopper Knot – Barrel knot also known as the double overhand
• Joining Ropes Together – Double Fisherman’s Knot, Flemish bend, Figure 8 bend

Physical Guidelines

Participants should expect to perform strenuous activity. You will be suspended for prolonged periods of time over the course of five days. We recommended that students self-evaluate for the following attributes:

• Good strength-to-weight ratio -Arm and core strength will be needed.
• Average to good cardio fitness level – 20 sit-ups or 20 stairs within a few minutes
• Full function of extremities
• Free from injuries or chronic conditions that impair digital dexterity
• Recommended maximum body weight of 220 lbs. for people up to 6 ft. tall
• Due to equipment limitations, body weight maximum is 280 lbs.
• Each participant must assume all responsibility for monitoring their own physical limitations.
• If there are any doubts as to your physical abilities or limitations, we recommend you see your physician for a full physical before taking this course.

SPRAT Level I – Rope Access Worker

The SPRAT I certification level assumes no prior rope experience and instructs a candidate on all the basic skills required to work safely on a two-rope system. Curriculum has been developed to help prepare candidates for the written portion of the SPRAT Evaluation.

This course covers the following topics and skills:

• Equipment use and inspection.
• Job Safety Analysis awareness
• Level 1 Knots
• Back-up device use and handling
• Use of ascending system for ascent and short descents
• Use of a descender for descent and short ascents
• Passing Knots in ascent and descent
• Rope-to-rope transfers
• Negotiating a rope deviation (redirect)
• Short rebelay
• Negotiate an edge
• Installing and Passing Rope Protection
• Configurations and Strengths of Simple Structural Anchors
• Raising and Lowering a load with a two rope system
• Pick-off rescue with victim in descent
• Horizontal Aid climb
• Theoretical rope concepts such as fall factors, safety factors, min. breaking strengths, and safe working loads

SPRAT Level II – Rope Access Lead Technician

The SPRAT II certification level is open to SPRAT Level I certified technicians who have 500 documented hours of rope access work and have been a level I technician for at least six months.  Several significant new skills are introduced and the proficiency of all level I skills are verified with an increased emphasis on efficiency.

The SPRAT level II rope access course reviews all level I skills and introduces the following new skills and topics.

• Management and communication awareness
• Job Safety Analysis proficiency
• Principles of mechanical advantage systems
• Load sharing anchor mastery
• Pull-through anchors
• Rope systems analysis
• Cross hauling – (platform and pitch head)
• Rescue hauling – (platform and pitch head)
• Vertical Aid climbing
• Rescue in Horizontal Aid climb
• Pick-off rescue with victim in ascent
• Rescue through knots

SPRAT Level III – Rope Access Supervisor

The SPRAT III certification level is the highest level under the SPRAT system and represents a large jump in complexity from the level II course. SPRAT level III certification shows that a technician has the ability to perform advanced level operations and rescues fluidly.  Because of the amount of new information delivered and the difficulty of the rescues, achieving a Level III certification is a significant achievement and a milestone in any rope access professional’s career.

A level III certification is open to any level II certified technician who has been a level II for 6 months and has 500 documented hours of rope access work as a level II technician.

The SPRAT Level III rope access course covers the following new skills and topics:

• Job Safety Analysis mastery
• Anchors pre-rigged to lower
• Advanced rescues – Pick off through knots
• Advanced rescues – Pick off through rebelay
• Advanced rescues – Pick off through rope-to-rope transfer
• Advanced rescues – Pick off through Deviation
• Highlines/Guidelines
• Team Rescue Work Scenario – Management of a Team
• Mechanical anchor systems awareness