Whether it is for military or civilian environments, IPSQA has a range of rescue helicopter personnel certification options.

From our flagship Certificate in Public Safety (CertPubS®) that assesses candidates against IPSQA standards requiring knowledge, skills and experience; to ProQual our NFPA 1006 standard compliant certifications for public safety, we have a range of personnel certification products to ensure your air rescue workforce is prepared. 

NFPA Levels

The NFPA 1006 Helicopter Rescue certifications encompass three progressive levels: Awareness, Operations, and Technician, each designed for emergency responders with increasingly advanced roles in helicopter-based rescue missions.

The Awareness level certification is intended for personnel who need a basic understanding of helicopter rescue operations. This includes first responders, emergency dispatchers, and support staff who may encounter or assist with helicopter rescue scenarios but are not directly involved in rescue operations. They learn to recognise hazards, understand basic safety procedures, and provide essential ground support.

The Operations level certification is aimed at personnel who directly assist in helicopter rescue operations, including ground support teams, medical staff, and rescue personnel. These individuals are typically involved in tasks such as patient packaging, loading and unloading of patients and equipment, establishing and managing landing zones, assisting with aerial searches, and providing ground-to-air communications. They may also include aircrew not undertaking external load or complex rescue operations.

The Technician level certification is targeted at more experienced rescuers who are actively involved in advanced helicopter rescue techniques. This includes personnel who perform external load operations, hoist rescues, and short-haul missions. Technicians are often part of the flight crew or specialized rescue teams and are also trained in complex rescue scenarios involving challenging environments. They are responsible for managing both human and non-human external loads, performing advanced weight and balance calculations, and executing sophisticated rescue plans in coordination with pilots and other crew members.

IPSQA Certification Products

CorePass® NFPA 1006 Helicopter Rescue Awareness

This non-flight certification assesses candidates against NFPA 1006:2021 (Chapter 16.1 Helicopter Rescue Awareness Level). Candidates must demonstrate skills in and around a rescue helicopter or approved simulator, but do not necessarily have to be airborne to meet requirements.

ProQual NFPA 1006 Helicopter Rescue – Operations and Technician

Pre-requisites:

• NFPA1006 Helicopter Rescue Awareness Level
• CorePass® Competent Swimmer
• CorePass® Competent Lifejacket User
• CorePass® Workplace Fire Suppression

Aimed at public safety rescuers including military, our ProQual NFPA 1006 Helicopter Rescue series offers certification for Operators (Operations Level) and Technicians (Technician Level).

This ISO17024 compliant certification provides independent assessment, ideal as a capstone assessment but does not require verified experience like our Certificates in Public Safety (CertPubS®).

Certificate in Public Safety (CertPubS®) Helicopter Rescue Specialist [Levels 5 & 6]

We offer two Certificates in Public safety (Helicopter Rescue Specialist):

Helicopter Rescue Specialist I [Level 5]

This ISO17024 compliant certification is for rescuers operating down the wire to effect patient access and retrieval.

Pre-requisites:

• NFPA1006 Helicopter Rescue Technician Level
• CorePass® Helicopter Underwater Escape
• CorePass® Emergency Breathing Systems
• CorePass® Public Safety Radio
• CorePass® First Aid III (Advanced)
• CorePass® Personal Sea Survival
• CorePass® Wilderness Awareness (NFPA 1006)

It is also common for helicopter rescue specialists to also hold additional environment specific rescue certifications (surf, ice, surface water, swiftwater, flood water, wilderness etc.)

Helicopter Rescue Specialist II [Level 6]

Pre-requisites:

• IPSQA Certificate in Public Safety (Helicopter Rescue Specialist I)

This ISO17024 compliant certification is for aircrew conducting rescue mission planning and working inside the airframe managing cargo and external load operations.

These are our highest certifications available for helicopter rescue, with a comprehensive and independent assessment requiring additional pre-requisites, knowledge, skills and verified experience (post-skills assessment).

Pre-requisite:

• IPSQA Certificate in Public Safety (Helicopter Rescue Specialist I) [Level 5]

Common Assessment Requirements for CertPubS® (Helicopter Rescue Specialist I/II)

Logged flight time is required for these certifications.

Skills/Knowledge required in addition to NFPA 1006 Helicopter Rescue Technician include:

• Helicopter rappel rigging and operation
• Aviation crash survival
• Night Vision Goggle (NVG) technology
• Helicopter refueling
• Helicopter ground handling (towing/trolley)
• Marshalling
• Distress beacon location
• Dangerous goods
• Mission planning

This product range also is subject to our Foreign Interference Protection meaning the candidates final submission is assessed by a senior assessor that is not domiciled in the same country as the candidate.

Approved References

Across the helicopter product series candidates must demonstrate knowledge and skills consistently with approved references such as the text Helicopter Rescue Techniques (Thomas, 2017) and The Essential Technical Rescue Field Operations Guide (Desert Rescue Research). 

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