Rope Rescue

IPSQA pioneers the world's first multi-standard rope rescue certification

Developed by international award winning rescue experts, IPSQA’s rope rescue certification scheme is not only the first to comply with ISO17024*, but has the most comprehensive syllabus, exceeding all technical requirements found in national standards found in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United Kingdom.

This assessment-based system ensures candidates meet NFPA and IPSQA standards in rope rescue, regardless of their training source. How your personnel get prepared for assessment is up to you!

The pathway begins with CorePass® NFPA 1006 Rope Rescue Awareness, which is quality assured by IPSQA to ensure that individuals working in support of rope rescue operations from the cold zone are safe and prepared.

Candidates then progress to the ProQual Series, known as the “silver standard”, which requires proctored examinations and skills assessments for both NFPA 1006 Rope Rescue Operator and Technician levels. This represents the world’s first ISO17024:2012 compliant certification against NFPA 1006 for rope rescue.

Going beyond NFPA standards, the Awards in Public Safety (Steep Angle Operator and High Angle Operator) requires additional skills and a portfolio of evidence, including logged experience, to demonstrate practical expertise. These awards focus on team-stretcher based rescues in the steep and high angle environments respectively.

The programme culminates in the Certificate in Public Safety (Rope Specialist), the highest certification available, exceeding traditional technician requirements in countries such as the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK, including covering additional content aligned to the OSHA Emergency Response Standard (29 CFR Part 1910) that also permits equivalent alternative standards to NFPA to be used.

Both the Award and Certificate in Public Safety are subject to IPSQA’s Foreign Interference Protection protocol, meaning the final assessment by evidence portfolio is carried out by an assessor not domiciled in the same country as the candidate. This unique feature, not found in any other similar certification scheme, along with ISO17024 compliance, additional syllabus and experience requirements makes both our Awards and Certificates in Public Safety (Steep Angle Operator, High Angle Operator and Rope Specialist) the “gold standard” for rope rescue credentials – nothing else on the planet comes close.

And for national security agencies and special forces, we also can provide under our National Security Protocol, a process to ensure the security of classified evidence and provide civilian certifications upon service member discharge.

Delivered globally through Accredited Testing Centres and Registered Assessors, this comprehensive certification series is available in multiple languages.

IPSQA, certification you can trust with your life.

Scheme Highlights

Globally available and relevant
Contemporary syllabus
No proprietary training required
Independently assessed*
Enhances compliance against OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910
Multi-standard (NFPA & IPSQA) outcomes
Customisable to local languages
ISO 17024:2012 compliant certification*
QR verifiable awarding document
Eligible for National Security Protocol
Complete through a range of ATCs
Record additional CPD requirements through IPSQA CPDPass™
Developed by award winning experts
Integrate with Teal Card, IPSQA’s global PPE fit testing system
Integrate with Orange Card, IPSQA’s optional annual skills check system to assist meeting OSHA requirements.
Transparent re-certification requirements
Provides pathway to IPSQA Diploma in Public Safety
Recognition, ultimately as a Rope Rescue Specialist.

* CorePass products including CorePass Rope Rescue Awareness (NFPA 1006) are not assessed in accordance with ISO17024 as the assessor is permitted to have been the candidate’s instructor/trainer.

Multi-Standard Pathway

Product Comparison

	CorePass®	ProQual (Operations)	ProQual (Technician)	Award (Steep Angle)	Award (High Angle)	Certificate (Specialist)
Proctored examination	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Experience requirement	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Skill assessment	Limited	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
ISO17024 compliant	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Standard	NFPA 1006	NFPA 1006	NFPA 1006	IPSQA 5011	IPSQA 5012	IPSQA 3085
Mapped to national standards	US	US	US	US, AUS, UK, NZ	US, AUS, UK, NZ	US, AUS, UK, NZ
Level	Awareness	Operations	Technician	Operations +	Operations +	Specialist
Litter Operations	Support only	Low Angle	High Angle	Steep Angle	High Angle	High Angle
Pick Off Capability	Support only	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
QR code verification	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Foreign Interference Protection	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Independent assessor required	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Post-nominal	No	No	No	No	No	CertPubS®
Quality Assurance "Standard"	Bronze	Silver	Silver	Gold	Gold	Gold
Recertification	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years
Annual Skills Check	Not required	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended

More information

Syllabus

CorePass Rope Rescue Awareness (NFPA 1006)

Local laws, AHJ policies and plans
Hazard and risk assessment
Rope rescue capabilities and resources
Size up and incident management
Communication and signals
Witness and reporting party management
Equipment to support rope rescue operations
Assisting hauling operations

ProQual NFPA 1006 Rope Rescue Operator

Pre-requisite: NFPA 1006 Rope Rescue Awareness

Knots
Anchors
Rigging belay and mechanical advantage
Patient assessment and packaging
Litter preparation for rope systems
Low angle litter attending
Rigging high angle systems
Edge protection and negotiation
PPE don, fit testing and doffing
PPE limitations, maintenance, end of service

Re-certification:

Three yearly through re-assessment of practical skills (Part B), conditional. Annual IPSQA Skills Check recommended in between recertification.

ProQual NFPA 1006 Rope Rescue Technician

Pre-requisite: NFPA 1006 Rope Rescue Operator

Suspended victim rescue
Non-suspended victim rescue
High angle litter attending
Horizontal rope systems
Descending, ascending and self-rescue

Re-certification:

Three yearly through re-assessment of practical skills (Part B). Annual IPSQA Skills Check recommended in between recertification.

Award in Public Safety (Steep Angle Operator)

Pre-requisites:

CorePass First Aid I

Part A Examination: (includes but not limited to):

All pre-requisite theory, plus:
Management of animals at rope rescue incidents
Preparing for night operations

Part B Skills Assessment (within 6 months of Part A):

Pre-requisite skills as required
Steep angle rigging (team based)
Steep angle attending (team based)
Steep angle directing (team based)
Steep angle lower and haul operation (team based)

Part C Professional Requirements (within 6 months of Part B):

Letter of Attestation from AHJ or IPSQA Assessor
Additional 10 hours steep angle operator level training and/or CPD (post-completion of Part B)
Participation in at least 2 exercises or operational incidents as steep angle operator.

Re-certification:

Three yearly through re-assessment of Part B. Annual IPSQA Skills Check recommended in between recertification.

Award in Public Safety (High Angle Operator)

Pre-requisites:

CorePass First Aid II

Part A Examination: (includes but not limited to):

All pre-requisite theory, plus:
Management of animals at rope rescue incidents
Preparing for night operations
Low angle, steep angle, high angle rigging theory

Part B Skills Assessment (within 6 months of Part A):

Pre-requisite skills as required
High angle rigging (team based)
High angle attending (team based)
High angle directing (team based)
High angle lower and haul operation (team based)

Part C Professional Requirements (within 6 months of Part B):

Letter of Attestation from AHJ or IPSQA Assessor
Additional 10 hours high angle operator level training and/or CPD (post-completion of Part B)
Participation in at least 2 exercises or operational incidents as high angle litter attendant.

Re-certification:

Three yearly through re-assessment of Part B. Annual IPSQA Skills Check recommended in between recertification.

Certificate in Public Safety (Rope Rescue Specialist)

Pre-Requisites:

CorePass First Aid III
CorePass Incident Management
CorePass Psychological First Aid I
CorePass Bloodborne Pathogens
CorePass Hazardous Material Awareness
CorePass General Rescue
CorePass Aircraft Safety or NFPA 1006 Helicopter Rescue Awareness
NFPA 1006 Rope Rescue Technician
Award in Public Safety (High Angle Operator)

Part A Theory Examination:

All pre-requisite theory plus:

Advanced rope physics
Advanced knowledge of equipment
Power assisted devices

Part B Skills Assessment (within 6 months of Part A):

Pre-requisite skills plus:
Bariatric victim management
Artificial high directionals
Advanced rope rescue scenarios
Advanced personal rope rescue skills (vertical mobility)

Part C Professional Requirements (within 6 months of Part B):

Letter of Attestation from AHJ or IPSQA Assessor
Additional 25 hours rope technician level training and/or CPD (post-completion of Part B).
Total 100 hours logged rope rescue activity (cumulative)
Participation in at least 2 exercises or operational incidents as rope technician, one of which must be a night exercise/operation.
Verified log of carrying out the following roles at exercise or operational incident:
- Safety Officer
- Edge attendant
- Litter attendant
- Rope rescue commander

Recertification:

Three yearly through re-assessment of Part B. Annual IPSQA Skills Check recommended in between recertification.

Approved References

Across the swiftwater product series candidates must demonstrate knowledge and skills consistently with approved references such as the texts Rope Rescue Techniques (McCurley & Vines), Rope Rescue Technician Manual (CMC), and The Essential Technical Rescue Field Operations Guide (Desert Rescue Research).