IPSQA pioneers the world's first multi-standard swiftwater certification
Developed by international award winning swiftwater rescue experts, IPSQA’s swiftwater 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 swiftwater rescue, regardless of their training source. How your personnel get prepared for assessment is up to you!
The pathway begins with CorePass® NFPA 1006 Swiftwater Awareness, which is quality assured by IPSQA to ensure that individuals working in support of swiftwater 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 Swiftwater Operator and Technician levels. This represents the world’s first ISO17024:2012 compliant certification against NFPA 1006 for swiftwater rescue.
Going beyond NFPA standards, the Award in Public Safety (Swiftwater Responder) requires additional skills and a portfolio of evidence, including logged experience, to demonstrate practical expertise.
The programme culminates in the Certificate in Public Safety (Swiftwater 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.
For candidates seeking certification in motorised boat operations, IPSQA is currently developing a ProQual certification for NFPA1006 and other standards. Please contact us for further information.
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 (Swiftwater Responder and Technician respectively) the “gold standard” for swiftwater 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
- Meet DEFRA requirements tracking CPD 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 Swiftwater Specialist.
* CorePass products including CorePass Swiftwater 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 (Responder) | Certificate (Specialist) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proctored examination | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Experience requirement | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Skill assessment | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ISO17024 compliant | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Standard | NFPA 1006 | NFPA 1006 | NFPA 1006 | IPSQA 3011 | IPSQA 3012 |
| Mapped to national standards | US | US | US | US, AUS, UK, NZ | US, AUS, UK, NZ |
| Level | Awareness | Operations | Technician | Operations + | Specialist |
| Vehicle Rescue | No | No | No | Wading Based | Contact Based |
| QR code verification | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign Interference Protection | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Independent assessor required | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Post-nominal | No | No | No | No | CertPubS® |
| Quality Assurance "Standard" | Bronze | Silver | Silver | Gold | Gold |
| Recertification | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| Annual Skills Check | Not required | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
More information
Syllabus
CorePass Swiftwater Awareness (NFPA 1006)
- Local laws, AHJ policies and plans
- Hazard and risk assessment
- Swiftwater features and hydrology
- Swiftwater capabilities and resources
- Size up and incident management
- Communication and signals
- Witness and reporting party management
- Equipment to support swiftwater rescue
ProQual NFPA 1006 Swiftwater Operator
- Knots
- Anchors
- Rigging belay and mechanical advantage
- Patient assessment and packaging
- Litter preparation for rope systems
- Site survey
- Rescue vs recovery mode
- Risk-benefit analysis
- PPE don, fit testing and doffing
- Shore based entrapment drills
- Reach based rescues
- Throw based rescues
- Medical considerations
- Other non-entry rescue including cinches
- Swiftwater swimming and self-rescue
- Personnel accountability
- PPE limitations, maintenance, end of service
- Decontamination
Re-certification:
Three yearly through re-assessment of practical skills (Part B), conditional. Annual IPSQA Skills Check recommended in between recertification.
ProQual NFPA 1006 Swiftwater Technician
Pre-requisite: NFPA 1006 Swiftwater Operator
- Victim behaviour
- Quick release harness
- In-water victim management
- In-water contact rescue methods
- Rescue water craft preparation, operation and retrieval
- Rescue water craft capsize recovery
- Rapid Intervention Crew
Re-certification:
Three yearly through re-assessment of practical skills (Part B). Annual IPSQA Skills Check recommended in between recertification.
Award in Public Safety (Swiftwater Responder)
- CorePass First Aid II
- CorePass Competent Swimmer I
- CorePass Hazardous Materials Awareness (NFPA 470 HAZWOPER)
- NFPA 1006 Swiftwater Operator
- All pre-requisite theory, plus:
- ECHO risk assessment
- Paddle boat types
- Submerged vehicle escape protocol
- Management of animals in swiftwater
- Rescue communications (hand and whistle signals)
- Environmental care and biosecurity
- Preparing for night operations
- Culvert and storm drain rescue awareness
- Contemporary technologies (drones, micro-rope systems etc)
- DEFRA Module 2 theory
Part B Skills Assessment (within 6 months of Part A):
- Pre-requisite skills as required
- Wading skills individual and group
- Wading rescue with stretcher or sled in shallow water
- Wading rescue from vehicle in shallow water
- Shore based vehicle stabilisation
- Shore based cinch rescues
- Shore based tensioned pendulum
- Shore based curtain capture
- Shore based inflatable fire hose
- Grade 2/Class II flow swimming
- Boat on tether
- DEFRA Module 2 skills
Part C Professional Requirements (within 6 months of Part B):
- Letter of Attestation from AHJ or IPSQA Assessor
- Additional 10 hours swiftwater responder level training and/or CPD (post-completion of Part B)
- Participation in at least 2 exercises or operational incidents as swiftwater responder.
Re-certification:
Three yearly through re-assessment of Part B. Annual IPSQA Skills Check recommended in between recertification.
Certificate in Public Safety (Swiftwater Specialist)
Pre-Requisites:
- CorePass First Aid III
- CorePass Competent Swimmer II
- CorePass Incident Management
- CorePass Psychological First Aid I
- CorePass Bloodborne Pathogens
- CorePass Aircraft Safety or NFPA 1006 Helicopter Rescue Awareness
- NFPA 1006 Swiftwater Technician
- Award in Public Safety (Swiftwater Responder)
Part A Theory Examination:
All pre-requisite theory plus:
- Comparison of national standards
- Vehicle rescue theory
- Laminated glass management
- Canals and aqueducts
- Line throwing systems
- Ice and mud rescue awareness
- Working with helicopters
- Low head dams
- Search tactics
- Dive mask and snorkels
- Power boat types
- Canals and locks
- Briefing and debriefing
- Electrical Vehicle considerations
- Swiftwater Breathing Apparatus awareness
- Body Recovery from Water
- Working with public safety divers
- Tow truck operations
- Advanced knowledge of equipment
- DEFRA Module 3 theory
Part B Skills Assessment (within 6 months of Part A):
- Pre-requisite skills as required
- In-water spinal rolls
- Towed swim
- Combat swim
- Rescue from vehicles (Grade 2/Class II)
- Bariatric victim management
- Strainer negotiation and drill
- Grade 3/Class III swimming
- Paddle boat handing (Grade 2/Class II)
- Boat on highline
- Parbuckle
- Advanced cinches
- Advanced rigging
- Boat wraps
- V lower rescue
- Live bait rescue
- Advanced swiftwater rescue scenarios
- DEFRA Module 3 skills
Part C Professional Requirements (within 6 months of Part B):
- Letter of Attestation from AHJ or IPSQA Assessor
- Additional 10 hours swiftwater technician level training and/or CPD (post-completion of Part B).
- Participation in at least 2 exercises or operational incidents as swiftwater 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
- Upstream spotter
- Downstream safety
- Paddle boat or sled operator (non-tethered)
- Rescue swimmer
- Swiftwater Team Leader
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 text Swiftwater Rescue (Slim Ray), Swiftwater E-Guide (PSI) and The Essential Technical Rescue Field Operations Guide (Desert Rescue Research).
Other Certification Products
For candidates seeking certification for related competencies, IPSQA offers a range of other certification products including:
- IPSQA CorePass® Aircraft Safety
- IPSQA CorePass® Fitness Test (I-IV)
- IPSQA CorePass® Bronze Medallion Lifesaving
- IPSQA CorePass® Helicopter Rescue
- IPSQA CorePass® Competent Swimmer
- IPSQA CorePass® Competent Lifejacket User
- IPSQA CorePass® Flood Barrier Systems
- IPSQA CorePass® Public Safety Radio
- IPSQA CorePass® Height Safety I/II
- IPSQA CorePass® First Aid I-IV (Basic to Marine Medic)
- IPSQA CorePass® Body Recovery from Water
- IPSQA Award in Tertiary & Adult Education
- IPSQA Diploma in Public Safety
- IPSQA Graduate Certificate in Public Safety
- IPSQA Skills Check (Orange Card)
