Whether it is for industry or public safety, IPSQA has a range of tower rescue certification options.
From our flagship Certificate in Public Safety (CertPubS®) that assesses candidates against IPSQA standards requiring knowledge, skills and experience; to our NFPA standards compliant certifications for industry and public safety, we have a range of tower rescue certification products to ensure your workforce is prepared.
| CorePass® | ProQual | CertPubS® | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory examination | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Experience requirement | No | No | >200 hours |
| Skill assessment | Non-Climbing | Yes | Yes |
| ISO17024 compliant | No | Yes | Yes |
| Standard | NFPA 1006 | NFPA 1006 | IPSQA 3077 |
| Level/s available | Awareness | Operator & Technician | Specialist |
| Target | Public Safety & Industry | Public Safety & Industry | Subject Matter Experts |
| Foreign Interference Protection | No | No | Yes |
| Independent assessor required | No | Yes | Yes |
| Quality assurance rating | 3 star | 4 star | 5 star |
CorePass® NFPA 1006 Tower Rescue Awareness
This non-climbing certification assesses candidates against international good practice including NFPA 1006:2021 (Chapter 4.1 Tower Rescue Awareness Level).
The awareness level certification is the foundational tier for tower rescue competency. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to recognise tower rescue situations, initiate emergency response protocols, and provide essential ground support. Certification at this level requires proficiency in identifying various tower types, understanding associated hazards, and recognising the limitations of conventional emergency response equipment. Certified individuals must show competence in site control, information gathering, and communication with subjects. However, awareness-level certified personnel are not qualified to climb towers or perform rescues requiring ascent.
ProQual NFPA 1006 Tower Rescue
Aimed at public safety rescuers and industrial emergency response teams, our ProQual NFPA 1006 Tower Rescue series offers certification for Operators (Operations Level) and Technicians (Technician Level), and follows on from CorePass® NFPA 1006 Tower Rescue Awareness certification.
Operations Level Certification
Operations level certification builds upon awareness skills and certifies individuals for basic climbing and rescue operations. To achieve this certification, candidates must prove proficiency in tower climbing safety, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and execution of rescue techniques for scenarios involving climbing ladders or integrated safety systems. This certification qualifies responders to access subjects on towers up to 300 feet tall, provided the tower is not structurally compromised and a rescue pre-plan exists. Candidates must demonstrate practical skills and decision-making abilities in simulated rescue scenarios.
Technician Level Certification
Technician level certification represents the highest standard of tower rescue competency. To obtain this certification, candidates must exhibit mastery of complex tower emergency responses. This includes scenarios where standard climbing aids are absent, towers are structurally compromised, or heights exceed 300 feet. Certification at this level requires demonstrating advanced skills such as establishing climbing paths on unfamiliar towers, controlling electrical and EMF/RF hazards, and performing rescues using non-standard anchorages. Candidates must prove their ability to conduct rescues in challenging conditions that surpass the scope of operations level skills, through rigorous practical examinations and scenario-based assessments.
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®) below.
Certificate in Public Safety (CertPubS®) Tower Rescue Specialist
Our highest certification available for tower rescue, with a comprehensive and independent assessment requiring knowledge, skills and verified experience (a minimum of 200 hours post-skills assessment on-tower across various types and conditions), exceeding the prerequisite requirements of NFPA 1006 Tower Rescue Technician. Beyond technician, this is the gold standard for tower rescue specialists.
Graduate are certified across a range of complex tower rescue scenarios including night operations and low-visibility rescues, rescues from heights exceeding 300ft, and mass-casualty rescues.
In addition to technical tower climbing, access and rescue skills, candidates also must complete a range of other certifications to fulfil requirements including:
- CorePass® First Aid III (Advanced)
- CorePass® Incident Management Awareness (ISO, JESIP, ICS, AIIMS, CIMS etc)
- CorePass® NFPA 1006 Confined Space Awareness
- CorePass® Aircraft Safety
- WorkQual® PPE Inspector
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.
Across the tower rescue product series candidates must demonstrate knowledge and skills consistently with approved references such as the text Fire Service Technical Search and Rescue (IFSTA), Rope Rescue Technician Technician Manual (CMC), and The Essential Technical Rescue Field Operations Guide (Desert Rescue Research).
