SPRAT Certification System

About SPRAT

The Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians is a non-profit agency that develops standards for both rope access work and company and worker qualification. SPRAT sets rigorous standards for technician training and evaluation. Each rope access technician who receives a SPRAT technician card is evaluated by a SPRAT evaluator. For level II and III technicians, this evaluator must be independent from the training company. 

Companies interested in developing their rope access programs under the SPRAT system, may join as a member company and attend the annual conference.

SPRAT 1 – 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. In addition, Rope Partner has developed custom curriculum to help prepare candidates for the written portion of the SPRAT Evaluation. 

This course covers the following topics and skills:

  • Equipment Use & Inspection
  • Introduction to the Job Safety Analysis
  • Level 1Knots – figure eight family; the alpine butterfly; and the barrel knot
  • Back-up device use and handling
  • Use of Ascending System for ascent and short descents
  • Use of a descender for descent and short ascents 
  • Use of Work Seat/Bosun’s Chair
  • Passing Knots in Ascent and Descent
  • Rope-to-rope Transfers (long and short)
  • Negotiating a Rope Deviation (redirect)
  • Short Rebelay
  • Long Rebelay
  • Set up a two-rope system and use it to negotiate an edge
  • Installing and Passing Rope Protection
  • Configurations and Strengths of Simple Structural Anchors
  • Load-sharing Anchors and Force Magnification Charts
  • Climbing with Shock-absorbing Lanyards
  • Belaying – Methods and Communication
  • Lowering a Live Load with a Two Rope System
  • Pick-off Rescue with Victim in descent
  • Theoretical rope concepts such as fall factors, safety factors, min. breaking strengths, and safe working loads

SPRAT II – Rope Access 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.  At this level, several significant new skills are introduced and the proficiency of all level I skills are verified with an increased emphasis on speed and efficiency. 

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

  • Group Management and Communication 
  • Job Safety Analysis
  • Principles of Mechanical Advantage Systems
  • Material Strengths
  • Rope Systems Analysis
  • Cross Hauling
  • Rescue Hauling
  • Aid Climbing Horizontal and Vertical Structures
  • Rescue of a Worker From an Ascending System

SPRAT 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. Obtaining a level III SPRAT certification means 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 500 documented hours of rope access work as a level II technician and has been a level II technician for at least six months.  

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

  • Advanced Job Safety Analysis 
  • 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
  • Advanced Rescues - Rescue From Aid Traverse
  • Highlines/Guidelines
  • Team Rescue Work Scenario – Management of a Team

Direct Entry

Provisions are made for direct entry for skilled technicians who have gained certifications under other standards such as IRATA, FISAT, and PRAT or in special cases for technicians who have significant work experience on two-rope systems without certification. In general, recreational climbing and caving experience alone is not sufficient for direct entry. Because of added paperwork with SPRAT and higher fees from evaluators for direct entry candidates, there is an added $450 fee for attempting direct entry to SPRAT II or III at Rope Partner. A direct entry candidate must complete all skills tests and requirements for the level at which they are testing and all lower levels. 

Special Topic Pre-courses

Level I-II Review – 1 day

This pre-class review of level I and II skills can be added on to any level III course.  Adding this day to a level III course gives a candidate a solid refresher from which to jump into the advanced skills. This course can be combined with the first day of a rope access course to satisfy the requirements of a yearly rope access refresher as outlined in the CalOSHA rope access regulations. (By request only)

Highline and Guideline Introduction – 2 days

The SPRAT level III curriculum requires the teaching and evaluation of this advanced topic. In a four day course, there is only time for basic introduction to the topic and many people have requested additional training in this area. During the level III rope access course we show you one way to set up a highline/guideline system and “teach to the test” in order to leave time for the many difficult skills in course. If you want to have a more complete set of skills in this area, sign up for this course. This course is usually held on the Saturday and Sunday before a level III course. (By request only; 3 candidate minimum)

Introduction to Confined Space Regulations – 1 day

Confined space law poses a difficult learning curve to a company trying to protect its workers and stay compliant. This one day course will orient you to the various regulations, give you an understanding of why these regulations exist, and help you identify potentially dangerous spaces in the workplace. This course can be taken in Santa Cruz or at any location by request. (Call for custom scheduling and pricing information)

Introduction to Wind Turbine Confined Spaces and Hazards– 1 day

Modern wind turbine design has evolved largely from European engineering where regulation differs greatly from the U.S. As a result the design of workspaces has not always taken into account OSHA regulations. Currently, there are more questions than answers since manufacturers, owners and operation and maintenance (O&M) companies often all take a different approach to regulation. This short course will give you an introduction to the various spaces and outline the most solid approaches to compliance that are currently being taken by major U.S. companies.  (Call for custom scheduling and pricing information)

Confined Space Rescue Using Rope Access Tools – 1 day

This course is combined with Introduction to Confined Space Regulations and Introduction to Wind Turbine Confined Space Hazards to make a three day introduction to confined space regulation and entry in wind turbines that is held in our Santa Cruz offices several times a year. During the rescue component, attendees will use standard rope access systems to conduct simulated rescues from a hub and blade. (Held in Santa Cruz, CA or at a wind farm by special arrangement)