USPA A-License Exam Prep: Written, Oral & Practical

Congratulations on reaching the final step of your A-License journey! The USPA A-License exams—written, oral, and practical—are designed to ensure you're ready to jump safely with any licensed skydiver. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you've got the knowledge, skills, and judgment to be a safe, independent skydiver.

These exams aren't meant to trick you or catch you out. Your instructors want to see you succeed, and they're looking to understand what still confuses you and where you're headed in your skydiving future. This guide will help you prepare confidently for all three components.

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Understanding the Three Exam Components

Your A-License assessment has three distinct parts, each serving a specific purpose:

Component Format Purpose Passing Standard
Written 40 multiple-choice questions, online, closed-book Test your knowledge retention of academic material 75% or higher (you get 3 attempts per day)
Oral Conversation with instructor covering 20+ questions Assess your understanding of "why" and "how," identify confusion, discuss your goals 100% (instructor will review incorrect answers with you)
Practical Jump with instructor demonstrating planning, execution, and landing Verify you're ready to jump with any licensed skydiver Demonstrate competence in all required skills

The Written Exam

What to Expect

  • Format: 40 multiple-choice questions taken online
  • Material: Closed-book (no SIM, no notes)
  • Passing Score: 75% or higher
  • Attempts: You can take it up to 3 times per day
  • Content: Covers everything from Categories A-H including regulations, emergency procedures, equipment, weather, aircraft operations, and more

Strategy: Learn As You Go

Here's the best approach: Just take it. Seriously.

Since you get three attempts in one day, your first attempt is also a diagnostic tool. Take the exam, see which topics you missed, review those specific areas in the SIM, and retake it. Most students pass on their second or third attempt once they've identified their weak spots.

Pro Tip

Don't stress about the written exam. It's designed to be a learning tool, not a barrier. Use your first attempt to identify what you need to review.

What's Covered

The exam pulls from all your AFF academic material:

  • FAA regulations (FARs) and USPA Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs)
  • Equipment knowledge and emergency procedures
  • Weather and meteorology basics
  • Canopy flight and landing patterns
  • Aircraft procedures and safety
  • Freefall body position and maneuvers
  • Group skydiving and separation

Study Resource: The USPA Skydiver's Information Manual (SIM) is your primary reference.

The Oral Exam

Reframe: This Is a Conversation, Not an Interrogation

Your oral exam is a conversation with your instructor about safety, skydiving concepts, and your future in the sport. USPA suggests that instructors pull questions from your category quizzes, but many instructors also use this time to fill in any knowledge gaps and learn what you want to do next in skydiving. Your instructor isn't trying to trick you or catch you out.

What your instructor is really doing:

  • Identifying what still confuses you so they can clarify it
  • Understanding how you think about safety and decision-making
  • Learning what discipline you're interested in (belly, freefly, wingsuit, canopy, etc.)
  • Ensuring you can articulate the "why" behind procedures, not just memorize answers

The 100% requirement exists because these topics are critical for safety. But if you get something wrong, your instructor will discuss it with you, explain the correct answer, and help you understand it before you move on. It's a teaching moment, not a failure.

Format Details

  • At least 20 questions covering the topics below
  • Questions are open-ended (not multiple choice)
  • You need to explain concepts, not just state facts
  • It's okay to say: "I'm not certain, but I know that's covered in SIM Chapter [X] and I can look it up"

The Key Topics (What You'll Be Asked About)

Your instructor will focus on these critical safety areas. Below each category, you'll find sample questions and model answers to help you prepare.

Equipment & Gear Function

Focus Areas:

  • How the RSL and AAD work
  • Closing loop condition and replacement
  • Touch fastener (Velcro) and tuck flaps
  • Packing procedures and authorization
  • Equipment maintenance responsibilities
Q: How does an RSL work? Model Answer: "The Reserve Static Line connects one main riser to the reserve ripcord cable. When I cutaway, the separating main riser pulls the reserve cable, which opens the reserve container and deploys my reserve. The RSL helps ensure my reserve deploys even if I'm incapacitated after a cutaway. I might choose not to use one in certain situations like CRW or water jumps where I want complete separation from my main before reserve deployment."
Q: How do you know when your closing loop needs to be replaced? Model Answer: "I check my closing loop regularly for wear. If I notice any fraying or fuzziness, I replace it immediately. A worn loop could break during deployment, causing a premature opening or malfunction. I should also replace it if my rigger recommends it during a repack."

Canopy Flight & Landing Safety

Focus Areas:

  • Wing loading and its effects on canopy performance
  • Traffic patterns and collision avoidance
  • Braked turns and obstacle avoidance
  • Low-turn avoidance and recovery
  • Downwind landing procedures
  • Obstacle landing emergency procedures
Q: What is wing loading and how does it affect your canopy? Model Answer: "Wing loading is my exit weight divided by my canopy's square footage. A higher wing loading means my canopy flies faster, descends faster, and is more responsive but less forgiving. A lower wing loading gives me more time to react and is more forgiving of landing errors. As a new jumper, I want a lower wing loading (under 1.0) to give myself more margin for error and time to make good decisions."
Q: What's wrong with turning low, and what do you do if you realize you're in a low turn? Model Answer: "Turning low is dangerous because I might not have enough altitude to complete the turn and recover to a wings-level flare. If I realize I'm in a low turn, I immediately level my wings and flare to stop the descent, even if it means landing off-heading. Better to land off-heading than impact the ground in a turn. I should plan my entire landing pattern above 300 feet to avoid this situation."

Weather & Environmental Awareness

Focus Areas:

  • Cloud clearance and visibility requirements
  • Wind conditions and their effects
  • Basic meteorology
Q: Where would you expect to find turbulence today? Model Answer: "I'd look for turbulence downwind of obstacles like buildings or tree lines, especially in strong winds. Thermal activity on hot days can create turbulence as warm air rises rapidly. I'd also expect it near the edges of clouds and in wind shear conditions where two air masses with different speeds or directions meet. For my landing, I'd avoid the downwind side of obstacles and be especially cautious on hot, sunny afternoons when thermals are strongest."
Q: What are the cloud clearance and visibility requirements for skydiving? Model Answer: "We need 1,000 feet below clouds, 1,000 feet above clouds, and 1 mile horizontal distance from clouds. We also need 3 miles visibility. These requirements exist so aircraft can see and avoid each other and so we can see other jumpers, the landing area, and any obstacles. If conditions don't meet these minimums, we can't jump legally."

Aircraft Operations & Exit Procedures

Focus Areas:

  • Observing aircraft balance limits during exit
  • Distance between groups for separation
  • Aircraft emergency procedures
  • Exit order planning
Q: How do you figure out how much separation is needed between groups? Model Answer: "Separation between groups is based on the aircraft's ground speed. Many planes have a chart inside that shows how many seconds to wait between groups based on the ground speed, aiming for approximately 1,000 feet of horizontal separation. After a large group exits, we need more distance. I also need to consider the different fall rates of groups—slower falling groups typically exit first. The goal is to ensure groups don't approach each other during freefall or deployment, so I'm thinking about where each group will drift and planning exit order accordingly."
Q: Why do we need to be aware of aircraft balance limits during exit? Model Answer: "If everyone moves to the door at once or people spread out incorrectly in the aircraft, we can shift the center of gravity outside safe limits, making the plane difficult or dangerous to control. I need to follow the pilot's and instructor's directions about when to move forward and how to position myself. This is especially important in smaller aircraft where weight distribution has a bigger impact."

Emergency Procedures & Malfunctions

Focus Areas:

  • Deployment malfunctions (types and responses)
  • Cutaway decision altitude
  • Two-canopies-deployed scenarios
  • Breakoff procedures and altitudes
Q: What's your cutaway decision altitude and why? Model Answer: "My decision altitude for cutaway is between 2,000-2,500 feet depending on my dropzone's procedures. This is where I evaluate whether my main is landable or if I need to cutaway. My hard deck—the absolute minimum altitude to cutaway—is 1,000 feet. Below 1,000 feet, if I don't have a landable main parachute, I should immediately deploy my reserve without cutting away, because I may not have enough altitude for my reserve to fully open and become controllable after a cutaway. These altitudes give me clear decision points rather than hesitating in an emergency."
Q: What are the recommended group breakoff altitudes and procedures? Model Answer: "For groups of 5 or fewer, breakoff should happen at least 1,500 feet above the highest planned deployment altitude. With more jumpers, we need more altitude for breakoff to ensure everyone has enough separation. The leader signals breakoff, everyone separates and tracks away from the formation in their planned direction. We want to maximize horizontal separation before deployment. I need to maintain heading awareness so I'm not tracking back toward other jumpers, and I should look before I wave off and deploy to ensure clear airspace."

Regulations & Compliance

Focus Areas:

  • FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) compliance
  • USPA BSR (Basic Safety Requirements) awareness
  • Accountability for following rules
Q: What does it mean that you're accountable for FAR compliance? Model Answer: "Even though there's a pilot, instructor, and other experienced skydivers around, I'm personally responsible for knowing and following FARs. I can't just assume someone else checked the cloud clearances or verified we're legal to jump. I need to know the rules myself and speak up if I see something that doesn't seem right. It's my skydiving license and my safety on the line."
Q: Where would you find the BSRs and why should you know them? Model Answer: "The Basic Safety Requirements are in the USPA SIM, Chapter 2. They outline minimum safety standards for USPA-affiliated dropzones. I should know them because they define things like currency requirements, who can jump with whom, wing loading limits for my license level, and other safety standards that keep the sport safe. Even though they're not federal law, most DZs follow them, and they represent best practices developed over decades."

How to Prepare for the Oral Exam

Master the "Why" Behind Everything

Don't just memorize that your RSL connects to your reserve cable—understand why it does that and when you might disconnect it.

Practice Explaining Out Loud
Explain these concepts to your dog, your roommate, or a study partner. If you can teach it clearly, you understand it.

Use Your Category Quizzes
Review your Cat A, Cat B, Cat C, Cat D, Cat E, Cat F, Cat G, and Cat H materials. The oral exam heavily draws from these topics.

It's Okay to Say "I Don't Know, But..."
If you genuinely don't know an answer, you can say: "I'm not certain, but I know that's covered in SIM Chapter [X], and I'd look it up before making a decision." This shows good judgment and resourcefulness.

Ask Questions Before Your Exam
If something still confuses you from your AFF training, ask your instructor to clarify it before the oral exam. Proactive questions are always welcome.

The Practical Exam

What This Exam Really Assesses

The practical exam is your final demonstration that you're ready to jump with any licensed skydiver. Your AFF instructors are making sure you can:

  • Plan a complete skydive from the ground to landing
  • Execute your plan safely and competently in the air
  • Make good decisions about separation, traffic, and safety
  • Land without help in a predictable, controlled way

This isn't about performing perfect maneuvers. It's about demonstrating that you're a complete, safe skydiver who can think through a jump and handle yourself in the air.

What You'll Be Evaluated On

1. Planning & Spotting

What you'll do:

  • Determine the correct spot for your jump
  • Account for freefall drift based on upper winds
  • Plan exit order for your group
  • Select and guide the pilot to the correct exit point

What your instructor is looking for:

  • Do you understand how winds aloft affect where you'll land?
  • Can you plan exit order to maintain safe group separation?
  • Are you thinking ahead to ensure you'll be in the landing area?

Common mistakes to avoid:

  • Forgetting to account for freefall drift
  • Not considering other groups when planning exit order
  • Being uncertain or passive in communicating with the pilot

2. Pre-Jump Equipment Checks

What you'll do:

  • Perform thorough gear checks on yourself
  • Check another jumper's gear (your instructor or a buddy)

What your instructor is looking for:

  • Are you systematic and thorough?
  • Do you check the critical items (closing loop, pins, handles, RSL, AAD)?
  • Can you identify issues and know how to address them?

Common mistakes to avoid:

  • Rushing through the check
  • Missing critical items like the closing loop or AAD being on
  • Not checking the other person's gear with the same care as your own

Resources to review:

3. Freefall Skills & Awareness

What you'll do:

  • Right 360-degree turn
  • Left 360-degree turn
  • Back loop (must complete within 60 degrees of original heading)
  • Dock on your instructor from 20 feet away (they fly into position)

What your instructor is looking for:

  • Can you control your body and maintain heading?
  • Are you stable and intentional with your movements?
  • Do you maintain altitude and awareness during maneuvers?

Common mistakes to avoid:

  • Unable to recover stability after your back loop
  • Not stopping your turns cleanly on heading
  • Being oblivious to altitude and/or missing break-off

4. Breakoff, Tracking & Deployment

What you'll do:

  • Recognize breakoff altitude (typically 1,500 feet above highest planned deployment)
  • Track for a minimum of 100 feet to create separation
  • Signal before deployment
  • Maintain awareness during and after deployment

What your instructor is looking for:

  • Do you recognize altitude without needing to be told?
  • Are you creating good horizontal separation?
  • Do you check your airspace before deploying?

Common mistakes to avoid:

  • Breaking off too late or not tracking enough
  • Not looking before waving off
  • Deploying without altitude awareness

5. Canopy Flight & Landing Pattern

What you'll do:

  • Plan and fly a logical landing pattern
  • Maintain traffic awareness and avoid other jumpers
  • Execute a safe, controlled landing

What your instructor is looking for:

  • Do you plan your pattern in advance?
  • Are you aware of other canopies and potential conflicts?
  • Can you land safely and predictably?

Common mistakes to avoid:

  • Not planning a pattern (just "winging it")
  • Cutting off other jumpers or creating collision hazards
  • Turning low or making last-second pattern changes

Resources to review:

6. Post-Jump: Packing (Optional but Encouraged)

What you might do:

  • Pack your parachute

What your instructor is looking for:

  • Can you pack safely and correctly without supervision?

Note: Packing is no longer required in the latest SIM revision, but it demonstrates good preparation and is an essential skill for independent jumping. There's also a chance it may be added back to the SIM requirements in the future.

How to Prepare for the Practical Exam

Jump With Intent

Every jump leading up to your practical exam is practice. Focus on executing each component deliberately and making conscious decisions.

Visualize Success
Mentally rehearse the entire jump from exit to landing. See yourself performing each skill calmly and competently.

Ask for Feedback
After every jump, ask your instructors for specific feedback on the skills you'll be evaluated on. Where can you improve?

Practice Emergency Procedures
Regularly rehearse your emergency procedures on the ground (malfunction drills, cutaway practice) until they're muscle memory.

Film Your Jumps (If Possible)
If you can get video of your jumps, review it to identify areas for improvement in body position, awareness, and pattern planning.

What If I Don't Pass?

It happens! Not passing one component of your practical exam doesn't mean you're a bad skydiver—it just means you need more practice in that specific area.

Your instructor will debrief with you, identify what needs improvement, and you'll practice that skill on subsequent jumps before retaking that portion of the exam.

This is normal. Your instructors would rather see you practice more and nail it than push you through before you're ready.

Study Resources & Materials

USPA Skydiver's Information Manual (SIM)

The USPA SIM is your comprehensive reference for all academic material. It covers:

  • Chapter 1: Integrated Student Program (Categories A-H)
  • Chapter 2: Requirements and Regulations (BSRs, FARs)
  • Chapter 3: Licenses, Ratings, and Awards
  • Chapter 4: Recommendations for Everyone (Emergencies, Currency, Equipment, Pre-Jump Safety, Weather, Aircraft, Spotting)
  • Chapter 5: Discipline-Specific Recommendations
  • Chapter 6: Exhibition Jumping and PRO Rating

Your Category Pages

Review all the academic material from your AFF progression:

These categories contain the exact topics your oral exam will focus on.

Essential Video Resources

These videos cover critical equipment knowledge that will come up in your oral exam:

Pre-Jump Gear Checks

What to check before every jump

Skydiving Terminology 101

Common terms and concepts

Understanding Your Reserve

How your reserve system works

Understanding Your 3-Ring System

The cutaway mechanism explained

Closing Loop Condition

When to replace your closing loop

MARD & RSL Explained

How these systems work together

Pilot Briefing

Communication with your pilot

Skydive Fundamentals Guides

Continue your learning journey with our comprehensive guide series:

Final Prep Checklist

Use this checklist in the days before your exam to ensure you're ready:

Knowledge Check

  • I can explain how my RSL and AAD work
  • I understand wing loading and its effects on my canopy
  • I know cloud clearance and visibility requirements
  • I can explain cutaway decision altitudes and procedures
  • I understand how to plan group separation and exit order
  • I can describe proper traffic patterns and landing priorities
  • I know when and how to replace my closing loop
  • I understand emergency procedures for two-canopy scenarios

Skills Check

  • I can perform stable 360-degree turns (left and right)
  • I can complete a back loop within 60 degrees of heading
  • I can track effectively for 100+ feet
  • I know my breakoff altitude and can recognize it
  • I can plan and fly a safe landing pattern
  • I can perform thorough pre-jump gear checks

Mental Readiness

  • I've reviewed my weak areas from the written exam
  • I've practiced explaining concepts out loud
  • I've visualized the practical exam from start to finish
  • I feel confident (or at least prepared) for the oral conversation
  • I know it's okay to ask for clarification or admit when I don't know something

Ready to Schedule Your Exams?

When you feel prepared and confident, it's time to schedule your A-License exams! Talk to your instructors about scheduling:

  1. Written exam - Take it first to identify any knowledge gaps
  2. Oral exam - Schedule after you've had a chance to review any weak areas
  3. Practical exam - Book when you and your instructor agree you're ready

Ready to continue beyond A-License? Check out our B-License Roadmap to see what's next in your skydiving journey.

You've Got This!

Your A-License represents a huge milestone—you're becoming an independent, licensed skydiver. These exams are the final verification that you're ready for that responsibility.

Your instructors aren't trying to fail you. They want to see you succeed and they're here to help you get there. Prepare thoroughly, stay curious, ask questions, and trust in the training you've received.

See you in the sky!

Created by Juan & Christina Arango | USPA AFF Instructors