Photo by Joe Caldwell

The United States Parachute Association (USPA) is a non-profit individual membership organization dedicated to promoting the safe enjoyment of skydiving. USPA partners with its affiliated schools, clubs and centers ("drop zones") to provide properly trained and rated instructors using recognized training programs and following the skydiving community's basic standards of safety.

USPA currently boasts a membership of more than 32,000. These members, along with first-time jump students, make nearly 3 million jumps per year at more than 220 USPA-affiliated drop zones nationwide.

USPA’s mission is to:

• Encourage unity among all persons interested in skydiving.
• Promote safety in all skydiving activities in the U.S.
• Sanction skydiving competitions.
• Document state, national and world skydiving records set by U.S. citizens.
• Cooperate with all government agencies connected with aeronautical activities.

In May 2006, in conjunction with its 60th anniversary, USPA moved into its new headquarters in Fredericksburg, Virginia—also the future site of the National Skydiving Museum.



USPA began in 1946 in Mineola, New York, as the National Parachute Jumpers-Riggers, Incorporated, representing an estimated 100 members. It was renamed the Parachute Club of America in 1957 and renamed itself again to the United States Parachute Association in 1967.

Since its founding, USPA has been dedicated first and foremost to safety. It has accomplished this primarily through the development of training programs, especially for beginning parachutists; the licensing of skydivers at increasingly higher levels of proficiency as they advance their skills and experience; and the creation of a multi-tiered rating program for skydiving instructors. All of these programs are designed to be conducted in accordance with USPA established safety standards.

Photo by Lambert

As part of its mission to promote safe skydiving, USPA has developed the Integrated Student Program (ISP). The ISP includes three basic first-jump programs. Learn more about first-jump methods here. The ISP then advances students through eight categories of progressive freefall and canopy skills, leading up to an A license, which requires a minimum of 25 jumps.

USPA's safety-focused efforts have won recognition and acknowledgement from the Federal Aviation Administration, the agency charged with oversight of aviation safety. According to the FAA, "… the FAA recommends that all beginning parachutists obtain formal training. Training should be conducted in accordance with the U.S. Parachute Association (USPA) training recommendations." (FAA Advisory Circular 105-2)

There are more than 245 USPA-affiliated drop zones worldwide that pledge to follow USPA Basic Safety Requirements and recommendations for students and advanced skydivers. They offer first-jump courses taught by USPA-rated instructors and provide modern parachute systems and skydiving equipment, including automatic activations devices for reserve parachutes.

USPA interacts with local, state and federal government officials, including those of the FAA, U.S. Congress, state transportation departments and legislators. Much of this activity focuses on monitoring and evaluating bills and regulatory action to assess their impact on skydiving.

USPA also has programs to educate local, state and federal agencies on the success of self-regulation. By communicating with pilots, airport managers and businesses, and air traffic controllers, USPA ensures that others know about and understand skydiving’s focus on safety, including safe integration in the national airspace.

USPA represents the membership on many aviation working groups, coalitions and councils that gather in Washington, D.C. USPA involvement ensures that skydivers retain their rights and interests in using airports, airspace and government services (like air traffic control).

Each year, USPA hosts the USPA National Skydiving Championships, which includes competitions in Formation Skydiving, Canopy Formation, Freestyle Skydiving, Freeflying, Freefall Style, Accuracy Landing and Vertical Formation Skydiving. USPA also hosts the USPA National Canopy Piloting Championships and the National Collegiate Parachuting Championships. Based on results from the National Championships (except the Collegiates), U.S. teams are chosen to represent the U.S. at international competitions. A U.S. Team for each category is chosen from the top competitors in each open class.

Photo by Ori Kuper

Parachutist, the official monthly publication of USPA, dates back to 1957 and is mailed to all members; it's the world's largest skydiving publication.

USPA also publishes a variety of manuals for training, competition, ratings and governance, as well as an annual calendar, collecting the year's best skydiving photos from the U.S. and around the world.

You don’t need to be a skydiver to become a USPA member. Skydivers of all skill levels, as well as those who just love the high-flying adrenaline sport, can join USPA online or by calling 1-800-371-USPA.

Member benefits include a one-year subscription to Parachutist, a membership card and third-party liability property damage and bodily injury skydiving insurance. USPA members are also eligible to participate in USPA-sanctioned competitions, skydiving world records and all USPA license, rating and awards programs.