Certification
First Jump Course (Ground School)
The classroom day that precedes your first solo-track jump.
- Free reference
- No signup
- Find an operator to get there
Before your first instructor-assisted freefall, you complete a First Jump Course, typically a full day of ground school covering equipment, body position, emergency procedures, canopy control, and landing patterns. This is where you learn to fly your own body and operate your own parachute.
Ground school is the real start of solo training. It ends with a written check and practical drills so your instructors know you are ready to jump with them at your side rather than attached to them.
What you'll learn
- Gear checks and how the rig works
- Emergency procedures (malfunctions, cutaway, reserve)
- Canopy flight, landing patterns, and exit/arch technique
Find an operator who teaches First Jump Course (Ground School)
Browse drop zones and connect with the people who can get you to this level.
Common questions
- Is ground school the same everywhere?
- The USPA ISP defines the curriculum, so the core is consistent nationwide, but instructors and drop zones add their own emphasis and local landing-area specifics.
