The Mountain Institute
What is ITRA?
The International Technical Rescue Association is a non-profit entity that supports rope rescue companies and organizations at a professional standard. Having a professional level ITRA certification means you have not only completed various task items but also have been independently assessed, during a one or two day evaluation, at a very high industry standard.
Rope Level 1 (Responder)
Practitioners at this level are able to, as part of a team but with minimal supervision, respond to a rope rescue incident, apply low-angle stretcher maneuvers, and perform basic rope access and ascent techniques to access and stabilize patients.
Rope Rescue Level 1 evaluation requirements
#M101. Knots for rescue
#M102 Mechanical advantage rigging
#M103 Independent belay/safety systems for rescue loads
#M104 Properly inspect and identify rigging errors & mistakes.
#M105 Properly use edge protection
#M106 Selection and construction of single-point anchors
#M107 Selection and construction of multi-point anchors
#M108 Edge safety line
#M109 Personal ascending
#M110 Personal descending
#M111 On-rope self-rescue
#M112 Change over on-rope: descend to ascend
#M113 Change over on-rope: ascend to descend
#M114 Patient packaging: low-angle litter
#M115 Low-angle litter rigging
#M116 Low angle raising & lowering system
1 major violation = fail of assessment.
3 minor violations = fail of assessment
(2 minor violations permitted)
View the violations document here
Level 1 written/multiple choice exam required for certification. Minimum score of 70% required.
Rope Level 2 (Technician)
Practitioners at this level are able to, as part of a team, respond to and lead rope rescue incidents in both low and high-angle environments.
Rope Rescue Level 2 evaluation requirements
** in order to obtain your level 2 certification you must complete all items for level 1.
#M201Prepare litter/stretcher for high angle evacuation
#M202 Litter attendant rigging and operation – high angle
#M203 Select and construct lowering system – high angle
#M204 Select and construct raising system – high angle
#M205 Knot pass on-rope: ascend
#M206 Knot pass on-rope: descend
#M207 knot pass through rescue system in both directions
#M208 Select and Erect an Artificial High Directional (AHD)
#M209 System changeover – lower to raise
#M210 System changeover – raise to lower
#M211 Pick off rescue – unsuspended/unsecured victim
#M212 Negotiating litter over edge
#M213 Vehicle anchors
#M214 Load releasing hitches
#M215 Improvised/hasty harness
1 major violation = fail of assessment.
3 minor violations = fail of assessment
(2 minor violations permitted)
View the violations document here
Level 1 & 2 written/multiple choice exam required for certification. Minimum score of 70% required
Rope Level 3 (Advanced/Specialist)
Practitioners at this level are able to carry out complex high angle rescues and provide specialist advice.
Rope Rescue Level 3 evaluation requirements
** in order to obtain your level 3 certification you must complete all items for levels 1 & 2.
#282 Horizontal highline without reeve
#283 Horizontal highline with reeve
#292 Pick off rescue – suspended victim
#295 Retrievable rappel
#296 On-rope self-belay
#297 On-rope bottom belay
#298 On-rope back up device
#299 Releasable/Contingency anchors
#304 Vertical fall arrest systems and lanyards
#305 On-rope: line transfer
#308 Applications and operation of micro-haul systems
#339 Guiding line off-set (lower)
#368 Advanced artificial high directionals.
1 major violation = fail of assessment.
3 minor violations = fail of assessment
(2 minor violations permitted)
View the violations document here
Level 1,2 & 3 written/multiple choice exam required for certification. Minimum score of 70% required
