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
#110 Knots for rescue
#113 Mechanical advantage rigging
#220 Independent belay/safety systems for rescue loads
#257 Safety systems and protocols for rope rescue
#258 Protection of rope systems
#259 Selection and construction of single-point anchors
#260 Selection and construction of multi-point anchors
#261 Edge lines and/or work positioning systems
#262 Personal ascending
#263 Personal descending
#264 On-rope self-rescue
#265 elect and construct lowering system – low angle
#266 Select and construct raising system (MA) – low angle
#269 Patient packaging into litter/stretcher
#270 Preparing litter/stretcher for low-angle evacuation
#272 Change over on-rope: descend to ascend
#273 Change over on-rope: ascend to descend
#284 Litter attendant rigging and operation – low angle
1 major violation = fail of assessment.
3 minor violations = fail of assessment
(2 minor violations permitted)
View the violations document here
View the Level 1 PSC file 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.
#267 Select and construct lowering system – high angle
#268 Select and construct raising system – high angle
#271 Prepare litter/stretcher for high angle evacuation
#274 Knot pass on-rope: ascend
#275 Knot pass on-rope: descend
#276 Knot pass on-belay
#277 Knot pass on hauling system/mechanical advantage
#278 Knot pass on lowering system
#281 Basic artificial high directional
#285 Litter attendant rigging and operation – high angle
#286 System changeover – lower to raise
#287 System changeover – raise to lower
#291 Pick off rescue – unsuspended/unsecured victim
#300 Negotiating litter over edge
#311 Vehicle anchors
#315 Load releasing hitches
#316 Improvised harness
1 major violation = fail of assessment.
3 minor violations = fail of assessment
(2 minor violations permitted)
View the violations document here
View the Level 2 PSC file here
Level 1 & 2 written/multiple choice exams are required for certification. A minimum score of 70% is 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)
1 major violation = fail of assessment.
3 minor violations = fail of assessment
(2 minor violations permitted)
View the violations document here
View the Level 3 PSC file here
Level 1 & 2 & 3 written/multiple choice exams are required for certification. A minimum score of 70% is required.