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 assessment form 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 assessment form 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 assessment form 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.