BECOMING A TANDEM SKYDIVING INSTRUCTOR
They say, “Do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” The sentiment is nice, but the reality is, if you really love something- you work hard for it. Professional skydiving instructors have done a lot to get where they are. Just because skydiving is fun doesn’t mean it isn’t also hard work. So, what does it take to become a tandem skydiving instructor? Read on to learn about the training, prerequisites, pros and cons to becoming a tandem instructor.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A TANDEM SKYDIVING INSTRUCTOR?
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must be a licensed skydiver with a D-License. (The highest license in skydiving).
- You must have accumulated a minimum of 500 skydives.
- You must hold a United States Parachute Association Instructional Rating.
- You must have at least 3 years in the sport.
- You must obtain a Class 3 Medical Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.
- You must have performed at least 50 skydives in the preceding 12 months.
- You must complete a Tandem Instructor Rating Course.

WHAT DOES A TANDEM INSTRUCTOR RATING COURSE CONSIST OF?
Candidates are put through a rigorous curriculum of both classroom work and training jumps with a designated USPA Tandem Instructor Examiner. The Tandem Instructor rating course generally takes 1-2 weeks to complete.
1. GROUND TRAINING: The course begins with in-depth ground instruction which covers things like- tandem equipment and packing, instructor responsibilities, routine tandem procedures (gear-up, exit, freefall, canopy control, landing etc.), problem solving for routine tandem problems and tandem emergency procedures.
2. WRITTEN TEST: The candidates must pass a written exam with 100+ questions.
3. TRAINING JUMPS: There are 5 jumps conducted in this phase, at least 4 of which are done with the Tandem Examiner as the passenger.
4. PRACTICE JUMPS: Another 5 practice jumps are required prior to taking any paying customers. These jumps may be done with another experienced skydiver who holds a B License or higher who has at least 100 jumps or the Tandem Examiner.
IS BEING A SKYDIVING INSTRUCTOR A DIFFICULT JOB?
Becoming a tandem skydiving instructor requires a special type of person. It’s hard work and a lot of responsibility. It requires moderate physical strength and endurance, as well as social skills and the ability to manage other people. Customers can make the job easier or harder and more or less fun depending on their behavior and ability to follow instructions. Safety is always paramount in skydiving. Although risks are low, they are not zero; especially when you have an unpredictable stranger strapped to the front of you. Back, neck, and shoulder injuries are common from carrying the weight of the rig and manipulating the passenger’s mass in the airplane and in the sky. There are many long days spent working in extreme hot or cold. There are also long days spent waiting for weather to clear. You can rest assured; your instructor is earning their paycheck and gratuity every day.

HOW MUCH MONEY DO SKYDIVING INSTRUCTORS MAKE?
Instructors can make $40-50 per skydive on average. They can often make additional money if the customer purchases a handcam video. Most customers tip around $20 or more per jump. This might sound like good money and it can be, however, instructors spend a LOT of unpaid time sitting around waiting for weather to clear or winds to die down. Instructors who work in the Midwest are also out of work during the winter time unless they travel somewhere warm for the off-season.
BENEFITS OF BECOMING A SKYDIVING INSTRUCTOR
- The sky is your office!
- The community is awesome!
- Skydiving is FUN!
- If you’re a good instructor, getting a job is EASY. Instructors are always in-demand.
- You can travel and work almost anywhere in the world!
- The job is extremely rewarding- sharing an experience people will remember for the rest of their lives is the best feeling in the world!

The first step toward becoming a professional skydiver is to become a licensed skydiver. If you think this job sounds like fun, sign up for our Accelerated Tandem Progression Program today and learn to skydive solo!