Skydiving Career Entry Program
About This Program
The ASCEND Foundations’s Skydiving Career Entry Program is an entry level industry access program designed to unlock the first required credential for a professional skydiving career.
It removes the most common barriers to entry — cost, access, and uncertainty about progression — by covering the full expense of training and providing a clear, supported path from your first tandem to your USPA A-License.
This Program Includes:
Full financial coverage of all training and jump costs required to earn your USPA A-License
A clearly defined progression path from first tandem through licensure
Guidance on prerequisites, milestones, and next steps at each stage
Mentorship and support from experienced industry professionals
Help navigating common barriers to entry, including cost, access, and uncertainty
Connection to approved training centers and industry resources
If you have the desire to learn and the drive to succeed, this program ensures that cost and confusion are no factor.
Who Is This Program For? ✈
This program is designed for individuals who are interested in pursuing skydiving as a professional pathway. It is well suited for people who are motivated and who are willing to commit the time and effort required to progress through student training in a demanding, weather-dependent environment. Successful candidates are those who can show up consistently, remain current, adapt to changing conditions, and take personal responsibility for their training and decision-making. Skydiving at this level is best approached as an industrial athletic discipline, not a casual or convenience-based activity.
This program may not be a good fit for individuals who are unable to meet the physical or mental demands of solo skydiving, who cannot commit the time required to remain current, or who are looking for a purely recreational experience. It is also not appropriate for those who are not medically eligible to skydive, as determined by their training provider, or who are not prepared for the realities of weather delays, schedule flexibility, and personal accountability inherent to the sport.
Eligibility & Qualifications ✈
-
Candidates must be at least 18 years old to be considered for this program, as 18 is the minimum age required to obtain a USPA A-License.
Physical fitness should be considered for those looking to pursue a career in skydiving. While this program does not require an FAA medical, for their own safety and the safety of others, candidates must be physically and mentally able to complete the duties the careers in skydiving demands.
-
Applicants must have completed at least one tandem skydive prior to the application deadline. No additional experience or prior student training is required to apply. This program is intentionally designed to support entry into the sport from the earliest stage and does not assume prior skydiving experience beyond a tandem jump.
-
No prior skydiving ratings are required to apply. This program is designed to support entry into the sport at the earliest professional stage. Participants will complete all required training and licensing steps as part of the A License progression through one of our ASCEND Approved Training Centers.
The Application Process ✈
-
The application typically takes 45–60 minutes to complete. It includes written responses intended to understand an applicant’s interest in skydiving as a professional pathway and their readiness for the demands of the program. The application is intentionally thorough, but not excessive, and does not require document uploads for this program.
-
Yes. The application includes short written questions focused on understanding an applicant’s interest in skydiving as a professional pathway and their readiness for the demands of the program. All applicants who move forward in the process will participate in an interview with members of ASCEND’s Selection Committee. References are not required for this program.
-
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed as organizational capacity allows. Each application is initially screened to confirm baseline eligibility, then reviewed by ASCEND’s Selection Committee using a structured evaluation process. Qualified applicants are invited to interview as part of the review cycle. Because this is a rolling process, review timing may vary based on application volume and program availability.
-
Candidates are selected through a structured review process led by ASCEND’s Selection Committee. Applications are evaluated based on demonstrated commitment, readiness for progression, and alignment with the program’s career-entry intent. Interviews are used to better understand each applicant’s goals, expectations, and ability to meet the demands of professional skydiving training. Selection is competitive, and not all qualified applicants will be selected. Final decisions are made to ensure program resources are directed toward candidates most likely to successfully complete the program and pursue a professional pathway in the sport.
Ready to Apply?
If this program feels like a strong fit for you, we’d love to learn more about you. We’re looking for motivated individuals who are ready to commit the time and effort required to progress through training with purpose and accountability.
If you’re excited about the challenge and curious about what’s possible, we encourage you to take the next step and apply. We look forward to learning more about you and your goals.