Frequently asked questions

Most answers can be found by using the Chat GPT feature and/or reading the documents. Most answers to questions are found in the documents. http://technicalrescue.org/documents

Q: I want to become an instructor

A: ITRA as an organization does not train people to become instructors. You must already be a rope instructor and hold a level 3 the discipline to apply. You apply to the rope working group to become an instructor candidate. The working group will ask for a resume and have you fill out an application document showing your experience as an instructor. Becoming an instructor candidate does not guarantee instructor qualification. You still need to pass an instructor evaluation.

Q: What is the difference between technician, instructor, evaluators and assessor?

A: Technicians have passed a level 1,2 or 3 qualification

A: Insturctors have a level 3 qualification and have passed an instructor evaluation

A: Evaluators are current ITRA instructors and have a minimum of 2 years as an ITRA instructor. They are expected to have the upmost knowledge of the discipline and especially its documents.

A: Assessor is a role. Both Instructors and Evaluators can be in an assessor role for assessments of technician candidates to levels 1,2,3 or other recognized qualifications in the discipline.

A: If an Evaluator is available in your region to perform the assessment, they must be the assessor before an instructor can be in the assessor role.

A: Only Evaluators can perform instructor evaluations. Instructors cannot create other instructors.

Q: What is direct entry vs direct assessment?

A: Direct Assessment: No Course – straight to an assessment of a level

A: Direct Assessment Level 3 – needs to perform level 1,2 & 3 skills and written exams

A: Direct Assessment Level 3 but currently has a level 2 qualification – needs to perform level 3 skills and written exam

A: Direct entry is a confusing term. It should just be called Course + Assessment. A level 2 course + assessment or level 3 course + assessment. Talk with the provider hosting the course + assessment about eligibility if you do not currently hold a qualification to lower levels leading up to it.

Q: If I become an instructor can I assess my own students?

A: No but yes.. per the current guidance, you cannot assess your own students until 6 months has passed, no instruction with them has occurred in that time and there are no others in your area who can be an assessor. It must be disclosed on the qualification submission form. This is monitored and if it is not disclosed or not followed correctly, it will result in the loss of instructor status.

Q: There are no other instructors or assessor in my area besides the ones I work with, can they assess my students?

Yes, but the relationship must be disclosed on the assessment form submission.

Q: I did my first assessment in a mountain environment, and I have to re-assess but the only available place is a rope access style training facility.. Can i meet the mountain standard at that facility?

A: Probably not. You will have to meet the insurance & standards of that training facility. You may have to use two ropes and fall under rope access style rules because of being in that training facility. It is recommended you communicate with the provider and full understand the expectations of how to re-assess in that environment.

Q: I want to be an authorized training provider and endorsed by ITRA

A: ITRA does not authorize or endorse any training centers or providers at this time. Our syllabus and documents are open to the public. If an current instructor owns or is apart of a company, then they may request that companies info to be listed on the providers page https://www.technicalrescue.org/providers/

A: If you want your company listed, you will have to contact a current provider and go through to process of obtaining your level 3. Once you obtain your level 3 you can apply to become an instructor candidate. Once you become an instructor candidate and go through an instructor evaluation and if pass you will be award an instructor qualification. Once you have an instructor qualification, you or the company you work for can be listed on the providers page.

Q: Can anyone teach and ITRA course

A: Sort of, a non-ITRA instructor will not have access to any resources the organization provides to qualified instructors. They also will not be allowed to post the event on our public calendar. It is not recognized by the organization as an ITRA course, just a course that follows an ITRA Syllabus. Non-ITRA instructors do not get access to the workbooks or exams and cannot be in an assessor role. Only a current and qualified ITRA instructor or Evaluator can be in the role of the assessor and conduct an assessment for candidates. Most Instructor and Evaluators will probably be hesitant to perform an assessment hosted by an instructor who is not qualified by ITRA but it is allowed…It will be more or less a direct assessment.

Q: I am an ITRA instructor, now what?

A: Once someone has an instructor status, it is on them to design their own flow, curriculum and style to how they want to set up students to take a level 1, 2, or 3 assessment when someone comes to you for one. The syllabus and sub charter are there for guidance.

A: An instructor is expected to teach a certain amount of ITRA courses within a time frame. For example, 2 ITRA courses within every two years. Guidance for this will be in the sub charter.

A: You have to maintain your Level 3 and membership status. If you fail to maintain your level 3 and/or your Professional Membership status your certificate will be listed as inactive, you will not be considered an active instructor in the organization, your access to documents and resources as an instructor will go away and you will not be able to assess candidates until this is resolved.

Q: Does ITRA provide certificates for courses?

A: No. It only provides certificates for successful passing of a qualification. Your instructor can provide a course competition certificate from their own company but it is not an ITRA certificate. ITRA certificates are only for qualification and provided by the organization. These can all be viewed here https://verify.technicalrescue.org. There are numerous ways to view things, just click around. 

Q: Does ITRA track my training records?

A: No. We track when and who you did an assessment with and at what level.

Additional info

the rope sub charter outlines guidance for the rope discipline. discrepancies majors/minors, eligibility at the various levels etc..

the rope syllabus outlines the expectations for each level of qualification. there is a knowledge and skill part for each level. this is the framework to what is in the written exam.

terms and definitions is intended to create consistency throughout the syllabus, subcharter and other documents.

the skill assessment form matches up with the syllabus – these are the hands on skills someone needs to perform for qualification. The syllabus is more or less the rule book on them.

Questions Comments & Complaints: This form goes to the current board members. https://forms.gle/BHrTiQNnwXdazdnAA