How do I become qualified in Rope Access?

In the UK you will need to do your IRATA Level 1 to become qualified in rope access, although there are less recognised alternative routes. There are no pre-requisites for the IRATA L1 course apart from being relatively physically fit, no medical contraindications and having a good head for heights!

You will start with your Level 1 and with time and experience you can move up the Levels (2 and 3) to become a Level 3 rope access supervisor.

Moving up the levels is not compulsory and if you enjoy the Level 1 work and wish to stay at this level you can for as long as you want to! Although you will need to resit the assessment every 3 years.

The initial course is usually four days of training and then an assessment day on the last day of the course (can vary with provider but needs to be at least 30hrs training and an assessment).

Once you have passed, you will be given a logbook that you can get filled in and signed off by a Level 3 to record your rope hours. Beware if you don’t log any rope hours for 6 months or more you, will need to do refresher training. When you first start working, the company and IRATA Level 3 you are working for will need to be made aware that you have just passed your course so that they can mentor you correctly.

You will need to re-validate your qualification with the training course and assessment every 3 years whatever Level you are.

Once a Level 1 has been so for 12 months or more and has at least 1000 hours in their logbook, they can progress to a Level 2, they will need to sit the training and assessment week for Level 2. Once a Level 2 has been so for 12 months or more and again has 1000 hours in their logbook, at this level they can sit their Level 3 assessment (with training).

Being an IRATA technician can be a very rewarding career and take you to the far-reaches of the world and give you the opportunity to be involved with all sorts of varied and exciting work scopes. Anything from working in the film and entertainment industry, urban and industrial structures to renewable energy and oil and gas platforms.