Get Your Skydiving Certification in Wisconsin

Have you been bitten by the skydiving bug? Maybe your first tandem skydive got you hooked, or perhaps, you just want to bring that dream of flight to fruition. Regardless of the inspiration, if you’re typing “skydiving certification near me” into a search bar and trying to decipher the results–you will likely find yourself a tad overwhelmed. 

Allow us to break it down: here’s how to get your skydiving certification in Wisconsin.

Skydiving Certification Near The Midwest

The first step on the journey to becoming a certified skydiver is to select an accredited skydiving facility that will serve as your “home dropzone” as you learn. It is important to your growth and development as a skydiver that you select a facility where you feel comfortable. 

Centrally located between Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin Skydiving Center is a popular Great Lakes skydiving destination. We are a family-owned and operated skydiving center with a mission to help others achieve personal growth and empowerment through skydiving. Learn more about us here.

Figuring out where to go is the first step, but what’s next? What does the skydiving certification process look like?

How Do I Become a Certified Skydiver?

After selecting the skydiving facility that you would like to learn with, you will need to schedule a First Jump Course*. Generally, this course is six hours of ground school instruction followed by your first solo skydive. However, at Wisconsin Skydiving Center, we take a modified approach. Instead of trying to cram all the solo skydiving knowledge you need into six hours of instruction, we break the information down into sections. This allows skydiving students to build greater confidence, which often correlates directly with their success. 

The first section of the Course includes three hours of instruction followed by two solo skydives from 5,000 feet which are focused exclusively on exiting the aircraft and canopy skills. Once an individual has successfully completed these solos, s/he will receive an additional three hours of ground school instruction. This ground school will be followed by a skydive from 12,000 feet accompanied by two Accelerated Freefall (AFF) instructors. After a few jumps with two instructors, once an individual has demonstrated altitude awareness and freefall stability, they will go down to one AFF instructor.

In order to receive skydiving certification, an individual is required to complete 25 total skydives mastering different skydiving skills and canopy competencies, and must pass both a written and an oral exam. 

*At Wisconsin Skydiving Center, if you have never made a jump before, you will first need to make a tandem skydive.

How Much Does it Cost to Get Certified to Skydive?

Becoming a certified skydiver will require a serious commitment of both your time and money. Generally speaking, it costs a little over $3,000 to complete the AFF program. The prices for each level vary based upon the altitude you are exiting the plane from and the number of instructors you must have with you. Also, there may be additional costs if you are required to repeat any levels throughout your progression.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Certified Skydiver?

The amount of time it takes to become a certified skydiver will come down to your availability, your funds, and, of course, the weather. We’ve seen individuals earn their skydiving license in a matter of months, and we’ve seen others who took nearly a year. The time it takes to earn skydiving certification varies from person to person. Earning your A License isn’t a race, it’s a journey. 

That being said, there are skydiving currency requirements, and, as a student, you must complete one skydive every 30 days to continue to move forward. If you exceed 30 days, you will need recurrency training and will be required to re-do your last successfully completed skydiving level.

Is it Hard to Get a Skydiving License?

Obtaining a skydiving license is a challenge. It will require you to get outside of your comfort zone and be a “student” again. But, we assure you, the difficult aspects of getting a skydiving license are well worth your energy and effort. Plus, with our skydiving community supporting you, you won’t have to go it alone! 

Ready to get your skydiving certification in Wisconsin? Give us a call or schedule your first jump course today!