The Path to Solo: Your 2026 Guide to Getting Licensed at Piedmont Skydiving

Key Takeaways 
Earning your A License is the gateway to skydiving independently, taking you from tandem student to fully participating member of the sport. The process includes ground school, AFF training, at least 25 jumps, gear knowledge, and passing both written and practical evaluations. Most students complete their license in a few months, with costs averaging around $4,000 – an investment that becomes more affordable once you’re licensed. At Piedmont Skydiving, structured training, experienced instructors, and a strong community help make the journey efficient, rewarding and just the beginning of what’s possible in the sky.

Most people start skydiving with a tandem jump that leads to a deeper yearning for the sky. Earning a skydiving license allows you to jump independently and become a true member of the international skydiving community and our incredible sport. The skydiving curriculum is prescribed so that you complete the licensing process as a confident and responsible skydiver. 

This guide will break down the nuances of going through skydiving school and touch on some of the specifics of completing your skydiving training at Piedmont Skydiving. We can’t wait to help you reach new heights! 

What Is The Skydiving “A License”?

After completing a tandem skydive, the A License is the next step to integrate into the sport. The United States Parachute Association (USPA) issues four skydiving licenses – A, B, C, and D. Each one builds on the skills accomplished in the previous level, and comes with additional, exciting privileges. 

Earning your A License means gaining mastery of a solid foundation of skills that enable you to conduct safety-first skydives with others. The A License allows you to jump on your own and with your friends! 

How To Get A Skydiving License: Step-By-Step

1. Start With Tandem Skydive

Tandem skydiving is not a required prerequisite at all dropzones, but it’s generally a good idea to have at least one under your belt before going at it solo. 

Here at Piedmont Skydiving, we require two training tandems before beginning your student progression. This allows an opportunity to get familiar with each stage of a skydive, from boarding the plane and exiting into freefall to landing the parachute.

2. Skydiving Lessons: Complete Ground School

Ground school is a comprehensive class that is taken prior to your first solo skydive. Over the course of six to eight hours, the curriculum teaches solo skydiving students about skydiving equipment; how to exit the aircraft and achieve stability in freefall; what to expect during canopy flight; how to safely land a parachute; and how to address parachute malfunctions using emergency procedures.

3. Begin AFF Training

AFF (Accelerated Freefall) is the most popular and comprehensive training method that skydiving schools use. It begins with a series of instructor-assisted jumps. First you jump with two instructors gripping either side of you, followed by a single instructor as you progress. The primary purpose of these jumps is to ensure you are able to gain stability in freefall, deploy your own parachute at the correct altitude, and fly a predictable landing pattern. Predictability in skydiving is key!

4. Complete At Least 25 Skydives 

After successfully completing AFF, students are required to jump with coaches (rated skydivers) and learn how to safely skydive with others. Coaches help students practice turns in freefall, tracking, and accuracy while landing. This stage of the progression also includes some solo skydives and at least one skydive from a lower altitude to emulate exiting the aircraft in the event of an emergency. 

5. Learn To Pack

Learning to pack a main parachute is an integral part of earning a skydiving license. Packing classes teach students about essential gear, how to pack efficiently, and how to maintain gear and replace closing loops, which can help prevent malfunctions. Packing courses also teach students how to inspect their gear for common wear and tear. 

Students are required to pack a main parachute unassisted in order to gain their A License and many students opt to jump their own pack-job.

6. Pass The Written Exam

Yes, skydivers give each other examinations, and yes, you have to study for them. The written exam includes questions about safety, regulations, and common procedures that every skydiver needs to know. 

7. Complete The Check Dive

Almost there! The check dive is a skydive conducted with an instructor to ensure the student is a ‘heads-up’ skydiver. The dive flow entails several maneuvers that may be present during a typical skydive. These include regaining stability in freefall, turning, tracking away, and deploying at the proper altitude. The canopy flight and landing of the student is also assessed to ensure they’re exhibiting awareness of their presence in the sky around others. Finally, you’ll need to become a USPA member before applying for your license! 

How Long Does It Take To Get A Skydiving License?

It depends! If you jump every single day, you could hypothetically earn your A License in a couple of weeks.. The more common scenario is someone who jumps on the weekends, and their progression will generally take two to four months. 

Students must jump once at least every 30 days in order to remain current. Currency is one of the most critical safety factors in the sport. Although the rule is 30 days, the recommendation would be to jump as often as possible. Staying current helps with knowledge retention and muscle memory, making you a more well-rounded and responsible skydiver. 

Of course, weather, personal schedule, learning pace, instructor availability, and financial constraints all affect the length of time it takes to earn your skydiving license. 

How Much Does It Cost To Get Your Skydiving License?

The total skydiving license cost varies from person to person, but typically lands around $4,000. The greatest influencing factor is whether repeat jumps are necessary to prove mastery of specific skills, or due to becoming “uncurrent”.

Although the total cost is significant, it includes a lot. Dedicated instruction from professional instructors and coaches, 25+ skydives, essential equipment, and invaluable knowledge are all included with the curriculum. 

At Piedmont Skydiving, you can save on the cost of your training jumps by purchasing our AFF Package instead of paying for each level as you go.

Skydive License FAQs

Lots of questions will come to mind once you start thinking about learning how to skydive. Here are some that we hear most frequently. Reach out to our team if you have others – we’re here to help!

What are the requirements for getting licensed to skydive?

Like tandem skydiving, the minimum age for learning to skydive is 18. The weight limit often differs, however. This is due to limits set by the gear manufacturers – a tandem parachute is designed to hold two people; a solo parachute holds one. At Piedmont Skydiving, our weight limits are 225 lbs for tandem students and 240 lbs for AFF students. 

Additionally, you must be in reasonably good health and physical condition to skydive. If you have questions or concerns, talk with your doctor ahead of enrolling in skydiving school.

Can a 300 lb person parachute jump? 

Due to equipment limits, most skydiving centers cannot accommodate people who weigh 300 lbs. Weight restrictions are in place for safety, comfort, and compliance reasons – not to exclude anyone. 

How long does it take to become a licensed skydiver? 

It depends on many factors, such as resources, time constraints, and weather. Some people complete the AFF curriculum and achieve their A License within a number of weeks, others take several months.

Is skydiving an expensive hobby? 

Skydiving can be an expensive hobby – although not necessarily more than other sports or extreme hobbies. The cost of learning to skydive may be intimidating at first, but it’s an investment into the sport, not just a one-time experience. And once you’re licensed, the cost to jump significantly decreases. Case in point, lift tickets are $24-$49 at Piedmont Skydiving, depending on your exit altitude. 

Why Do People Pick Piedmont Skydiving?

Piedmont Skydiving is a USPA member dropzone with over 2,000 five-star Google reviews – our dropzone is an excellent place to train and a fun place to be! 

We have highly-experienced instructors, a supportive dropzone community, a super speedy PAC 750 XL aircraft, and flexible scheduling. We’re centrally located and open February through mid-December, so you can work on your progression across the year.

If you’re in the Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, or even Raleigh area, the best place to “learn to skydive near me” is Piedmont Skydiving. Period!

What Happens After You’re Licensed?

Once you’re licensed, the fun really begins! Privileges like skydiving from hot air balloons, landing on the beach, and filming your own skydiving videos are all perks of becoming a licensed skydiver – and it all starts with the A License! 

Many people say they start skydiving for the thrill but stick with it for the people they meet along the way. Ready to start your skydiving journey at NC’s #1 rated dropzone? Learn to skydive with Piedmont Skydiving! Blue skies!