PMI/VRS Rope Access (SPRAT®) Course - May 2025

Rope access provides a safe, cost-effective, and efficient means of access, egress, and positioning for work at height. So whether you are a building, bridge or dam inspector, an engineer, a window washer, a rock scaler, a tower climber or a theatrical rigger, adding a SPRAT® certification to your toolbox will help improve jobsite safety, efficiency and offers the added credibility that comes with a rigidly administered third party evaluation.

This four-day course provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to pass the SPRAT® certification session that is held on the fifth day of the course by an independent SPRAT® Evaluator.

*ALL certification levels require a valid form of government-issued photo identification (drivers license, passport, etc.) to be presented to the evaluator.

**If you are testing for Level 2 or Level 3, you MUST bring your documented 500 hours of rope access work for the evaluator to review! Please visit the SPRAT® website (www.sprat.org)for details on necessary hours.

This PMI® SPRAT® Course begins on a Monday morning at 8:00am and runs to approximately 5:00pm each day, for five days. Monday through Thursday the instructor will convey all necessary skills and knowledge required to pass the evaluation. The evaluation will be conducted on the final day (usually a Friday) by a SPRAT® approved Evaluator.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
All required equipment may be borrowed from PMI’s Vertical Rescue Solutions; students may bring their own rope access equipment for use in the class, if desired. Personal Protective Equipment used for Rope Access should meet relevant standards for work at height, such as ANSI Z359. If you have questions about equipment you are bringing, please contact verticalrescuesolutions@pmirope.com

All ropes (11mm static) and anchorages will be supplied by the Host (VRS™).

Any personal gear the student brings will be inspected by the instructor/evaluator, who reserves the right to substitute student gear if it is deemed unsuitable or unsafe for use based on age, excessive wear, damage or unsuitability for Rope Access work.

Prices subject to change without notice.

This PMI® SPRAT® Course is in accordance with SPRAT® guidelines; a SPRAT® Rope Access Technician certification (Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3) will be issued upon successful completion.

After successful completion of this SPRAT course and evaluation, you will receive an Associate Membership with SPRAT. This is included in your evaluation fees to SPRAT, which is included in the course cost.

Advantages of taking a VRS Course

Why choose PMI’s Vertical Rescue Solutions (VRS) for your SPRAT Rope Access or any course that VRS offers? Below is a list of great reasons why we are your best option for training.

1. PMI’s founder Steve Hudson and our current CEO, Loui McCurley, founded SPRAT the Society of Rope Access Technicians. PMI has had major involvement in creating committees and writing Work-At-Height and Rope Access standards for decades, sharing their expert knowledge to keep workers safe. Jeff Bowles, Technical Development and Training Manager and VRS Lead Instructor has been member of many of these committees for the past ten years and he brings the most current and relative standards and safe practices for all VRS students ensuring you are getting the latest and greatest instruction that other training companies don’t provide.
2. Our prices are very competitive and are the lowest rates you can find if you sign up 30 or more days prior to the start date of the course.
3. VRS has a very high certification pass rate for students in all VRS courses. SPRAT classes use a third-party evaluator that is not affiliated to PMI/VRS. This allows an evaluation of each student based purely on knowledge and skills. If a student down not pass, then VRS makes every effort to accommodate another evaluation at another agreed upon time.
4. Each VRS student gets a gift bag of incredible PMI products and a Manual for specific courses that you can take home with you.
5. We provide a quality take out lunch from many unique local Denver restaurants that will enhance your stay and provides a taste of Colorado at its best.
6. We provide light breakfast items, delicious snacks, and drinks including coffee, tea, water and Gatorade, highlighters, pens and manuals or paper.
7. Our training center is the largest around with 35-foot-tall ceilings, three towers and so many PMI ropes that huge groups can all remain active at the same time while staying busy and not waiting around for ropes to use.
8. VRS provides all of the equipment you need during your course. You don’t have to travel with heavy equipment that can be a pain and cost extra money when you travel. PMI carries multiple brands that you get to try out to find the perfect harness that fits and the gear that you will grow to love. You can bring your own equipment to use during the course, which may be subject to close inspection prior to use.
9. All VRS students get wholesale pricing discounts up to 60 days after your course on any product that PMI sells. We provide you with a catalog to pick out the gear that you want.
10. Our Classroom can accommodate at least 40 students and has TVs, white boards, knot boards, and other resources to help various learning styles for successful completion of the certification evaluation.
11. PMI/VRS provides a free open climb night(s) each month where experienced people from all industries can get practice on rope, signed off on hours towards your certification and a social environment that is great for networking in the work-at-height and rope access insudtries.
12. Pre-plan for each course by studying SPRAT Safe Practices, Certification Requirements, Defined Terms and Evaluation Guidelines at this link Publications | SPRAT prior to the course to study for the written exam that is 50 multiple choice questions and required for your certification evaluation.
13. Fly into Denver International Airport which is one of the largest in the country and is in the middle of the country accessible for cheaper and nonstop flights from nearly everywhere in the United States.
14. The PMI training center is located in in the Sunnyside neighborhood in the Denver Beer Company building next to downtown Denver which can easily be reached by car, train, or ridesharing options from the Denver International Airport. You can even rent electric scooters to get that last mile from your hotel or Air B-N-B if desired.
15. VRS has partnered with Hampton Inn and Suites on Speer Blvd. When students stay for a course in Denver, you can contact Lindsay Killin directly to receive a 15% discount on your room. This hotel gets great ratings, it is close to PMI’s training facility, it is clean, has free parking and is right next to downtown Denver and many great options for dinners and other incredible resources in Denver. You must contact Lindsay Killin to receive the discount. Her contact info. Is below.

Lindsay Killin

Assistant General Manager

T: 303-455-4588 | F: 303-455-4598

Hampton Inn & Suites Denver Speer Blvd.

2728 Zuni St. Denver, CO 80211

Hampton Inn & Suites Denver-Speer Boulevard in Downtown (hilton.com)

1. We have first aid kits and over the counter pain medications that are self-administered if needed. You may want to bring a water bottle and layered clothing for slight temperature changes throughout the day. You will need to disclose any health issues to your instructor and bring any medication or medical items that support your health during the course. Our courses are physically demanding, and you are personally responsible for your own well-being. Contact Jeff Bowles with any questions you may have.
2. PMI Denver is located at:

4459 Jason Street

Denver, Colorado 80211

We have supported our students for many years after their first course and they keep coming back because of the quality expert instruction and positive experience. We look forward to having you on our next VRS course!