How Many Jumps Before Solo Skydiving?

Thinking about skydiving solo? You’re not alone (well … not yet, anyway!). One of the most common questions we hear from first-time jumpers and curious thrill-seekers is: “How many jumps before I can skydive solo?”

Most people begin jumping completely solo after about 7 to 10 jumps through a structured training program called Accelerated Freefall (AFF). And after 25 jumps, you’re eligible to earn your skydiving A License through the United States Parachute Association (USPA). Once you’re licensed, you can jump by yourself, with others, and even jump at dropzones across the country and the world.

Let’s walk through the full journey, from attending ground school and completing your tandem training skydives, to that unforgettable moment when you’re flying solo – and eventually becoming a licensed skydiver.

Ground School

The very first step to getting in the air solo is ground school. At Oklahoma Skydiving Center, ground school classes are offered every Saturday at 9:00 am – rain or shine. If that doesn’t work for you, Monday through Friday ground school classes are available by appointment only. Please plan to be here all day, as our ground school typically lasts between 6 and 8 hours. 

AFF Ground School requirements:

• Must be 18 years old
• Must weigh at least 130 lbs and no more than 250 lbs.

How Many Tandem Jumps Before Solo?

Once ground school is complete, you can take to the skies! Depending on the dropzone you jump at, you might need one or two tandem skydives under your belt before you can jump solo. At Oklahoma Skydiving Center, tandem jumps are built right into your training program.

As part of our AFF progression, your first two training jumps are Level 1 and Level 2 tandem skydives – but they’re not just for fun. These are training tandems, designed to prepare you for solo flight by teaching you real-time, hands-on canopy control skills and altitude awareness with an instructor right there with you.

After successfully completing your two tandem training jumps, you’ll move on to Level 3 which is your first “solo” jump wearing your own parachute – but with one or two instructors flying alongside you in freefall for safety and coaching.

Tandem training jumps are a part of our AFF curriculum at Oklahoma Skydiving Center because they create a smoother transition into solo skydiving. Whether you start with a fun tandem skydive or go straight into our structured training program, we’ll guide you every step of the way with confidence, our safety-first culture, and a whole lot of sky-high excitement.

How Many Jumps to Skydive Solo for the First Time?

At Oklahoma Skydiving Center, you’ll start jumping with your own (provided) rig for the first time at your Level 3 jump. But don’t worry – you’re not completely on your own just yet – you will have instructors with you for Levels 3 through 7. And once your parachute deploys, you’ll be guided by radio from the ground as you fly your canopy back to the landing area.

These first seven levels represent the required AFF training phases that you’ll need to complete the comprehensive AFF curriculum, which is a huge part of achieving the ultimate goal of becoming a licensed skydiver. 

From there, you can begin working towards your USPA A License – skydiving solo (totally on your own)! Long story short, you’ll need to complete (and pass) the seven AFF jumps required before skydiving completely solo for the first time.

Curriculum Overview:

• Jumps 1 & 2: Tandem training jumps
• Jumps 3 – 7: Jump with one or two instructors in freefall
• Jumps 8 – 25: Jump alone and/or with a skydiving coach

Each curricular level includes specific learning objectives, such as altitude awareness, freefall body position, heading control, turns, and more. You will need to demonstrate the necessary skills before progressing to the next level. 

Progression depends on performance – not a set number of jumps. The absolute minimum number of jumps you must complete to be eligible for the USPA A License is 25. Some students complete the curriculum more quickly than others, while some may repeat levels to improve safety and skill. This is totally normal and part of the learning process – don’t get discouraged!

How Many Jumps to Skydive Solo as a Licensed Skydiver?

After completing the AFF Levels 1–7, you’ll start making true solo skydives. That means that from jumps 8 through 25, you exit the aircraft alone – no instructors are in the air with you – and you deploy, fly, and land your parachute without in-air assistance.

These jumps are still supervised – meaning instructors review your performance, offer feedback, and ensure you’re progressing as safely as possible.

After you’ve logged 25 skydives, successfully completed your training syllabus, and passed written, oral and practical exams, you’ll earn your USPA A License! With your A-license, you can jump at almost any dropzone worldwide, skydive with other licensed jumpers, pack your own parachute, and begin learning more advanced skydiving disciplines and go through training programs to receive your B, C, and D licenses. Congratulations, you’re officially a full-fledged skydiver!

USPA A-License Requirements:

• Minimum 25 jumps
• Completed all requirements listed on the USPA A-License Proficiency Card
• Passed the USPA written, oral, and practical A-License Exam

How Often Should I Skydive?

The USPA requires that non-licensed skydivers must make at least one skydive every 30 days to stay current. Beyond 30 days, you will need to take a refresher class, plus the price of your skydive. If it’s been over 60 days, you must retake the ground school portion of the curriculum, plus the price of your skydive. Over 180 days since your last jump and you basically start with a clean slate and must return to the beginning at the regular price.

Ready to take on the skies solo? It all starts with booking your AFF Ground School – get on the books and make it happen. We can’t wait to watch you soar! Blue skies.