Academy VC, LLC

Academy VC is an excellent choice for anyone seeking king SPRAT levels 1-3 certification. I attended their 5 day course for SPRAT levels one on the strong recommendation of a good friend who has now completed all three levels with Academy VC. The class that I attended had a mix of level 1,2 and 3 students. It was enriching to have all three levels there as the upper students were a great resource for a view into the industry, as they all had much experience with different companies in the field. Personally, I was not there in pursuit of certification for employment. For me, it was this 62 year old’s idea of a fun and enriching vacation. I understand that a 50 hour physical and academic course is not everyone’s idea of vacation, but for me it was fantastic. I ended the week having made new friends, grew physically and mentally stronger and yes, I was a bit sore, but the good kind of sore 😉. You won’t find a better instructor than Doug Stephenson. So stop cruising the Internet, and sign up for a SPRAT course at Academy VC.

I attended a 5-day course at the VC Academy to get my SPRAT level 1 certification. I had zero experience on ropes before taking the class. Doug our instructor is very good at what he does. Before the end of the week I was extremely confident that I would be able to pass the written and practical sides of the test. I highly recommend the VC Academy

You will not get the real world rope access training that you get from Doug and Vertical Consult ANYWHERE else in the industry. I've been in rope access for 11 years and this is the only place I will go to train for my certifications. Doug is a great guy and a very knowledgeable trainer. Class act through and through. He doesn't just know rope access, he participates in the discussions held at the highest levels of the industry to shape the future of sprat. Don't think twice, this is the place you want to go for your rope access certification.

Highly recommend. I received my level one SPRAT training and certification here. If you want REAL training from someone who has been working in the at heights industry for decades, Doug at VC is your guy.

I was recently, lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend a 2 day course based around descent. It was challenging and fun. The learning for our team of artists was highly impactful. I have managed teams across multiple industries and even briefly taught myself. In my long journey, I've encountered very few teachers or mentors who are better than Doug and Robert. They are well steeped in the knowledge of their field, and more importantly, they are able to economically impart the needed knowledge to their students. They utilize a hands-on, realtime teaching style with supreme effectiveness. The work-at-height, rope system is inherently dangerous. Yet, at no time did I personally feel unsafe, nor did I feel that my team was unsafe. They manage the students and the space with a focus on safety. If you have the opportunity to attend classes at Vertical Consult, you will not be disappointed. Doug and Robert are absolutely awesome! Also, bring some ibuprofen, if you don't do this a lot, you are going to be sore.