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Licensing systems

A P2 in the States isn’t
a CP in the UK.

Every country trains and certifies paraglider pilots differently — different associations, different rating names, different rules for flying solo or cross-country. Tap a country below to see how its system works and where to start.

14 countries covered · tap a tile for details

🇺🇸
United States
USHPA
USHPA’s five-level P1–P5 rating system.

🇬🇧
United Kingdom
BHPA
EP to CP — the level you need to fly solo.

🇩🇪
Germany
DHV
A-Schein and B-Schein — tightly regulated by law.

🇦🇹
Austria
ÖAeC
Licensing mutually recognised with Germany.

🇨🇭
Switzerland
SHV / FSVL
Regulated by Switzerland’s federal aviation office.

🇫🇷
France
FFVL
Club-based brevet system, initiation to autonomous XC.

🇮🇹
Italy
FIVL
Italy’s national body for hang gliding and paragliding.

🇪🇸
Spain
RFAE
Governs licensing across Spain’s flying regions.

🇦🇺
Australia
SAFA
PG1–PG5, regulated by CASA.

🇿🇦
South Africa
SAHPA
Basic License, then a National Pilot’s Licence.

🇨🇦
Canada
HPAC
Training through HPAC-affiliated clubs and schools.

🇳🇿
New Zealand
NZHGPA
Oversees training and site access nationwide.

🇯🇵
Japan
JHF
Licenses pilots and registers schools nationwide.

🇧🇷
Brazil
CBVL
Licensing coordinated through state federations.

Rules and associations change — always confirm current requirements on the official site before you enrol anywhere.

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🇺🇸

United States

USHPA

United States Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

How it works

Five ratings per wing type: P1 Beginner, P2 Novice, P3 Intermediate, P4 Advanced, P5 Master
Ratings are signed off by USHPA-certified instructors after witnessed tasks, minimum flight counts and written exams — not one big test
Flying sites are graded by the rating required to fly there safely

Getting started

Find a USHPA-certified school near you, join as a member, and start ground school working toward your P1.

Visit USHPA →

🇬🇧

United Kingdom

BHPA

British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

How it works

Elementary Pilot (EP) is the entry qualification — flying under direct instructor supervision
Club Pilot (CP) is the level the UK CAA requires before you can fly unsupervised, anywhere in the world
Pilot (P) and Advanced Pilot (AP) follow for more experienced flying
Ratings convert to an internationally recognised IPPI card

Getting started

Book an EP course with a BHPA school — most run over 4–7 days depending on weather.

Visit BHPA →

🇩🇪

Germany

DHV

Deutscher Hängegleiter- und Gleitschirmverband

How it works

A-Schein (restricted licence) comes first, after ground school and supervised flights
B-Schein (unrestricted licence) adds cross-country privileges — requires 100 logged flights after the A-Schein plus a further exam
Germany requires a licence by law to fly — one of the most tightly regulated systems anywhere

Getting started

Train with a DHV-recognised school; foreign licence holders can often get partial credit through DHV’s recognition process.

Visit DHV →

🇦🇹

Austria

ÖAeC

Österreichischer Aeroclub (Austrian Aero Club)

How it works

Follows a similar A/B-licence structure to Germany’s — the two countries mutually recognise each other’s ratings
A cross-country rating is added once you’ve logged a set number of alpine flights above a minimum altitude gain

Getting started

Enrol with an ÖAeC-affiliated flying school; many also prepare pilots for the linked German B-Schein exam.

Visit ÖAeC →

🇨🇭

Switzerland

SHV / FSVL

Schweizerischer Hängegleiter-Verband

How it works

Training is regulated by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation — widely regarded as one of the strictest systems in the world
Schools must meet federal certification standards, not just association ones

Getting started

Choose a school certified by both SHV/FSVL and the Federal Office of Civil Aviation.

Visit SHV / FSVL →

🇫🇷

France

FFVL

Fédération Française de Vol Libre

How it works

Training runs through FFVL-affiliated clubs and schools on a progressive brevet system
Pilots move from closely supervised initiation flights toward an autonomous pilot brevet that permits solo and cross-country flying

Getting started

Join an FFVL-affiliated club or school local to the region you want to fly in.

Visit FFVL →

🇮🇹

Italy

FIVL

Federazione Italiana Volo Libero

How it works

FIVL oversees instructor and school certification nationwide
Requirements broadly mirror neighbouring EHPU-member countries

Getting started

Look for a FIVL-registered school in the region you want to train.

Visit FIVL →

🇪🇸

Spain

RFAE

Real Federación Aeronáutica Española

How it works

RFAE governs pilot licensing and school certification for free flight across Spain
Covers well-known international training destinations like Andalucía and the Pyrenees

Getting started

Train with an RFAE-registered school — many popular Spanish flying areas cater specifically to visiting international students.

Visit RFAE →

🇦🇺

Australia

SAFA

Sports Aviation Federation of Australia

How it works

Progression runs from PG1 (student) up to PG5, regulated under Civil Aviation Safety Authority rules
Membership is compulsory — you must be a SAFA member before your first training flight

Getting started

Join as a student member and book a course with a SAFA-approved school.

Visit SAFA →

🇿🇦

South Africa

SAHPA

South African Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

How it works

Training leads first to a Basic License, then a National Pilot’s Licence (NPL) issued in partnership with South African Civil Aviation
An IPPI card is issued alongside your licence for flying internationally

Getting started

Train at a SACAA-approved school — SAHPA membership is a legal requirement to fly.

Visit SAHPA →

🇨🇦

Canada

HPAC

Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association of Canada

How it works

Training runs through HPAC-affiliated clubs and schools
Pilots progress from a supervised student rating toward independent certification

Getting started

Find an HPAC-affiliated school in your province and join as a student member.

Visit HPAC →

🇳🇿

New Zealand

NZHGPA

New Zealand Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

How it works

NZHGPA oversees pilot training, school certification and site access rules across New Zealand

Getting started

Contact an NZHGPA-affiliated school to begin as a student member.

Visit NZHGPA →

🇯🇵

Japan

JHF

Japan Hang & Paragliding Federation

How it works

JHF licenses pilots and registers approved flying schools across Japan
Reserve parachutes and equipment must meet JHF-specific inspection requirements

Getting started

Contact a JHF-registered school — several publish English-language guidance for overseas pilots.

Visit JHF →

🇧🇷

Brazil

CBVL

Confederação Brasileira de Voo Livre

How it works

CBVL represents Brazil’s state-level free-flight federations and coordinates national licensing standards
Training and licensing happen through the state federation covering the region you fly in

Getting started

Find the state federation for your region through CBVL and enrol with an affiliated school.

Visit CBVL →

Paragliding Licensing & Rating Systems

A P2 in the States isn’ta CP in the UK.

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A P2 in the States isn’t
a CP in the UK.