training for your vertical world
Real World Acces · Safety · Rescue Solutions
Online Courses
VRS Course
Approved Trainer Application (Tower)
$325.00
1 Lessons
Buy
VRS Course
Rope Access Program Administrator Online Course
$325.00
1 Lessons
Buy
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With years of hands-on, real-world experience, our instructors strive to save lives and provide a safer environment for at-height workers and rescuers through quality education and instruction. We strongly believe in participating in the stewardship of the industries we serve.
WE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS ORGANIZATIONS:
In Person Course Calendar

May 2024

June 2024

July 2024

August 2024

September 2024

October 2024

November 2024

December 2024

05/06/2024 — 05/10/2024
Rope Access (SPRAT)
PMI Rope Access (SPRAT®) Course - May 2024
$1675.00
4 days long
06/17/2024 — 06/21/2024
Rope Access (SPRAT)
PMI Rope Access (SPRAT®) Course - Jun 2024
$1675.00
4 days long
07/22/2024 — 07/26/2024
Rope Access (SPRAT)
PMI Rope Access (SPRAT®) Course - Jul 2024
$1675.00
4 days long
08/12/2024 — 08/16/2024
Rope Access (SPRAT)
PMI Rope Access (SPRAT®) Course - Aug 2024
$1675.00
4 days long
09/16/2024 — 09/20/2024
Rope Access (SPRAT)
PMI Rope Access (SPRAT®) Course - Sept 2024
$1675.00
4 days long
10/07/2024 — 10/11/2024
Rope Access (SPRAT)
PMI Rope Access (SPRAT®) Course - Oct 2024
$1675.00
4 days long
11/18/2024 — 11/22/2024
Rope Access (SPRAT)
PMI Rope Access (SPRAT®) Course - Nov 2024
$1675.00
4 days long
12/09/2024 — 12/13/2024
Rope Access (SPRAT)
PMI Rope Access (SPRAT®) Course - Dec 2024
$1675.00
4 days long
Course Equipment
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.
All Courses
Competent Person PPE Inspector
In Person Course
Competent Person PPE Inspector
Competent Tower Climber | Rescuer
In Person Course
Competent Tower Climber | Rescuer
Competent Tower Climber Vrs Approved Trainer - Application
In Person Course
Competent Tower Climber Vrs Approved Trainer - Application
Online classes
Online Course
Online classes
Portable High Directionals: All
In Person Course
Portable High Directionals: All
Rope Access (SPRAT)
In Person Course
Rope Access (SPRAT)
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.
VRS History
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.
VRS Instructors
Jeffrey Bowles
Loui McCurley
Craig Stalowy
Nathan Hankins
Mike Railsback
Bob McCurley
Jeffrey Bowles
Training Manager
Jeff Bowles is a Lead Instructor for Vertical Rescue Solutions. He has been a lead instructor in Industrial and Recreational vertical environments for 20+ years. Jeff holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Development from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Therapy with a minor in Psychology from East Carolina University. He brings many years of experience in educational pedagogy and effective training in high-risk environments. Jeff is a Level II Rope Access Technician and has been a certified Wilderness First Responder for 20+ years. He is an active member on multiple standards committees for ANSI Z359, SPRAT®, ASTM, NFPA and Cordage Institute. He is the Risk, Safety and Industry Relations Manager for Pigeon Mountain Industries and a technical writer that develops language for product user instructions as well as marketing materials. He is constantly assessing how PMI serves multiple industries while maintaining the highest safety standards possible. When he’s not working, Jeff enjoys mountain biking, mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing, hiking, live music, traveling and exploring with his girlfriend Kelly, their son Jake and daughter Emma, and their dogs Lakota and Bear.
Loui McCurley
CEO
Loui McCurley is CEO of PMI and founder of our Vertical Rescue Solutions training arm. Loui’s foray into rescue began in 1985, when she joined Alpine Rescue Team in Colorado; today she serves as a Technical Specialist with Alpine. In 1998 Loui traveled to scores of countries across the globe to study technical rescue abroad. Upon returning to the USA Loui co-founded Alpine Center for Rescue Studies, a non-profit research and testing lab, and became a regular presenter at the International Technical Rescue Symposium. During this time she began consulting to PMI on various projects, eventually coming on board full time in 1992 in a technical capacity. In 1996 she instigated the formation of the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians. Over the years, Loui has also served as a structural firefighter, a wildland firefighter, a rope access technician, a safety consultant, and an expert witness.
Craig Stalowy
Craig Stalowy is originally from the Chicagoland area. He started his professional career in the fire service in 2004. He became a paramedic in 2006 and has been heavily involved in technical rescue ever since. In 2009, he moved to Colorado to pursue the good life and now works as a full time firefighter paramedic near Denver. Craig’s passion for rope work brought him to VRS in 2015 to complete his first SPRAT course. Since then he has worked as a rope access technician and now teaches SPRAT, Industrial Fall Protection, and Competent Tower Climber/Rescuer. Craig is also certified as a FEMA Structural Collapse Technician, Confined Space Specialist, and Rope Rescue Technician. When he’s not working, Craig can be found fly fishing and camping throughout Colorado as well as training for his next Ironman and other endurance races.
Nathan Hankins
Nathan is the owner of All Things Vertical, LLC, which is an all service tree company based in Conifer, CO. He is an ISA Certified Arborist, Certified Climber Specialist and a certified rope technician by the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians. He has worked in arboriculture for twelve years in private industry, municipal arboriculture, and his own company since 2017. He has been involved in technical rope rescue and training since 2013, when he joined Alpine Rescue Team. Alpine is one of the oldest mountain SAR teams in Colorado and is based out of Evergreen, Colorado. He is also an instructor for VRS/PMI teaching industrial rope access, tower climber/rescuer, and other at height disciplines since 2016. He is passionate about teaching and making the world of arboriculture a safer place to work at height.
Mike Railsback
Mike Railsback is a full-time Firefighter for the city of Thornton. He is a senior member of the departments technical rescue team and a primary instructor for the team. Mike is also the Training Manager for the North Area Technical Rescue Team, organizing and conducting training for rescue technicians from 10 fire departments (approx. 130 members) in the metro area north of Denver. He is also the lead for the teams rope rescue committee. Mike serves as a Rescue Squad Officer for Colorado Task Force 1, FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team responding to incidents and natural disasters nationwide. He maintains a high level of training in multiple technical rescue disciplines including Structural Collapse, Confined Space, Trench Collapse, Heavy Vehicle Extrication, Swiftwater, Surface water, and Ice Rescue with a primary focus on Rope Rescue. Mike is rope access certified (Sprat level 2) and also certified in Cave Rescue through the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC). He has been an Emergency Medical Technician since 1997. Mike is also a State JPR committee member, developing an NFPA rope rescue certification for the state of Colorado.
Bob McCurley
Bob McCurley brings a background in physics and engineering combined with technical rescue skills from both mountain rescue and industrial rescue to the work of Vertical Rescue Solutions. After serving in the Air Force, Bob received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies. He has spent much of his career in aerospace and defense, and has a great deal of experience in training and adult-education. Bob has been actively engaged in safety and rescue for work at height since 2001. He has experience as a firefighter and is a certified rope access technician. Bob presently volunteers in mountain rescue with the Alpine Rescue Team in Evergreen, Colorado. He has received training in and now instructs in the areas of industrial fall protection, tower climbing and rescue techniques, PPE inspection, and work and rescue at height. Bob’s background includes training received at England’s National Access and Rescue Center (NARC) in Kendall. He is certified in CPR for the Healthcare Provider and First Responder, and maintains Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) certification from the National Ski Patrol. He continues to have an interest in the technical aspect of rescue gear, conducting testing and consulting in design for various components.
Training Center and Classroom

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.

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.

Course Pre-Planning and Essential Information for VRS Certification

Pre-plan for each course by studying SPRAT Safe Practices, Certification Requirements, Defined Terms and Evaluation Guidelines at this link Publications | SPRAT.

Before starting the course, you must pass a written exam consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions required for your certification evaluation.

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.

We provide:

  • A quality takes out lunch from many unique local Denver restaurants
  • Breakfast, snacks, and drinks (coffee / tea / water / Gatorade)
  • Study materials provided (pens /highlighters / manuals/ paper)

Sale and Gifts

Each VRS student gets a gift bag of incredible PMI products and a Manual for specific courses that you can take home with you.

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.

Certification Success:

  • High pass rates
  • Re-evaluation if needed
Each VRS student gets a gift bag of incredible PMI products and a Manual for specific courses that you can take home with you. 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.
certification-image certification-image

We have taught thousands of students who working in hundreds companies

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!
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Location
PMI Denver (Training Center)
4459 Jason St Denver, CO 80211 303-800-1708
[email protected]
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. 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.

Recommendation for Accommodation

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.
Hampton Inn & Suites Denver-Speer Boulevard in Downtown (hilton.com)
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
Support for Our Dealers
PMI’s Vertical Rescue Solutions strives to support PMI Dealers, Trainers, and all those who work at height and trust PMI gear with their lives. We offer expert instructional and educational services as a means of support; if you are a PMI Dealer or Professional Trainer, contact us to find out how PMI’s Education and Training division can help grow your business.