Structural Collapse Operations

This course will utilize the Urban Search and Rescue Structuralist Specialist Field Operations Guide, which can be downloaded from the Materials tab above.

NOTE – Online content for this course is currently under development. Check back periodically to view available student resources designed to refresh knowledge and skills from the live training.

If you have already attended the MUSAR Collapse Ops class in 2026, claim your certificate below.

Course Description:

This advanced hands-on course meets the requirements of NFPA 1006: Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications (Structural Collapse Level II) and NFPA 2500: Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents. Participants will build on foundational rescue skills to safely conduct operations at incidents involving partial or total structural failure caused by natural or human-made events.

Students will gain experience in scene size-up, debris removal, search and marking systems, breaching and breaking, lifting and cribbing, and victim extrication through immersive, team-based field scenarios. Emphasis is placed on hazard recognition, structural stabilization, and coordinated rescue operations in complex collapse environments.

Course Topics:

• Collapse pattern recognition and hazard assessment
• Shoring systems for light, medium, and heavy structures
• Lifting, moving, and breaching operations
• Search strategies and marking systems (USAR-compatible)
• Incident command structure and rescue sector management
• Team safety, accountability, and communications

Certification:

Successful completion of written and practical evaluations qualifies participants for Structural Collapse Operations certification in accordance with NFPA 2500.