If you are a PADI Instructor that has been out of teaching status and wants to get back into Teaching diving your first step would be to contact PADI if you are within a defined period since your IE you will be offered the option to regain your teaching status by attending a status update with a course director, if you are outside the defined period since your IE (currently 5 years) you would need to take your OWSI again to regain your PADI Instructor teaching status. The is defined in more detail and with more options below.
If you want to take advantage of the many opportunities you have as a PADI professional once again you need to go through a reinstatement process As it is near the end of 2010, you have a few renewal options based on whether you decide to renew your membership for 2010 or 2011.
If you decide to renew for the remainder of 2010, send in a 2010 Instructor Membership Renewal Application so you can again take advantage of the many benefits of being a PADI Member. This will place you in Non–teaching status until you complete one of the following options:
Complete (or have completed) Member Forum 2010 Online (this option is only available after Instructor Membership Renewal Application has been processed). You need to phone PADI Member Services or email PADI once you have attended Forum.
Attend (or have attended) a Status Update Program conducted by a current PADI Course Director in 2010 or 2011. Then submit a Status Update Completion form.
Complete an online Instructor Update Program. To complete this option, contact an Educational Consultant at PADI to register.
After completing one of these options, simply submit written verification from the Course Director or Regional Manager. If you choose the Member Forum Online option, it will be automatically recorded. Then contact an Educational Consultant to confirm completion and be placed in Teaching status.
If you decide not to renew for 2010 and wait to renew for 2011, send in the 2011 Instructor Membership Renewal Application (form will be made available from November) – this will place you in Non-teaching status. Your options for regaining Teaching status will be limited to one of the following:
1. Attend (or have attended) a Status Update Program conducted by a current PADI Course Director in 2009 or 2010. Submit a Status Update Completion form
2. Attend (or have attended) a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor program (OWSI) conducted by a current PADI Course Director in 2010 or 2011. Submit the Instructor Candidate Information and Training Record
3. Attend (or have attended) a PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) conducted by a current PADI Course Director in 2010 or 2011. Submit the Instructor Candidate Information and Training Record
4. Complete an online Instructor Update Program. To complete this option, contact an Educational Consultant at PADI to register
Once all paperwork and confirmation of insurance coverage is received and processed by PADI, you’ll be upgraded from Non-teaching status, placed in Teaching status, and sent a Teaching status decal. For PADI Asia Pacific the PADI Instructors teaching in Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea are required to have insurance for Teaching status.
As a dive professional, you will no doubt be interested in expanding and updating your knowledge. One way to do this is to join the ranks of professional emergency care instructors by becoming an Emergency First Response Instructor. You can supplement your income by teaching CPR (including AED training) and first aid courses. Find out more by contacting us or any PADI Course Director who is an Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer.
One last step and you’re on your way – don’t forget to update your PADI Instructor Manual so you become familiar with the current PADI Training Standards and Procedures. You can download the Training Bulletins for the years you’ve missed from padi.com Pro Member area, once you’ve renewed your membership. Alternatively, as some years have gone by, it may be recommended that you purchase a new PADI Instructor Manual, digital version of course 🙂 save the planet!
Good luck if you decided to reinstate your PADI Career and diving lfe 🙂