Certifying For Multiple Agencies Through A Single Course

[FloridaMan1974]

Hi,

I recently took a course through agency A.

At the end of the course the instructor, who is well known and respected, said that because agency A has the highest requirements for that course he can also certify us for the same course in agencies B, C, D, & E.

I wanted to know if this is standard procedure. Is there some agreement between agencies to allow this? And if so where could I view this information.

Or was my instructor taking a few liberties?

Thanks,
Max

 

[tursiops]

This is relatively common. Agencies do not need any agreements to do this. If you satisfied the requirements for their card (including possibly purchase and use of training materials) then they are happy to issue the card.

Why do you think there is a problem?

 

[lv2dive]

I notice you are in Stuart. That is relevant. Does this happen to be a cavern or cave class?

Regardless, the answer is the same. It appears to me that your instructor can teach for multiple agencies. S/he is asking you if you want certs with all the agencies you qualified for (for a nominal fee?). This is not an agreement between the agencies, it is bc you met the standards of each of the agencies as a part of the class you took. (I would assume).

It's acceptable practice. Many instructors in FL teach for multiple agencies. There may even be some value in it for you, if you aren't sure in which direction you will be going for your next class. Most agencies*, however, accept equivalent training/certifications, so it's probably not required. But on the technical training side of the house, the equivalents aren't always crystal clear.

Hope that helps!

*GUE being an exception

 

[FloridaMan1974]

Now that I know I'm not getting anyone in trouble, yes it was in N Fl cave course.

I didn't know if it was a problem or not and was honestly just curious as I am considering becoming an instructor myself and it seems to be a big benefit to teach the course of an agency which allows you to certify thru other agencies as well!

 

[KevinNM]

*GUE being an exception

Go diving with a GUE I.E. and they can deem you qualified to take a course where you don't have the GUE prerequisites for. But damn, they are hard graders.

 

[tursiops]

Now that I know I'm not getting anyone in trouble, yes it was in N Fl cave course.

I didn't know if it was a problem or not and was honestly just curious as I am considering becoming an instructor myself and it seems to be a big benefit to teach the course of an agency which allows you to certify thru other agencies as well!

Not quite. You must be an instructor for EACH agency through whom you wish to certify. So if you are an instructor for agencies A, B, C, and you teach a course that satisfies ALL of the standards for ALL of the agencies, then you can certify though all of them. It is not the agency that allows you do this; it is the fact that you are an instructor for all those agencies.

 

[lv2dive]

True, I took Tech 2 with someone who eval'ed out of Tech 1. But he had been diving with the WKPP for some time and was rock solid. The eval process is the exception that proves the rule .

Go diving with a GUE I.E. and they can deem you qualified to take a course where you don't have the GUE prerequisites for. But damn, they are hard graders.

 

[boulderjohn]

In my experience, this happen when the person is an instructor for more than one agency, and one or more of those agencies has some sort of a requirement for a minimum number of certifications for one reason or another. For example, Agency A might have a requirement that an instructor complete a certain number of certifications at a certain level in order to be eligible to teach courses at a higher level. I know one instructor who was teaching a lot of courses for Agency B, and each time he completed a course with a student, he also gave the student certification for the equivalent course for Agency A. By doing this, he was able to meet Agency A's requirement for a minimum number of certifications without actually teaching any courses for Agency A whatsoever.

 

[DevonDiver]

Certification cards are merely a proof of training. People think they are a 'license'.... incorrect.

Most cards have a phrase something like ".....has met the training requirements for certification at/as _________"

So... if a diver completed X course.... which also met the training requirements for A, B, C and D courses..... there would be nothing unethical in issuing whatever cards were relevant.

Obviously, this assumes that the instructor themselves were qualified to issue those qualifications and that the correct paperwork and procedures according to each agency standards were followed.

 

[SeaCobra]

I would disagree with this and I do not feel it adds value to the training. If anything it skews the numbers.