No, not when you take another course.Now I understand how important proper weight is, I will request a weight check if and when I take another course
Do it when u go diving. You can do it on your own.
A weigth check is usually done with a "empty" tank, means 700 psi/50 bar.
If you do it with a full tank, you should be slightly overweighted, because you will loose about 1.5 kg of weigth, when the tank is empty(thats the weight of the gas, depending on tank size ofc..)
I will explain the check for an empty tank:
Ok stay on the surface. Inhale as much as you can. And release all the air from. Bcd/wing.
You sink? - > To much weigth.
You dont sink? Ok fine. Now exhale a bit so you have a "normal" full lung.
Your head should now be partialy underwater. Some people say the surface needs to be on eye level. Other say it needs to be on top of your head. Doesnt really matter that much. And is abit personal preference(i will come to that later).
Now fully exhale. Do you sink fast? Maybe still to much weigth. Sink slowly, or staying neutral with the head fully submerged? Then you are good weighted.
The goal is to hold a 3m (some say 5m) with a normal lung capacity, without any air inside the bcd.
If you are neutral at 3m with a bit air in your lungs(yes you need to breath on the saftestop), then you are about neutral without air in your lungs at the surface.
Of course there is more to think about.
Wetsuit thickness and all that stuff, but thats a good estimate.
Personally I like to be able to hold a 1m stop, with very shallow breathing.
So i dont have problems when ascending.
I dont do formal Weigth checks. If i have a new configuration i just see how fast a descent and how much air i got in my bcd at the sateystop. If i dive new gear i take a kilo more then i need, becasue underweighted is worse then overweighted. And then ditch as much as i neednafter the first dive.
Being properly weighted is very important. And makes diving so much easier.
I remember one guy, who dived with 8 kilo. And he had so much peoblems holding the stop, or even ascending in a controlled way. He said he was underweighted and wants to take 2. More kilos with him.
I convinced go to go into the next dive with only 2 kg instead if his 8 or 10 kg.
He disnt believe me, but he tried it out and it was enough weigth for him(5mm in fresh water). And he dived soooo much better.
So dont wait until your next course. Do it yourself