Changes to Approval Procedures for Diving-Related Training Courses

IMCA has reviewed and updated its procedures for approval of training courses, to standardise practice in relation to existing course approvals and in light of the new scheme for approval of ROV Introductory Training courses (see information note 1624).

1 Documentation and procedures

The new document IMCA G 010 – IMCA assessment procedure for training course approval – sets out a standard procedure for all approved course types. The document is supported by new terms and conditions, which are available at www.imca-int.com/legal-notices/terms-training-course/.

It is supplemented by course-specific guidance, which updates previous documentation in each case. In the diving sector, this includes:

• IMCA D 020 – a new revision, retitled Requirements for IMCA-Approved Diver Medic Training courses, isdue to be published later this month.
• Information on the following courses was previously only contained in IMCA D 013 – IMCA offshore diving supervisor and life support technician certification schemes.  However, specific trainee course approval requirements for these schemes will soon be published in three new documents.
  • Requirements for IMCA-Approved Trainee Air Diving Supervisor Training Courses
  • Requirements for IMCA-Approved Trainee Bell Diving Supervisor Training Courses
  • Requirements for IMCA-Approved Assistant Life Support Technician Training Courses

Once these have been published, IMCA D 013 will then be revised to purely describe the certification schemes themselves and remove the detailed trainee course approval requirements (which will be covered in IMCA G 010 and the above three new documents). In the interim period, reference can be made to the current D 013, with any queries addressed to the secretariat via [email protected].

The system of an initial audit for new training provider applicants followed by periodic revalidation is retained but standardised. Simplified application fees are set out in the terms and conditions. Revalidation fees will be incorporated into membership fees, which will simplify billing for training providers and spread costs equally over the approval/revalidation period.

Training provider members no longer need to apply and pay for separate approval for each location. Existing approvals are merged into the relevant membership while new providers will specify locations in their applications. Online and hybrid courses are also included in approval records. A standardised process is available for seeking variation to approvals for additional locations and other relevant changes to approved courses.

Approved training courses continue to be listed at www.imca-int.com/trainingcourses which is being updated to include additional information on each provider.

2 Changes to IMCA membership categories

The previous DT2 membership category is now T2 – Training providers offering courses approved by IMCA.  In additionto diving sector training course providers, following successful application and assessment, the T2 category will also include ROV training course providers previously in the S3 category.

The previous DT1 membership category will become T1 – Training providers offering in-water basic diver training. Additional requirements are being introduced for T1 membership, as set out in information note 1625.

3 Certificate verification

Training providers are required to submit details of trainees who successfully complete IMCA-approved training courses to the secretariat. A new project is underway to incorporate this data into the certificate verification portal at www.imca-int.com/verify alongside IMCA certificates for diving supervisors, LSTs and other roles. To support this, a new submission format will shortly be provided to training provider members.