Changes to the French Diver Certification Requirements – Rev. 1

Your attention is brought to the following changes to the French diver qualification, recognition and renewal requirements issued by the French Ministry of Labour with effect from the 1st of January 2019. All existing French diver training certificates issued by INPP before this time remain valid.

RECOGNITION
IMCA has been advised that from 01 January 2019 only French Diver Training certificates issued by INPP on behalf of the Ministry of Labour should be recognised for use offshore outside of France.
Divers trained in France by schools other than INPP, may also apply to have their certificates recognised for offshore work outside the country. This can be done by applying to INPP who act as the agent for the French Ministry of Labour. Following a short verification process, applicants will be issued with an internationally recognised certificate. Further details of the application process can be found at: http://inpp.org/fichier-international/
No other French certificates issued after 01 January 2019 should be recognised for work outside of France by IMCA members (see IMCA D 01/18 Diver and Diving Supervisor Certificates).

RENEWAL

• French Class 2 Mention A Surface-Supplied Diver Certificate – There is now no need to renew this certificate if you do not work in France or for a French company i.e. if you only work in places where French national regulations do not apply. However, if you do work for a French Company or in France (where French national regulations do apply) you will now be required to renew your diver training certificate every five years.
• French Class 3 Mention A – Closed Bell Diver Certificate – There is now no need to renew this certificate if you do not work in France or for a French company i.e. if you only work in places where French national regulations do not apply. However, if you do work for a French Company or in France (where French national regulations do apply) you will now be required to renew your diver training certificate every five years.
• For further information on the renewal process, the validity of French Diving certificates or for the verification of diver training certificates, please contact INPP directly at [email protected].

Please find below examples of the current French diving certificates.

Pre 2019 – Old style French Diver certificate.

Post January 1st, 2019 – New Style French Diver Training Certificate. The new certificates contain a hologram.
For more information, please contact [email protected]