4-yearly Recertification

Since 1 October 2018 the Certification Scheme Professional Diver changed.
Published in the Gazette on 27th July 2018.
Please read this attentively.

 

Practical Test on Recertification 

New is the practical test on recertification taken by a certifying institute (examiners)
Reference: Criteria Recertification – article 11 – : This article mentioned the 4-yearly recertification process. Certificates or PoA’s (Proof of Assessment) are issued for 4 years. Conditions to keep certificate valid are given. The document Proof of Assessment has the same validity conditions.
4-yearly recertifcation: You must show proof of continuously competency as a professional diver (see table on this page) including a positive practical test taken by an examiner.
The diver must do a practical test taken by a certifying institute. NDC-CI will organise these practical tests on a regularly base. The diver is advised to do this in the 4th year after issuing. Based on his dive history (logbook) the content of the practical test will be chosen.

NDC-CI has planned the next dates for the 4-yearly practical test on recertification

  • 29th September 2023
  • 20th October 2023
  • 24th November 2023
  • 22th December 2023

Location: W. Smit Waalhaven Drutenstraat 5, Harbour Rotterdam.
There are different kind of practical tests. By showing your continuous competency as a diver (logbook) the examiner shall decide which test will be taken.
Duration of one test is 1,5 hour per candidate/test. Candidates are kindly requested to help as a standby diver for the other candidates.
Candidates must show a valid SWOD Certificate Diver, Logbook, valid diver medical certificate issued by a recognized diving physician *), valid identity documents, personal diving equipment.

Apply: Please send an email to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by stating your name, number of relevant SWOD diving certificate, two preferred dates. 

When the test will be facilitated on military location: For access to military terrain we need your approval to state your name and if coming by car the license plate number as well.

Is your certificate invalid but you started your recertification process in time, you have to let the test organised by a recognized diving school including the presence of an instructor. Or If the diver does not meet the required validity conditions the NDC-CI must take measures. Every situation is different, but it is possible that the practical test will be replaced by a practical examination.

General

On 27 july 2018 is in the Gazette Staatscourant 41262 a replacement of the certification scheme diving  (WSCS WOD D) was published.

What changed:

The continuous competency – the validity conditions.  See table below
The on site pre-announced assessment/practical conducted by an trained and approved diving supervisor at the dive site become due.
Now the 4-yearly practical test must be taken by an examiner (NDC-CI)
From 1st October 2018 we have 9 levels/scopes of divers instead of 8. New is the B0 diver.
And the diving supervisor must be traceable. So whilst he is signing your logbook he must fill in his registration number as well. So be aware of this.
The 2-yearly and 4-yearly logbook check maintains.
Continuous competency – 2 yearly portfolio check and/or 4 yearly recertification 


Category

SCUBA or SSE

Continuous competency

A1 *)

SCUBA till 9 mtrs

At least 30 dives and a total dive time of at least 300 minutes in the competency.

A2

SCUBA till 15 metres

At least 30 dives and a total dive time of at least 300 minutes of which at least 5 dives with a minimum bottom depth of 9 metres and a total dive time of 50 minutes.

A3

SCUBA till 30 metres

At least 30 dives and a total dive time of at least 300 minutes in the competency.

B0 *)

SSE till 9 metres

At least 30 dives and a total dive time of at least 300 minutes of which at least 20 dives with a total dive time of 200 dive minutes with SSE.

B1

SSE till 15 metres

At least 30 dives and a total dive time of at least 300 minutes of which 1) at least 20 dives of at least 200 dive minutes with SSE; and 2) At least 5 dives with  at least dive depth of 9 metres and and a total dive time of 50 minutes.

B2

SSE till 30 metres

At least 30 dives and a total dive time of at least 300 minutes, of which at least  15 dives with a total dive time of at least 150 dive minutes with SSE.

B3

SSE till 50 metres without wetbell

At least 30 dives and a total dive time of at least 300 minutes, of which at least 15 dives with a total dive time of at least 150 dive minutes with SSE.

B4

SSE till 50 metres with wetbell

At least 30 dives and a total dive time of at least 300 minutes, of which at least  15 dives with a total dive time of at least 150 dive minutes with SSE.

C

Closed Bell / Saturation

If the diver also is competent for category B4 the bell  bellruns made as a diver (10 bellruns 5x diver / 5x bellman) can be compensated for the B4 dives.

If you (diver) already done your on site pre-announced assessment/practical be conducted by a trained and recognized diving supervisor before 1st October 2018. Please let us know. We shall check that it took place before 1st October 2018. You don’t need to do the new practical. NDC-CI shall communicate this with you. 
If you do not meet the validity conditions please contact the NDC-CI. Maybe a program can be made to help you to keep your certificate valid. Be aware of the fact a practical examination can take place. 

General information about the validity conditions

SWOD Certificates & Proof of Assessment 

SWOD Certificates are issued for four years. On the certificates are mentioned the dates of issuing, 2-yearly interim logbook check and end of validity. 
The document Proof of Assessment (PoA) has the same validity period and same validity conditions as certificates. See our website for the difference between applying for a certificate or for a Proof of Assessment.

2 yearly interim portfolio check

Every two years the holder (diver and diving supervisor) must contact the NDC-CI for an interim check of his portfolio (logbooks). He has to proof his continuous competency in his scope. If he misses this moment his certificate will be suspended and/or withdrawn. 
For requirements 2-yearly logbook check see table above. 

And

4 yearly recertification

Every four years the certificates or PoA's  (diver / supervisor) must be renewed.
Diver: Besides the logbook check also needed is the proof of attending a practical test (to demonstrate certain competences, mainly related to emergency response in your scope) taken by an examiner (NDC-CI). 
Diving Supervisor: Besides the logbook check also a theoretical examination taken by the certifying institute (NDC-CI) and the proof of attending an on site pre-announced practical assessment / test taken by a trained and approved diving supervisor at the dive site. See the list of trained and approved diving supervisors

On a regularly base the NDC-CI organises practical tests on recertification for professional divers. Ask the administration This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for dates. The diver is advised to do the practical test in the 3rd or 4th year after issuing. Based on his dive history (logbook) the content of the test will be chosen. Avoid doing the test when certificate is invalid. When your application started in time, but your certificate is invalid you have to let the test organised by a recognized diving school / training institute including the presence of examiners. 
If the diver does not meet the validity requirements the NDC-CI must improve measurements. Every situation is different, but it is possible that the practical test will be replaced by a practical examination. 

How to keep my certificate valid

  1. During the validity period of the certificate the next conditions must be met:
    • The holder informs the certifying institute immediately when there are changes in his (digital) addresses.
    • The holder uses the certificate only during the validity period.
    • The holder meets the validity conditions of continuous competency in his scope conform paragraph 11.2.1 (zie table – the 2- and/or 4-yearly portfolio check)
    • The holder uses his certificate in the scope of the diving activities for which the certificate is issued.
    • The holder cooperates with the supervision of the certifying institute and agrees with the random check of its portfolio for which contacting the employer or client is necessary.
    • The holder agrees with stating his certificate details (status of (in)validity) in the public register of SWOD certificates.
    • The holder reports to the certifying institute complaints made by authorities or others about his competency as a professional and cooperates with the research necessary by the certifying institute.
  2. The holder avoids misuse of his certificate by third parties and reports misuse, lost or stolen within 10 days to the certifying institute.

    If the holder cannot meet above mentioned conditions he must be aware of the fact that this leads to consequences. Consequences can be warning, suspension and/or withdrawal.

*) http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32005L0036&from=NL
Where a host Member State requires of its own nationals wishing to take up a regulated profession, a document relating to the physical or mental health of the applicant, that Member State shall accept as sufficient evidence thereof the presentation of the document required in the home Member State. Where the home Member State does not issue such a document, the host Member State shall accept a certificate issued by a competent authority in that State. In that case, the competent authorities of the home Member State must provide the document required within a period of two months.