Divers

Diver Certification

Applicants should note that the ADCI Consensus Standards [Section 3] requires all applicants for Commercial Diver Certification Cards to have all dives necessary for granting certification to have been performed within a 24-month period immediately prior to issuance of the designation. This standard has been adopted to ensure a continuous sequence of participation and maintenance of skills necessary to Safety perform commercial diving activities.

A new applicant has to submit a formal commercial diver training certificate of completion from an accredited commercial dive school and meet our requirements of 625 hours.   An individual seeking to obtain an ADCI certification card is required to have verifiable evidence necessary to support the application.  Per our minimum qualifications and requirements, Commercial Diver Training must consist of at least 625 documented hours of formal instruction in subjects set forth in the ANSI Standard.  Individuals also need to meet 29 and 46 CFR regulations directed to the conduct of Commercial Diving Operations under our standards of operation.  All new applicants must meet the ANSI/ACDE-01-2015 Standards or recognized equivalent to qualify for our certification card program.
 
We are not able to issue certification cards simply based upon dives and on-the-job training.  The ADCI International Consensus Standards for Commercial Diving and Underwater Operations states that divers must be formally trained to a minimum of 625 hours (ANSI/ACDE-01-2015 or recognized equivalent).
 
ADCI DOES NOT RECOGNIZE: NAUI, PADI, YMCA, POSSI, CMAS and other SCUBA (Open Water) certificates. They are for recreational diving only and not acceptable under OSHA regulations or ADCI standards for commercial diver training.  Scuba is not intended nor designed to prepare an individual for commercial diving.  Individuals with Scuba training do not suffice to meet 29 and 46 CFR regulations directed to the conduct of Commercial Diving Operations and are not considered adequate training for underwater work under our standards of operation.  Certification cards or certificates issued by recreational agencies are not recognized as qualifying an individual to perform commercial diving activities in the absence of additional formal commercial diving training from an accredited source.

To expedite an application, an additional $25.00 must be included with payment . Normal processing time is 10 - 15 days (Business Days) after approval from the Executive Director. 

Application process can take up to  8 - 10 weeks.




Application and documentation can be emailed to nancy@adc-int.org.
 

  1. Certification Card Requirements Chart - Matrix
  2. Application Form - ADCI Member Commercial Diving Schools
  3. Application Form - ADCI Member Company 
    Application process can take up to  8 - 10 weeks
  4. Application Form - Individual Commercial Diver 
    Application process can take up to  8 - 10 weeks
  5. Photo Instructions
  6. Replacement For Lost or Stolen Card Application
    Application process can take up to  8 - 10 weeks
  7. Credit Card Authorization Form
  8. Instructions to apply
  9. Renewals - see #8 instructions


Classification Cost:
Entry Level/Tender Diver   $    75.00
Air Diver   $  175.00
Mixed-Gas Diver   $  175.00
Bell/Sat Diver    $  175.00
Replacement Card (only if the card is still active)  $    50.00
Expedite (per individual)   $    25.00
Same Day Immediate Expedite (per individual)  $     50.00
Email Copy - New applicants/applications only  $    15.00



SPECIAL NOTES: NAUI, PADI, YMCA, and other SCUBA certificates are for recreational diving only and not acceptable under OSHA regulations or ADCI standards for commerical diver training.

APPLICANTS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES (INTERNATIONAL COUNTRIES) - DO NOT SEND CHECK, MONEY ORDER, OR WIRE FUNDS UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED CONFIRMATION YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED.