Earn College Credit for your PADI Course with Ancora Scuba
Many institutions and national educational councils around the world recommend our PADI scuba courses for college credit, occupational certificates or educational funding. Click on the relevant link below for more information. Of course, please feel free to get in touch with any questions or ideas you might have about our evolving educational outreach programs.
USA
The American Council on Education (ACE) through its College Credit Recommendation Service has evaluated and recommended college credit for 18 PADI courses and one Emergency First Response course. ACE is the major coordinating body for many of the nation’s higher education institutions. We find this PADI-designed transcript form and information sheet particularly handy!
Canada
The British Columbia Ministry of Education (External Credentials Program for Industrial and Occupational Courses) has approved these courses for school credit: PADI Open Water Diver course (2 credits), PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course (4 credits) and PADI Rescue Diver (4 credits). Grade 10, 11 and 12 students simply present their PADI certification cards to the school administration to apply for credit.
Scuba divers in Canada may also receive credit for PADI courses through the USA-based American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service as explained above.
Australia
PADI Divers may receive credit for several PADI courses after completing a Nationally Recognized Training course through PADI’s Registered Training Organization (RTO).
School students in Year 10, 11 and 12 completing their PADI course in Queensland (QLD), Tasmania (TAS) and Western Australia (W.A.) may receive credit towards their Certificate of Education. For more, read PADI’s information form regarding course credits for Nationally Recognized Training and Certificates of Education in Australia.
New Zealand
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) manages the accreditation and approval of nationally recognized courses. The PADI Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Rescue Diver courses all qualify for the National Certificate of Diving: Foundational Skills. Learn more by reading PADI’s Educational and Vocational Recognition in New Zealand form.
Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Scuba divers may be awarded credit for PADI courses from an educational institution, or through the military, in Europe based on the institution’s specific recognition of prior learning. Check with your school or military group about requirements for credit accumulation and transfer.
For more information, contact training.emea@padi.com.
Japan
In Japan, our PADI instructors are authorized to teach by the Japan Sports Association (JASA), which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. For information regarding the possibility of in-school Scuba instruction, get in touch with one of our instructors or visit http://www.japan-sports.or.jp.
* The above information was originally published by PADI and is available at padi.com/college-credit.
