Claire Aitchison, Training Officer
FAQ’s on what the various levels of Instructor can teach.
Assistant Club Instructor (old system) - Theory & Pool lessons under supervision of an NQI ---------------- Correct
Club Instructor (old system) - Open water instruction, unsupervised, up to their diving grade - Correct (had to be DL to get it though)
OWI (old system) - Open water & Theory instruction, unsupervised, up to their diving grade ----------------- Correct and remains unchanged from before.
Assistant Instructor (new system) - Theory & Pool lessons under supervision of an NQI ---------------- Correct
Theory Instructor (new system) - Theory instruction, unsupervised, up to Sports Diver ----------- Correct
Practical Instructor (new system) - Open water instruction, unsupervised, up to Sports Diver ---------Correct
OWI (new system) - Open water & Theory instruction, unsupervised, up to their diving grade ---- Correct same as above
The main debate is around whether a Club Instructor from the old system can still teach unsupervised in open water, and if they can't do they still qualify as an NQI to supervise others? ------ Yes they can continue as before - It is hoped that they will move toward taking the OWIC and then either log experience for sign off as OWI, or take the exam.
INSTRUCTORS – ARE YOU ACTIVE?
As an exercise to clean up the information about Instructors and levels of instructing within the club, Claire is trying to draw up a list of current qualifications and Instructors.
To keep the club viable to run training courses it really needs some of the CI's to progress to OWI and the Assistant Instructors to start to progress to OWI as well.
If you are an Assistant Instructor but do not wish to take part in the Instructing (you took the ITC or IFC but instructing is not for you, or any other reason) then please let Claire know and she will remove you from the active Instructors list for the moment.
Otherwise please start to think about progressing to the next grade.
THE INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SCHEME (up to Open Water Instructor)
INSTRUCTOR FOUNDATION COURSE (IFC)
(Sport Diver)
Fee £70
The first step in qualifying as a BSAC Diving Instructor, (including the Instructor cross-over programme), is to attend the two day IFC, where the essential elements of instruction are taught. The comprehensive student pack provides candidates with course notes and a copy of the BSAC Manual 'Teaching Scuba Diving'. Following completion of the IFC members who are Dive Leaders can further build their teaching experience by attendance at an Open Water Instructor Course (OWIC). Members who have attained Dive Leader grade can complete the Theory Instructor Exam (TIE) at any stage after attendance on the IFC. Following OWIC attendance and after further practice and experience at Branch level those who have gained Dive Leader status can apply for the Practical Instructor Exam (PIE). For details of the cross-over programme contact Central Bookings at HQ.
THEORY INSTRUCTOR EXAMINATION (TIE)
(Dive Leader + IFC)
Fee £25
The TIE is of one-day duration and could be either the Saturday or the Sunday. Performance in classroom teaching and theory knowledge is assessed. Candidates will receive further instructions once their application has been accepted. Successful completion of all elements of the TIE & PIE will lead to the award of the BSAC Open Water Instructor grade.
OPEN WATER INSTRUCTOR COURSE (OWIC)
(Dive Leader + IFC)
Fee £35
This one day course which combines both classroom and practical activities is designed to develop the Club Instructor's skills so they are better prepared to teach trainee Club and Sports Divers in open water. Subsequently those holding the Club Instructor grade can log teaching experience to complete the OWI certification process. Those who are not Club Instructor will be elligible to take the Practical Instructor Exam (PIE)
PRACTICAL INSTRUCTOR EXAMINATION (PIE)
(Dive Leader + IFC + OWIC)
Fee £35
The PIE is of one-day duration at an Open Water Venue and could be either the Saturday or the Sunday. Performance in practical teaching in the Open Water is assessed. Candidates will receive further instructions once their application has been accepted.
Successful completion of all elements of the TIE & PIE will lead to the award of the BSAC Open Water Instructor grade
COMBINED INSTRUCTOR COURSES/EXAMINATIONS
Members also have the opportunity to qualify as a BSAC Open Water Instructor by attending IFC/OWIC/TIE/PIE combined events. Costs vary and details/application forms for each event are available from Central Bookings at BSAC HQ
http://www.bsac.org/learn/its.htm
CLUB OFFER TO PAY FOR PIE
During the Committee meeting last Monday it was decided to encourage people to keep going with their Instructor Training by offering to pay for the Practical Instructor Exam when you have passed the exam, if you pass it before 31st Mar 05.
From Assistant Instructor you need to take the Open Water Instructing Course (£35) and both the Theory Instructor Exam (£25) and the Practical Instructor Exam (£35) to become a fully qualified Open Water Instructor.
We are trying to organise a Theory exam in Rugby to make that as convenient as possible for you, and on successfully completing the Practical Instructor Exam the club will refund the £35 exam fee. We have set a date of 31st March next year for completion in the hope that at least some of you will have become OWI's by then and the club will have enough active Instructors in its membership to keep the training going.
Daren and Malin have booked themselves onto Open Water Instructing courses in June so if you want to go along with someone else then talk to either of them.
Claire