IMCA to introduce CPD scheme for diving supervisors
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) says it has launched its pilot Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme for diving supervisors. As announced in November 2018, the App based scheme incorporates the very latest in training techniques and is available in IOS, Android, tablet and PC formats.
Trials of the App are now ready to begin in earnest. A representative cross-section of diving supervisors from leading contractors in the industry is being invited to participate in the consultation and testing process to ensure the system is user-friendly, appropriate, and effective. Following the trials and assessment processes, the ambition is to go-live to IMCA’s global diving community in Q2 2020. IMCA has consulted widely with its membership and the development and governance of the system has been overseen by IMCA’s Diving Division Management Committee, comprising leading industry diving managers and experts.
Bryan McGlinchy, IMCA’s Diving Manager sets the scene:
“This is a welcome addition to our flagship diving supervisor schemes and makes a tremendous contribution to modernising CPD in this sector of industry. These safety critical roles will now benefit from the best available technologies to help keep supervisory staff fully up-to-date with regulations, industry guidelines and best operating practices through a series of interactive tutorials and assessment routines. This is a significant step forward in maintaining competence, combating skill-fade, and keeping people safe.
“We envisage an eighteen-month bedding-in period, after which from January 2022 IMCA will only recognise diving supervisors who maintain their CPD records using the App.”
The scheme will be open only to qualified IMCA Diving Supervisors and to those from the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) and the Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC).
Information on content of the CPD material and associated assessment has been circulated to all members of IMCA’s Diving Division globally and is available here on the IMCA website
IMCA’s Diving Supervisor scheme – the history
- The IMCA Diving Supervisor scheme started in 1987 following pressure by industry, clients and the regulators to have some form of common standard.
- The scheme became a formal industry requirement on 1 July 1992.
- In recognition of the importance of an IMCA Diving Supervisor this title is now enshrined in some national legislation.
- Since its inception over 7,000 IMCA (or AODC) Diving Supervisor and Life Support Technician certificates have been issued.
- In 2014 IMCA launched the first major revision to the exams which (since Summer 2019) now utilise an exam generator and question database so no two exams are the same.