Everything you need to know about our diver medic technician training course.

   national board of diving & hyperbaric medical technology

Diver Medic Technician (DMT) Certification
An individual wishing to certify as a diver medic through the NBDHMT approval process must complete a diver medic training course taught by NBDHMT approved instructors and/ or at an NBDHMT approved teaching facility. Upon satisfactory completion of this course the individual is then required to pass a standardized certification examination.
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Applicants for DMT certification must provide:
1. A “Fitness to Work in a Pressurized Setting” medical certificate. The applicant does not have to be deemed fit to dive, per se. Rather, they should be considered medically fit to pressure-up in a recompression/hyperbaric chamber.
2. A copy of an in-date emergency medicine training completion certification. Documentation can include any of the following: DOT/NHTSA approved training course certificate, Current National Registry of EMT or paramedic certification or Current State EMT licensure/certification card.
3. A completed Instructor Evaluation form-
www.nbdhmt.org/forms/instructor-evaluation.pdf
4. A completed Diver Medic certification application form–
www.nbdhmt.org/forms/DMT-certification-application.pdf
5. A completed DMT Use Agreement form-
http://nbdhmt.org/forms/dmt-bls-acls-statement.pdf
Certification testing is commonly undertaken immediately upon completion of formal diver medic training and following submission of the above documentation. Alternatively, testing can occur at a later date, and is scheduled by contacting NBDHMT administration headquarters. A nearby testing location(s) will be identified and a date/time established.
Those who do not pass the test should contact the NBDHMT to prepare and arrange for retesting. Guidance will be provided regarding any apparent topic weaknesses to better prepare for retesting. A nearby testing location(s) will be identified and a time/date established no sooner than three (3) months from the first test.
Diver Medic Technician Recertification
Recertification is required every two years. There is no single way for every DMT to meet recertification requirements, as much depends on the needs of the individual medic. To be recertified, the diver medic must accumulate 24 hours of additional training during a two-year certification period, plus a minimum of 24 hours of ambulance/emergency room observation time.
NOTE: Those DMT performing duties offshore may satisfy their observation time by documenting medical cases managed/attended during this period. This documentation must be attested to by the medic’s supervisor.
In planning course attendance, medics should consider their particular setting and plan refresher training around the accidents they are likely to encounter and the training resources available. Instructors should likewise consider the needs of the students and their own special experience and knowledge.
The following principles should be kept in mind:
1. The twin goals in recertification are to maintain acceptable knowledge and skills competency. Therefore, each two-year period should include review of previous skills and knowledge as well as exposure to new material.
2. Involvement of other exposure to actual emergencies is most desirable, so medics should try to obtain more than the 24 hours minimum observation period.
3. Didactic requirements for each two-year period may be met by one course, or a series of short courses.
4. Courses should be practical and oriented toward the setting of field treatment of diving accidents.
To obtain credit for recertification training, the following policies apply:
1. At least four hours in each two-year period must be specifically in diving medicine and preferably taught by an NBDHMT approved instructor. For instructors not already on record with the NBDHMT, approval must be obtained in advance of such training.
2. At least sixteen (16) hours in each two-year period must be in general or emergency medicine, at the basic EMT level or higher. This training may be obtained from any recognized agency, including but not limited to certified EMS instructors, community colleges, or Red Cross affiliated organizations.
3. The remaining four hours may be in any area reasonably related to general emergency medicine, remote duty medicine, hyperbaric medicine, or diving medicine. These hours must be taught by instructors or agencies as in 1, and 2 above.
4. The DMT must furnish the following as evidence of training:
a. Each course or topic covered
b. Amount of time per each topic
c. Date(s) of training
d. Signature of the instructor and a statement that the student satisfactorily completed the training. Where multiple instructors are involved in a specific course, one must be clearly designated as the course director or coordinator and provide the required signature.
5. For ER or ambulance time, provide the following:
a. Location or activity
b. Date and hours spent
c. Signature and title of person-in-charge (head nurse, crew chief, shift supervisor, etc.)
Evidence of training hours may be sent to the Board as they are earned or saved until the end of the two-year period. DMT’s with questions about training or recertification not answered in this manual are encouraged to contact the NBDHMT.
DMT Recertification Requirements
1. Provide ‘Fitness to Work in Pressurized Settings’ medical clearance.
2. Provide evidence of 24 CEU’s related to emergency-related training/education.
3. Provide evidence of 24 hours of diving medicine/other emergency related experience.
4. Provide a completed Diver Medic Recertification form.
Forward the above items to NBDHMT headquarters with a US $75.00 recertification fee.

• A copy of an in-date emergency medicine training completion certification. Documentation can include any of the following:

a) DOT/NHTSA approved 120 hour training course certificate,

b) Current National Registry of EMT or paramedic certification

c) Current State EMT, or higher, licensure/certification card.

• A “Fitness to Work in a Pressurized Setting” medical certificate. The applicant does not have to be deemed fit to dive. Rather, they should be considered medically fit to pressure-up in a recompression chamber.

• After completion of the training course, the DMT can apply to take the DMT certification exam. (Note: There is a $125 application fee to take the nbdhmt diver medic exam that is not included in the course cost.)