Home / Education / Courses / Course Director This rating is the highest and most respected professional rating in recreational scuba diving. To become a Course Director, you must earn a spot in a Course Director Training Course (CDTC). Course Director Contact Dive Shop Professional Course Director Contact Dive Shop Your Dive Shop Description PADI Course Directors are PADI Master Instructors who have taken the next step and joined an elite group of instructor trainers. Course Directors teach PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDCs) and other instructor-level training, and thus are the scuba diving industry's most influential leaders and role models. This rating is the highest and most respected professional rating in recreational scuba diving. To become a Course Director you must earn a spot in a Course Director Training Course (CDTC) through a competitive application process that examines your experience and training goals. PADI Master Instructors who have solid teaching experience and have assisted with several IDCs may be ready to apply. You also need to be an EFR Instructor Trainer, have at least 250 logged dives, have PADI Dive Center or Resort work experience and meet other requirements as listed on the most current CDTC application available for download from the PADI Pros' Site. Academic After your application is approved, you start your training by completing several online presentations, knowledge reviews and a Course Director-level exam on PADI Systems, Standards and Procedures. The actual CDTC lasts nine days and consists of staff presentations about how to organize and promote instructor development, plus many hands-on workshops in class, confined water and open water with a focus on evaluation training, professional development and counseling techniques. You may be able to get college credit for the Course Director Training Course. Available Languages For information on other available languages please contact your PADI Dive Center. Your Dive Shop More Courses Professional Divemaster Be a leader who mentors and motivates others. Gain dive knowledge, supervision abilities, and become a role model to divers around the world. Professional Assistant Instructor Start here to become a PADI dive Instructor. Share your passion with others and help them experience the same joy you have for scuba diving. Professional Open Water Scuba Instructor This is a two-part course - the Assistant Instructor (AI) course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. Become a better public speaker and get really good at demonstrating skills. Professional Specialty Instructor Teach a specialty course that interests you. Choose from, Deep Diver, Night Diver or Public Safety Diver course, just to name a few. There are 25+ standard PADI Specialty Diver courses to choose from. Professional Master Scuba Diver Trainer The ultimate recreational diver rating. All PADI Instructors who have certified at least 25 PADI Divers and have earned five or more PADI Specialty Instructor certifications can be a Master Scuba Diver Trainer. Professional IDC Staff Instructor This course provides you with in-depth knowledge of the instructor development process and prepares you to shape the next generation of PADI Professionals.