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PADI IE (Instructor Examination)

What is PADI IE?

After completing the IDC, PADI Instructor candidates must attend and successfully complete a PADI Instructor Examination (IE). The IE is a two-day program in which candidates are evaluated on their dive knowledge, skills and ability to deliver teaching presentations in the classroom, confined water and open water settings.

IEs are conducted by PADI Examiners, who are employed by PADI, and ensure objective evaluation process. Having every IE conducted in this manner ensures the same evaluation criteria is met by all candidates prior to becoming a PADI Instructor. Every PADI instructor undergoes identical, impartial evaluation, ensuring consistent quality worldwide.

Upcoming PADI Instructor Examination in Phuket
11-13 July
15-17 August
12-14 September

PADI Instructor Examination Fee: 675 $AU

To be paid directly to PADI with your Credit Card or check/bank draft on your IE Enrollment Form and submit to the Examiner when you take the exam.

Sample IE Schedule (Phuket)

Day 1 IE Orientation (4pm)
Standard & Diving Theory Exams (5:30pm - 9pm)
Day 2 Confined Water teaching Presentation & Skills circuit (8am - 12pm)
Classroom Knowledge Development Presentation (1pm - 4pm)
Day 3 Open Water Teaching Presentation & Rescue Assessment (7:30am - 12pm)
Closing Ceremony (1pm)

Life After the IE

Once you have successfully completed the Instructor Examination, there will be a short waiting period as the examiners will need to travel back to the Office and submit the IE result and paperwork. The typical processing time for PADI Asia Pacific Office is 7-10 working days from the day the paperwork are submitted. you will receive an email from PADI notifying you of your teaching status.

Employment Search

For those of you who will be looking to stay and work in Thailand, the 2 weeks waiting period is a perfect opportunity for you to begin your work permit application and scheduling interviews with local PADI dive centers. The team at GoPro Thailand will assist you with the administrative process of work permit paperwork and introducing you to our partnered diver centers in the Andaman Coast area to set up interviews. And for those of you who may want to venture out and travel the world, we can also assist in setting up interviews with our partnered dive centers in the US, the Caribbean, South Africa and Europe. Just let us know!

A good PADI Dive Center will look for an Instructor who has all or some of these criterias:
  • Has more to offer than the basic PADI programs (Specialty Instructors Rating & MSDT etc.)
  • Has good basic non-diving background skills (retail, customer service, computer & internet, basic mechanics, experience in working with children etc.)
  • Divemaster work experience in taking care of divers, shop equipment, and dive shop
  • Acceptable references from 2 or 3 respectable sources
  • Fluency in speaking multiple languages
Thus the saying goes, "the more you have to offer, the more offers you will have."

At GoPro Thailand, we cover the Business of Diving during your IDC with lots of helpful advices, suggestions and actual experiences we had been through. One of our goals is preparing our candidates to be well informed and ready for the real-life day to day challenges of working as a dive professional in Thailand, through out our Asia Pacific region and other part of the blue planet.

Email our course director for more info at thien@gopro-thailand.com

Comments from Candidates

Just a short note to thank you not only for some great coaching to get me through my IE, etc, but also for welcoming me to your home and generally being excellent company during my visit. I should also thank Miz too for the best food I've had in a long time. I hope things continue to work well for you both and that you'll come and
visit us in KK.

R. Boddy , OWSI July 2007

Oh yes….I was all smiles when we passed. We were not about to be the first to ruin your record of not having someone pass after your IDC. Thank you for all of the time and effort you put in to our IDC (we needed it!!!). And yes, I want to get to Thailand some day, I do want to work on my specialties.

T.J, OWSI August 2006 (California IDC)

Yes we did pass! I got 100% on the physics and physiology.  Then I missed 1 question in each of the other sections.  I passed everything else with a score of 4 or better.  I was able to slow up and enjoy the process.  We both did the rescue the first time without a mistake.  That was thanks to you and all of our practice.  Thanks so much for all of your hard work with us.  It showed at the IE.

M.A Jones, OWSI August 2006 (California IDC)

It been over a month plus already after my IDC & IE at phuket and I don't have much time to thank all of you. I would like to take this opportunity to thanks all of you, Thien, Thomas, Ben, Angel, Camillo, Sandris and Nicole for your moral support, help and of course your most valuable advise. During my IDC were the most unforgettable experience and memories that I ever had in my life...

W. Wong, OWSI October 2005

I was very impressed with the way Thien and everyone met all the challenges of the post-tsunami operating environment while continuing to meet PADI standards. One of my fellow candidates had a very difficult time, but I was inspired by how Thien and everyone worked together to get that candidate as far along as he could get. In my opinion as a professional accredited education professional in TESOL, they were all awesome and went way beyond the call of duty!

S. Perry, OWSI April 2005

I have seen Thien’s work ethic, intelligence in the sport of scuba, ability to communicate effectively with customers, and business savvy in person. Thien is the kind of instructor that truly represents what PADI desires. He can get down to each individual student’s level and adjust his instructing technique so that the students can learn most effectively.


N. Buskirk, IDCS October 2004