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Diving Medicine Courses

Diving Medical Technician Course

Objective: To train NOAA divers to understand, diagnose and treat diving injuries and maladies during a medical emergency.

Students in this one-week intensive course learn how to become effective first line responders during a diving related incident. Students receive theoretical and practical instruction that includes the use of a hyperbaric chamber and medical mannequins.

Topics covered

  • Diving injuries and maladies
  • Hyperbaric chamber operations and treatment tables
  • Neurological exam
  • Foley catheters, nasogastric tubes and IV tubes
  • Advanced airway management and chest decompression

Duration

One week

Certification

At the end of this course, students are qualified to take the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT) exam and, after successful completion of the exam, to receive DMT certification.

Prerequisites

  • EMT certification, or Medical Person in Charge (MPIC)
    • NOAA applicants may submit MPIC certification instead of an EMT certificate to receive NOAA DMT training. However, please note that you will need an EMT certificate in order to receive the NBDHMT recognition.
  • BLS certification (must be from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or an equivalent course).
    • Certification training courses can be either entirely in person, or a blended online/in person course. Online-only courses will not be accepted.
  • Students must be medically authorized to dive. The DMT is not required to be a NOAA diver, but must submit to the same medical standards for exposure to a pressurized environment.

Application Package

All application materials must be received by the NOAA Diving Center at least 60 days prior to the course start date in order to be accepted. Please see the NDP Training Google Calendar for specific deadlines. All application materials (except medical forms) should be submitted to the NDP Support Team. Incomplete application packages or forms will not be accepted.

  1. NF 57-03-38 Training Request and Authorization Form
  2. A copy of your EMT certificate, valid through the end of training
    1. NOAA applicants may submit MPIC certification instead of an EMT certificate to receive NOAA DMT training. However, please note that you will need an EMT certificate in order to receive the NBDHMT recognition.
  3. Copies of your BLS certificates, valid through the end of training
  4. NF 57-03-09 Liability Release and Assumption of Risk Form (if you are not a NOAA employee)
  5. NF 57-03-52 Report of Physical Examination (Initial exam)
  • Please send medical forms directly to the NOAA Diving Medical Officer using a secured method of transfer as these forms contain sensitive Personally Identifiable Information. All candidates must have their diving physical examinations cleared by the NOAA DMO before you can be accepted into a course. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you begin the process to complete the diving medical physical exam as soon as possible to prevent delays in processing your application.
  • NOAA employees only: If you are an existing NOAA Diver, check your NOAA Dive Log profile to see if you need to submit this form, or if you need to submit the NF 57-03-54 Annual Update instead. Your medical DMO clearance must be valid through the end of your course. If your medical is valid through the end of training, you may omit these medical forms from your application package.

Recertification

In order to maintain certification, the DMT must maintain EMT certification in order to be eligible to recertify as a DMT. Recertification requirements are set by the NBDHMT and require a combination of continuing medical education hours and clinical contact hours. These hours may overlap with the requirements to maintain EMT certification.

Joint Hyperbaric Medical Courses

United States