Armed Forces
NAUI is proud to announce that you can use your G.I. Bill® to pay for many of our scuba certifications and licenses. You can choose from a wide selection of programs we offer. Are you interested in learning to dive, improve your diving skills, and becoming a dive professional? The G.I. Bill® can help you accomplish this. Through these series of programs, you will learn the basics of diving and progress up this guided path to become a professional diver. We can help “Take You as Deep as You Want to Go!”
This program is designed for veterans by veterans. Service members who qualify can be reimbursed for their certifications and licensing exams. Restrictions follow same guidelines as the VA licensing and certification reimbursement program – please refer to this website: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/test-fees/
Service members can use one month of G.I. Bill® benefits per certification or license exam and can progress as far as they want. Service members can use up to one month to six months of benefits to get scuba certified or become a NAUI dive professional. Please see exams and prices below:
VA Exam Catalog
Licenses
Exam Name | Price |
NAUI Instructor NES-VA001 | $2000 |
NAUI Assistant Instructor NES-VA002 | $2000 |
NAUI Divemaster NES-VA003 | $2000 |
NAUI Instructor Trainer NES-VA004 | $2000 |
NAUI Course Director NES-VA005 | $2000 |
NAUI Course Director Trainer NES-VA006 | $2000 |
Force Blue Scientific Diver NES-VA007 | $2000 |
Force Blue Assistant Scientific Diver NES-VA008 | $2000 |
Public Safety Diving NES-VA009
|
$2000 |
Certifications
Exam Name | Price |
NAUI Basic Level Scuba Certification NES-VA010
|
$1500 |
NAUI Advanced Level Scuba Certification NES-VA011
|
$1500 |
Rescue Scuba Diver Certification NES-VA012
|
$1500 |
Master Scuba Diver Certification NES-VA013
|
$1500 |
Professionals are defined as Divemasters, Diving Instructors, Instructor Trainers, and Course Directors – all of these professionals licenses are considered true vocational programs. These licenses can provide full-time employment with lucrative pay.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
Getting Started
Step 1:
Learn about G.I. Bill® eligibility requirements and find out if you can get these benefits. VA education benefits can help you pay your tuition, pick out a school, choose a career, and more. If you’re an active-duty service member or Veteran, a member of the National Guard or Reserves, or a qualified survivor or dependent, find out if you can get VA education benefits through the G.I. Bill® and other educational assistance programs.
Step 2:
Apply for your G.I. Bill® benefits.
How to apply for the G.I. Bill® and related benefits go to the VA website at: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/ and follow the directions.
If you have already applied for your benefits and just need to find out how many months of benefits you have left, please go to the VA website at: https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill/post-9-11/ch-33-benefit/. and follow the steps on how to check your benefits.
Print out your VA statement of benefits you will need to take it to your NAUI approved VA testing center.
Step 3:
Find a NAUI approved VA testing center near you by clicking this link: https://www.naui.org/locate-dive-centers/ and (filter by Designation) scroll down until you find NAUI VA testing center.
Once you find a NAUI Approved VA testing center take your VA statement of benefits you printed in Step 2 to them and schedule the certification or license you want to take.
Step 4:
Upon completion of all exams, the NAUI VA testing center will give you three documents and a presentation so you can submit for your VA reimbursement. (All reimbursements from the VA are first come first serve but it is taking about 30 to 60 days to receive your reimbursement from the VA).