Veteran’s G.I. Bill® Scuba
Certification Program
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, improving your driving skills, and becoming a dive professional? The G.I. Bill® can help you accomplish this. Through this 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 the same guidelines as the VA licensing and certification reimbursement program – please refer to this website:
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 an NAUI dive professional.
Exams & Prices
Licenses Exams (Price of $2,000 each):
NAUI Instructor NES-VA001
NAUI Assistant Instructor NES-VA002
NAUI Divemaster NES-VA003
NAUI Instructor Trainer NES-VA004
NAUI Course Director NES-VA005
Force Blue Scientific Diver NES-VA007
Force Blue Assistant Scientific Diver NES-VA008
Public Safety Diving NES-VA009
Certifications (Price of $1,500 each):
NAUI Basic Level Scuba Certification NES-VA010
- Open Water Scuba Diver
- Basic Life Support: CPR and First Aid Potential Electives: Choose one elective
- Enriched Air Nitrox Diver
- Underwater Digital Imaging Diver
- Full Face Mask
- Drysuit Diver
NAUI Advanced Level Scuba Certification NES-VA011
- Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver
-
02 Provider
Potential Electives: Choose one elective - Underwater Digital Imaging Diver
- Deep Diver
- Enriched Air Nitrox Diver
- Full Face Mask
- Drysuit Diver
- Underwater Hunting and Collecting
- Wreck Diver (External Survey)
- Night Diver
- Altitude Diver
Rescue Scuba Diver Certification NES-VA012
- Rescue Scuba Diver
-
Search and Recovery Diver
Potential Electives: Choose one elective - Underwater Digital Imaging Diver
- Deep Diver
- Enriched Air Nitrox Diver
- Full Face Mask
- Drysuit Diver
- Underwater Hunting and Collecting
- Wreck Diver (External Survey)
- Underwater Archaeologist
- Night Diver
- Altitude Diver
- DFA Pro
Master Scuba Diver Certification NES-VA013
- Master Scuba Diver
-
Training Assistant
Potential Electives: Choose one elective - Underwater Digital Imaging Diver
- Deep Diver
- Enriched Air Nitrox Diver
- Full Face Mask
- Drysuit Diver
- Underwater Hunting and Collecting
- Wreck Diver (External Survey)
- Underwater Archaeologist
- Night Diver
- Altitude Diver
- DFA Pro
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®’s 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 an 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 the NAUI VA testing center.
Once you find an 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 to 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 them 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).
