PADI Instructor Exam
2 days program
After completing your PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) with us in Malaysia or Thailand, you're ready for the next step: your PADI Instructor Examination (IE). The IE is where your skills, knowledge, and teaching ability are evaluated to earn your PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor rating.
Some like to say IE stands for "It's Easy" and sure, with the right training, it can be. But we don’t leave it to chance. Our focus is on proper coaching, honest feedback, and building real confidence so you go into the IE feeling prepared and in control.
More importantly, we’re not just getting you past the exam. We’re setting you up to become the kind of instructor students remember. Passing the IE is the start. Being a great instructor is the goal.
And yes, when you’re ready and supported, you might even enjoy the IE.
Some like to say IE stands for "It's Easy" and sure, with the right training, it can be. But we don’t leave it to chance. Our focus is on proper coaching, honest feedback, and building real confidence so you go into the IE feeling prepared and in control.
More importantly, we’re not just getting you past the exam. We’re setting you up to become the kind of instructor students remember. Passing the IE is the start. Being a great instructor is the goal.
And yes, when you’re ready and supported, you might even enjoy the IE.
The PADI IE Structure
PADI Instructor Examinations are conducted by a PADI Instructor Examiner from the regional office. These Examiners are friendly, professional, and supportive. They will evaluate your teaching presentations in the classroom, confined water, and open water, along with your dive theory knowledge, understanding of the PADI System, attitude, and overall professionalism.
The way they evaluate you at the IE is almost identical to how we assess you during your PADI Instructor Development Course. In fact, you'll be doing exactly what you've already practiced—just one more time.
That said, we’re often a bit more strict with our evaluations during the IDC than the Examiners are at the IE. And there’s a reason for that. We want you to keep improving at every step, so that by the time you arrive at the IE, everything feels second nature. No surprises. No stress. Just confidence.
The way they evaluate you at the IE is almost identical to how we assess you during your PADI Instructor Development Course. In fact, you'll be doing exactly what you've already practiced—just one more time.
That said, we’re often a bit more strict with our evaluations during the IDC than the Examiners are at the IE. And there’s a reason for that. We want you to keep improving at every step, so that by the time you arrive at the IE, everything feels second nature. No surprises. No stress. Just confidence.
The PADI IE is divided into 4 modules:
- Written exams
- Knowledge Development Presentation
- Teaching in confined water
- Teaching in open water
Written Exams:
You will complete two written components during the PADI Instructor Examination.
You will:
You will:
You will complete two written components during the PADI Instructor Examination.
- Dive Theory Exams: Five sections—Physics, Physiology, RDP, Equipment, and Skills & Environment. Each section contains 12 multiple-choice questions. The exam is closed-book and you’ll have 90 minutes to complete it.
- PADI Systems, Standards, and Procedures Exam: 50 multiple-choice questions. This is an open-book exam, and you may refer to your PADI Instructor Manual and IDC Candidate Workbook. You will also have 90 minutes to complete it.
- You will be assigned one missed question from the Open Water course and will prepare and deliver a prescriptive teaching presentation in a classroom environment.
You will:
- Prepare and teach one assigned skill in confined water
- Demonstrate five skills from the Open Water Diver course, selected at random by the PADI Examiner
You will:
- Prepare and teach two assigned skills in an open water environment
- Demonstrate Rescue Exercise 7 from the Rescue Diver course (Unresponsive Diver at the Surface) in water too deep to stand in, using either mouth-to-mouth or a pocket mask
Decisions Decisions...
This is usually not a big concern when you attend our PADI Instructor Development Course.
At the end of your IDC, both you and your PADI Course Director, Anand, will review your overall performance throughout the program. If you’ve met all the required scores and fulfilled the PADI IDC performance requirements, you’ll be ready to move forward to the PADI Instructor Examination.
Anand will always give you his honest, professional opinion—but in the end, the decision to proceed is entirely yours.
At the end of your IDC, both you and your PADI Course Director, Anand, will review your overall performance throughout the program. If you’ve met all the required scores and fulfilled the PADI IDC performance requirements, you’ll be ready to move forward to the PADI Instructor Examination.
Anand will always give you his honest, professional opinion—but in the end, the decision to proceed is entirely yours.
PADI IE and application fees in Asia Pacific
2025 PADI Fees:
PADI Divemaster Application PADI Instructor Application PADI Specialty Instructor Application Method 1 PADI Specialty Instructor Application Method 2 EFR Instructor Application PADI Instructor Examinations PADI Instructor Examination (resit) PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer App. PADI IDC Staff Instructor Application PADI Master Instructor Application |
Australian Dollar:
AU$ 275 AU$ 350 AU$ 139 AU$ 221 AU$ 242 AU$ 1,190 AU$ 495 AU$ 188 AU$ 227 AU$ 259 |
Please email Course Director Anand for more information about our PADI Instructor Examinations in Malaysia and Thailand.
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