Beginning 10 January 2023, all PADI® Divers and PADI Members will receive a PADI eCard™ instead of a plastic card when they receive a new certification or rating. The only students who will be issued plastic cards are:
- Bubblemaker and Seal Team participants
- Students younger than ten
- EFR students certified by an EFR Corp Instructor
(someone who has never been a PADI Member)
The change is a result of feedback from students and PADI Members about the benefits of eCards including:
- Instant gratification – students get their certification card the same day they graduate
- No more customer service issues caused by postal delays – you may never have to fill out another never received card form again!
- Eliminates stress – for customers who need a cert card to arrive before they leave for vacation
- Better for our ocean planet – fewer plastic cards means less plastic introduced into the world
- All your certifications and ratings all in one place – no more digging around for your Enriched Air card and your PADI Divemaster or Instructor card. The PADI App™ is like a digital wallet, with all your certification levels in one place
Many parts of the globe, including the Asia Pacific region and much of Latin America, made the switch to 100% eCards a few years ago. For those new to eCards, below is an overview of the certification process followed by a list of answers to frequently asked questions.
PADI eCard Certification Process and Timeline
- PADI Pro finalizes a student’s certification in the OLPC (online processing center)
- Moments later, the student receives an email notification to access their eCard
- The student signs on to the PADI App or padi.com to view their eCard using the email used for certification card processing
Important note: each student needs their own email address. Shared emails won’t work. When inputting student certification info, make sure every student has a different email address or they will not be able to access their eCards.
PADI eCard Frequently Asked Questions
Is the PADI App the only way to access PADI eCards?
Certifications may also be viewed on PADI.com. The student (or guardian) can either:
- Click Sign In from the homepage, then click Certifications once signed in
- Or, after signing in, go directly to: https://learning.padi.com/certifications
Is the PADI App just for eCards?
In addition to eCards, the free app has useful information for divers including:
- Hand Signals
- Knot Tying
- Dive Checklists
- and Pro Chek™
What languages are available?
The PADI App can host, manage and display PADI eCards in 10 languages: English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Korean and Japanese.
Can my students still get a plastic card?
Yes, physical cards are still available for an additional charge (1 online PIC credit). You can bundle the cost into the package price of your course or offer it as an upgrade.
If you want to sell physical certification cards, the price is up to you. You can offer plastic cards at the same price as buying direct from PADI or offer a discount. In 2023, a diver in the US who purchases a card directly from PADI will pay $53, in Canada $60 CAD.
To order a plastic card, click “Process Replacement Cards or eCards” from the OLPC home screen, search for the diver’s information, then select “Choose Plastic” from the dropdown menu when prompted.
Why should I offer plastic cards?
Some dive operations have their students’ certification cards delivered to the store. When the student comes in to pick up their card, the business has an extra opportunity to invite the diver to sign up for a class or trip, go fun diving, etc.
Here are a few reasons a diver might want or need a plastic card:
- As an eCard backup – if they plan to dive in a remote location
- To replace a Jr. Diver card
- Because their name changed
- A gift for their dive buddy – to commemorate a diving milestone or special trip
PADI’s online system only allows someone to buy a replacement card for themselves. Any diver (or non-diver) who wants to buy a certification card for someone else must purchase through a PADI Dive Center, Resort or other PADI Member.
All PADI certification cards are made from 70% recycled plastic.
I’m a 100% PADI AWARE Member, will my students still receive a PADI AWARE card?
Yes, students will receive the electronic version of the PADI AWARE card. The front graphics display PADI AWARE. However, Members will still need to choose the PADI AWARE card option when processing the student diver’s certification.
I’m a PADI 5 Star Member, will my students still receive a gold card?
Students certified by a PADI 5* Dive Center/Resort or PADI 5* IDC Dive Center/Resort will receive an eCard with the Gold background image along with your store information.
Oops! There’s a mistake on the eCard. How can I fix it?
Fixing a misspelled name, wrong date of birth, etc. is easy. Simply contact PADI Customer Relations with the student’s details (see list below) and request an amendment.
If the photo needs to be updated, the student can do that themselves by logging on to account.padi.com. You can also send an updated photo to customer relations.
When contacting PADI Customer Relations about a certification issue, please include the following info:
- Student’s full name
- Student’s date of birth
- The email address used to log in to the PADI App
- The certification level
Once a correction has been made, the student needs to refresh the PADI App to see their updated eCard.
Please note: for a legal name change, official documentation is required. Please use this form to submit appropriate legal documents, such as a marriage document or divorce decree.
Do students 13 and younger receive eCards?
Divers 10 to 13 years of age will receive an eCard and can access it through the PADI App or through PADI.com after signing in with a guardian email address.
Students younger than ten will continue to receive plastic cards. This may include participants in a:
- PADI Mermaid™ course (minimum age for Basic Mermaid is 6)
- EFR® course (no minimum age)
- PADI Seal Team program (open to kids 8 and older)
Help! One of my students can’t download their PADI eCard
Here are a few things to try:
- Confirm there is a strong data/internet connection
- Ensure the email address doesn’t have a blank space at the end (this often happens with autofill). Type the email address in manually and/or turn off autofill.
- Restart the device, open the PADI App and select the PADI eCards button. Click update.
- Remove and redownload the PADI App.
- Update the device to the latest version of Android’s operating system or Apple’s iOS.
NOTE: if the student cannot find the PADI App when searching the App Store or Google Play, it means the device does not meet the minimum hardware or software criteria to run the app.
If the steps above do not resolve the issue, contact your local PADI Regional Headquarters.
PADI Americas and PADI Canada: [email protected]
PADI Canada: [email protected]
PADI Asia Pacific: [email protected]
PADI Europe, Middle East and Africa: [email protected]
In your message, please include the following information:
- Student’s full name
- Student’s date of birth
- The email address used to log in to the PADI App
- The certification level of the eCard you’re trying to access
Still have questions?
We’re happy to help. For answers to questions not covered in this article, please contact the PADI Customer Relations department or a member of your PADI Territory team.
