Refresher courses are available for divers who have been inactive for a period of time and wish to review and practice their skills before venturing back out into the open water. It's recommended that you complete a refresher course if you've been inactive for a period of one year or more.

A refresher course begins with an evaluation of your academic knowledge and water skills. Based on the results of this evaluation, your instructor will design a refresher course to meet your specific needs. This always includes a skill review in the pool, and may also include classroom lessons depending on your score on the written exam.

After completing a refresher course, your instructor will document its completion in your logbook. This informs dive operators and instructors that you have tuned your skills following a period of inactivity.