but that's the full course, right? I was thinking of the 2-dive certification where you still need a dive pro to dive with you.
Nope, nope, nope, no. In the early1970's there was one YMCA course, one certification, they were pretty clear about it, as evidenced by the back of the card! No shortcuts either! As far as I can remember, the next level up was Instructor. By 1980 when I got my most recent YMCA Instructor certification there were a couple of other courses you could teach if you became a 'Gold Star' Instructor. In all honesty the two refresher instructor clinics I did to maintain the Y instructor credential (one in California, with open water work in Monterey Bay; one in Texas, with open water work in.....some lake) were very professional and intense.