No series of 'official' or 'required' for most recreational boaters in
the US. However, many states are now requiring a basic boaters
competency certified. This is really just the basic and talks to
needed 'safety' equipment, what those red and green things are in the
water as well as the dangers of drinking and driving.

These basic tests can be taken online or through a several agencies;
both private and public, e.g. USCG, USPS.

Beyond that, I know of three series of training. USCG has a series of
training that covers several topic. The USPS was formed many years
ago on the premise of training, and offers a series of courses
(perhaps 20 or so) up through off shore navigation.

Both of these are mostly 'book learning', but do give good and
traditional knowledge.

US Sailing also offers an extensive series of course, and they tend to
include more on-the-water experience. Some say that US Sailing tends
to be shorter on book learning, but the on the water is a key focus of
theirs.

Further, USPS has stepped forward to develop, in conjunction with US
Sailing, a series of Boat Operators Certificates. These go beyond the
book-learning to include on the water skills, and the higher version
of these will target satisfying UN Resolution 40, "International
Certificate for the Operation of Pleasure Craft". At this point, I am
not aware of an intention to have any of these levels become
'requirements'. However, the basic operators competency certificates
now in many states was driven by NASBLA; given that they have
accomplished this 1st step, it would not surprise me that they are
looking to drive additional step.

-al-



On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:08:03 GMT, "Dennis Pogson"
wrote:

Please excuse my ignorance in posing this question. As a UK sailor of many
years experience in racing and cruising yachts, I am curious to know, since
the subject rarely turns up, whether our US cousins have a similar series of
qualifications to those administered in the UK by the Royal Yachting
Association (Yachmaster, at various levels).

I am not extolling the virtues of such "official"qualifications, indeed many
UK sailors think they are less than useful, just curious to know if such
training and examination facilities exist in the US, as the subject never
seems to be discussed in this NG.

Dennis.