Michael Porter wrote:
If the sense of the question is "are qualifications required for
pleasure-boat operators?" then the short answer is "no". The USCG
administers tests for licenses that are required for carrying
passengers for hire, and many professional yacht skipers hold such
licenses.

Michael Porter

UK pleasure boat operators are also not required to be qualified.

I was simply interested in whether we in the UK are alone in having training and competence facilities for boaters.

For the record, the grades on offer are -

RYA Start Sailing
RYA Competent Crew
RYA Day Skipper
RYA Coastal Skipper
RYA / MCA Coastal Skipper Exam
RYA / MCA Yachtmaster Exam

This latter is divided into "Ocean shore-based" and "Ocean Passage". I believe there used to be a higher grade still for RYA Instructors, but am not sure if this is still the case.

Obviously experience and actual long passage making are essential to the granting of certificates at the "Ocean" levels.

There was a time when an old salt like me would have regarded all this qualification nonsense as just that, but it certainly can open doors if your ambitions lie in making a living out of sailing!

Dennis.