Educational Department
Boat Operator Certification

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Background and Overview Advantages for Members Requirements
Passports Certifiers Advanced Certifiers
Regional Certifiers   Program Material & Forms

 

Late Breaking NewsHot New Information

The Boat Operator Certification program is now up and running. The material to start members on their journey to Certification is in stock at Headquarters. SEOs can now order the Inland Navigator starter package from the Materials Catalog using the Standard Order Form. If your Squadron does not have a BOC Certifier, please submit a recommendation and have that person update his/her USPS resume on line. Many answers to questions can be found on this page or in the materials listed on this page; you can also contact any certifier or R/C Jack Fletcher, SN. (21 Sep 08)

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Background and Overview

With the Boat Operator's Certification Program, USPS will certify USPS members at various levels of recreational boating proficiency.  We expect that these certifications will be recognized across the boating community, both domestically and internationally.  In the United States, The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has asked congress to authorize the Transportation Secretary to establish requirements for standards of proficiency for recreational boaters.  We intend to have USPS certification accepted as the above proof and be accepted as the national certificate for the USA.

Regarding international recognition, we plan to have certain USPS certifications meet or exceed the requirements of UN Resolution 40, International Certificate for the Operation of Pleasure Craft.  Under this resolution, boaters holding national certificates will be able to obtain international certification, much like licensed drivers can obtain international drivers licenses.

USPS currently plans four levels of Boat Operator Certification:

  • Inland Navigator
  • Coastal Navigator
  • Advanced Coastal Navigator
  • Offshore Navigator

View Level Overview Table.

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Advantages for Members

A certificate of operator proficiency will be of value to USPS members when:

  • Renting, chartering or leasing a boat, especially in another country
  • Obtaining insurance
  • Engaging in competition
  • Speaking in public
  • Testifying as an expert witness
  • Lobbying
  • Serving on an advisory panel
  • Being quoted in the media
  • Being introduced in a public setting
  • Publishing articles or books

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Requirements

Certification at any level requires successful completion of all prescribed elements including:

  • USPS courses - completions are tracked at USPS Headquarters
  • USPS and/or non-USPS seminars - signed off by instructor and tracked at Headquarters
  • Skill demonstrations on the water or, in some cases, ashore - signed-off by trained certifier and tracked at headquarters (some are US Sailing programs)

To be certified, a member must be at least 16 years of age, be mentally and physically capable of operating a boat, and have sufficient visual and auditory sensory ability to do so. Holding a driver's license will suffice to certify meeting these requirements.

Inland Navigator (IN) Requirements:

  • IN Candidates Guide (27Jan09)
  • Courses
    • NASBLA approved safe boating course
    • Seamanship (or S 101 and S 102)
    • Engine Maintenance (EM)
    • Marine Electronics or Marine Electrical Systems or ME 101
  • Seminars
    • How to Use a Chart (CHT) (or Piloting, or Chart Smart or Boating)
    • Onboard Weather Forecasting (WF) or Weather course or Weather Modules
    • Using GPS (GPS) or the new P or AP course
    • VHF Radio and VHF/DSC Marine Radio (or ME 102 or Marine Communications Systems)
    • 2 additional seminars or 1 additional course
  • Skills
    • BPH - Basic Powerboat Handling skill demonstration or US Sailing Safe Powerboat Handling on-the-water program
    • FE - Use of Fire Extinguishers
  • Optional Endorsements
    • IW - Inland Waterways (Navigating Rivers, Dams and Locks seminar)
    • PAD - Paddle craft (canoes and kayaks) - Paddle Smart seminar
    • SA - Sailboating (or Sail or Sail Modules)

Note: The optional SA endorsement is required to be IN certified to operate a sailboat. The optional PAD endorsement is required to be IN certified to operate a paddle craft.

Coastal Navigator Requirements

  • Prerequisite
    • IN Certification
  • Courses
    • Piloting
    • Marine Electronics (or ME 102 or Marine Comunication Systems)
    • Cruise Planning
  • Seminars
    • Using Radar (RAD)
    • The Mariner's Compass (COMP)
    • 2 additional seminars or one course
  • Skills
    • NAV - On-Water Navigation
    • PD - Use of Pyrotechnic Distress Signals
  • Optional Endorsements
    • IN Endorsements plus:
      CAN - Canadian Regulations
      MEX - Mexican regulations

Note:  CN certification to operate a sailboat requires the SA endorsement. CN certification for paddle craft requires PAD.

Advanced Coastal Navigator and Offshore Navigator requirements will be posted when finalized. ACN and ON certification should be available in 2008 and/or 2009.

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Passports

Members pursuing certification will have a "BOC Passport" to record their progress. Passports will be issued to SEOs soon. These will be signed by certifiers and instructors. For courses, seminars and skill demonstrations completed before the issuing of the passport, the SEO or certifier can sign the appropriate spaces based on national or squadron records. It is important for the member to keep a passport and for squadron certifiers to keep back-up records of these events.

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Certifiers

Mechanisms already exist for tracking member course and seminar completions at USPS HQ. However, the skill demonstrations require certifiers. The certifiers' key roles are to observe and certify demonstrations of skills and document them. Skill demos will be recorded both at Headquarters and on the member's BOC passport.

In some cases, skill demonstrations and seminars can be waived based on boating experience or other programs. Certifiers will assist in the preparation, processing and approval of such waivers. In addition, certifiers will also assist in the preparation, processing and approval of applications for certification. Certifiers will also serve as local experts and resources regarding certification for their own squadrons and districts, and will teach others how to perform the duties of a certifier.

Advanced Certifiers

A specially trained certifier, called an advanced certifier, is authorized to teach the Safe Powerboat Handling program. They must also complete the regular certifier training program. Advanced certifiers have all the duties and responsibilities of other certifiers.

Regional Certifiers

For purposes of Boat Operator Certification, we have defined eight geographic regions each consisting of from one to eight USPS districts. A regional chairman of certifiers or regional certifier is responsible for BOC activities in each region. Regional certifier approval is required for most certification documents including applications, waivers and certifier nominations. All certifiers in a region report to the regional certifier who in turn reports to the NEO or his delegate. Regional certifiers should have good presentations skills as they will be frequently training other certifiers. A regional certifier may have one or more assistants. Regional certifiers are nominated by DEOs and approved by the NEO.

Region Table
Regional Certifiers

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Program Material and Forms

Warning: Some of these files are very large. A high speed or broadband internet connection is required.

Training and Reference Materials

Official BOC forms in PDF format.

Official BOC forms in WORD format.

Certifier Checklists in PDF format.

Certifier Checklists in WORD format.

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This page last updated Thursday, November 12, 2009 17:23