Public Courses

Several courses are offered to provide and enhance skills in basic boat handling and safety. Specific courses differ in their length, the means of delivery, and subject emphasis. The following Boating Courses are available. Many of these courses are provided by a local squadron in your area. Check the USPS web site for times and locations:

The Squadron Boating Course ®: is a twelve-hour classroom program that teaches boat types, boat handling, boating safety, rules of the road, aids to navigation, and an introduction to course plotting and piloting. 

Boat Smart ®: is an eight-hour classroom program that teaches boat types, boat handling, boating safety, rules of the road, and aids to navigation. It does not provide the introduction to course plotting and piloting. 

America's Boating Course ®: is a seven section computer-based training program that can be obtained on CD for self instruction in your home, or taken on-line. Some squadrons also offer this as a classroom program.

Successfully completing any of the above programs satisfies the education requirement for membership in USPS. Local squadrons add state requirements such that these programs also qualify those who successfully complete the course for local certification.

Chart Smart®: is four-hour program that provides an introduction to charts, plotting, and piloting as a standalone program. 

Member Courses

USPS offers a full curriculum of boating courses that rivals any of the best programs worldwide. Members expand their boating knowledge by completing a series of advanced courses ranging from Seamanship that expands on boat handling; Piloting and Advanced Piloting that teach near shore navigation; and Junior Navigation and Navigation that teach offshore navigation.

A series of Elective Courses are offered to hone skills in areas beyond seamanship and navigation. These courses include: Sail, Marine Electronics, Engine Maintenance, Weather, Cruise Planning, and a special course for those who wish to teach - Instructor Development.

You can explore these courses in greater detail on the USPS web site by clicking here,

Seminars

USPS offers an array of seminars on a variety of subjects of interest to boaters. Descriptions of these seminars can be viewed by clicking here.

Learning Guides

USPS offers an array of self-study learning guides on a variety of subjects of interest to boaters. Descriptions of these learning guides can be viewed by clicking here.
 
 

United States Power Squadrons®

P.O. Box 30423 -- Raleigh, NC 27622

Phone: 888 367 8777 -- Fax: 919 836 0813 -- Web: www.usps.org

Fax (toll-free outside NC): 888-304-0813

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Site updated September 22, 2006.