Cape Coral Power Squadron

BOAT OPERATOR’S CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

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

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

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.

 

Passports

Members pursuing certification will have a "BOC Passport" to record their progress. The Passport is part of the IN Kit which is available through squadron SEOs. 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.

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 via online database entry 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.

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