powerboat license

• Powerboat courses

Ideal for short passages and exploring your local waters, make the most of your time afloat with our powerboat courses

Powerboating offers the best of both worlds, the leisurely pace of a gentle cruise and the thrill of zipping across the open water. RYA training will give you the confidence and skills to handle the boat safely and make the most of your time on the water, whatever your pace.

As well as courses for recreational boaters, RYA powerboat certificates are also used by professional open boat skippers who need to prove their competence or require  professional qualifications  for work.

So whether you use powerboats for leisure, work, or in connection with another activity such as sailing or rescue, we have a course for you. Find out more about our powerboat courses below.

The National Powerboat scheme is comprised of a series of one and two-day practical courses that can be taken either onboard a centre’s boat, or your own. There’s something for all ages and levels of experience. 

A one-day introduction to simple boat handling and the use of safety equipment.

A two-day course to get to grips with powerboat handling.

Two days of practical pilotage, passage planning and navigating by day.

Two days of planning and navigating more challenging passages by day and night.

Two days of hands-on recovery and fleet management techniques for dinghies and windsurfers for those operating in a training or racing environment.

This two-day course builds upon Level 2 Powerboat Handling skills, focussing on short-handed operations, passenger safety and comfort. Designed in consultation with the Professional Yachting Association (PYA).

Increase your confidence and get qualified with our navigation and specialist short courses.

A basic introduction to navigation for new skippers, crew or anyone interested in getting out on the water.

Get qualified to use a handheld or fixed marine VHF radio with our course and exam.

From first aid to diesel engine, there are a number of related classroom and online courses you may find useful as you develop your knowledge.

Test your skill, knowledge and experience as a powerboat skipper by taking the RYA/MCA Advanced Powerboat exam.

With more than 100 different titles to choose from, there’s an RYA book, eBook or audiobook for every age, interest and ability. Visit our webshop for course books and a range of supporting titles.

If you want to go powerboating overseas, you’re likely to need an ICC. The Level 2 Powerboat Handling certificate can be used as evidence of your competence.

Powerboating can be great fun for the whole family and there are plenty of opportunities for young people to get involved. Check our course descriptions for minimum age recommendations.

If you need a powerboat qualification for work, you might need a commercial endorsement. Find out more about professional qualifications and what it takes to work on the water.

Safe Powerboat Handling Course

This 16-hour hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate a small motorboat and improve their boat-handling skills on actual boats. Completing a power boating course makes good sense. You want to enjoy your day on the water feeling confident that you have the skills and knowledge to operate your boat safely and efficiently. Our hands-on, on-the-water courses taught by certified powerboat instructors provides the training you need. 

The US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) have approved this course and an increasing number of states have recognized it as meeting their requirements for a state boating safety education certificate.

On-the-water topics covered:

-Engine and electrical systems

-Starting procedures

-Leaving and returning to a slip

-Close-quarters maneuvers

-Steering a range

-Proceeding to a destination

-Person in water rescue  

Classroom sessions:

-Safety, prep, and weather

-Maneuvering concepts

-Registration and capacities

-Equipment requirements

-Prep and fueling procedures

-Navigation rules of the road

-Aids to navigation

-Environment regulations

Tuition: $650 per person, including all course materials including Start Powerboating Right! textbook, Safe Powerboat Handling certification sticker, official logbook, sport powerboat certification standards, review questions, NASBLA supplement to Start Powerboating Right! NASBLA course completion card.

This is a four-evening course running 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Minimum required for course is 4 students, with a maximum of 6 students per session.

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Home  Recreation  US Powerboating

US Powerboating

Get out of the classroom and behind the wheel us powerboating offers the nation’s best and most comprehensive hands-on boating courses..

Whether you’re looking for your first experience at the helm or aiming to improve your skills, we can help. As the National leader in on-the-water powerboat training and education our goal is to empower students with the skills and confidence they need to get more out of their boating experience and become more comfortable behind the helm.

Visit US Powerboating for more information 

US Powerboating is an affiliate of US Sailing, the National Governing Body for the Sport of Sailing in the United States.

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Maritime School

of the West Indies

• Apr 27, 2023

What is the 15M Power Boat License?

Updated: Jun 12, 2023

Have your seen our 15M Powerboat Ad and wondered what it was for? Well the 15M Powerboat Course is an international licensing course. If you are looking to begin developing your skills and knowledge in the maritime industry, the IYT 15M Power Boat course is the course for you. This course is designed to teach individuals how to safely operate a powerboat of up to 15 meters in length and covers a wide range of topics including navigation, seamanship, and safety procedures. This is a beginner course that you can use to introduce yourself to the industry/lifestyle.

The IYT 15M Power Boat course is a valuable entry-level certification for anyone who is wanting to work in the maritime industry. While this is a recreational certificate, it provides valuable knowledge to

students as they start a maritime career.

Here are some of the key benefits of completing this course:

Improved safety: One of the most important aspects of the IYT 15M Powerboat course is learning how to operate a powerboat safely. This includes understanding how to navigate in different weather conditions, handle emergencies, and properly maintain and care for your vessel. By completing this course, you'll have the skills and knowledge necessary to operate a powerboat with confidence and safety.

Career advancement: If you're looking to work in the maritime industry, having the IYT 15M Powerboat certification can give you a competitive edge over other candidates. Employers in the industry often look for candidates who hold this certification, as it shows that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to operate a powerboat safely and effectively. The certification is still recreational and not commercial but the training is a great start to further commercially endorsed certificates.

Increased confidence: Operating a powerboat can be a challenging task, especially for those who are new to the industry. By completing the IYT 15M Powerboat course, you'll gain the confidence and skills necessary to operate a powerboat in a variety of situations, whether you're navigating through rough seas or docking in a busy marina.

Enhanced knowledge: The IYT 15M Powerboat course covers a wide range of topics related to powerboat operation, including navigation, seamanship, and safety procedures. By completing this course, you'll have a deep understanding of these topics, which can help you become a better boater and a more valuable employee in the maritime industry.

Overall, the IYT 15M Powerboat course is a valuable certification for anyone who is looking to improve their skills and knowledge in the Maritime Industry and open up new opportunities for career advancement.

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How to get a powerboat licence

After months spent in lockdown, the second half of summer has seen the population escape to the coast, seeking fresh air, vitamin D and freedom. Yet the threat to travel means that for many, that coast is not the Amalfi or d’Azur, it’s the one right here in Blighty. How can we make that more exciting? By getting behind the wheel of a powerboat and trimming the outboard engine to max thrust.

To skipper a powerboat , as opposed to hiring someone to have fun on your behalf, you’ll need a licence. So, GQ set about getting one.

The RYA’s Powerboat Level 2 qualification enables one to take charge of a motor vessel up to ten metres in length, which includes those fast Rigid Inflatable Boats, or RIBs, that Commandos use. Our mission is good times, though you can apply the camo paint if you want. This is the ideal vehicle to wash away those isolation blues and embrace what’s left of the season by slamming across the sea.

The course is a two-day affair with a little bit of classroom work, but mostly you’re out on the water. It starts from £200. We did ours with Urban Truant in Southampton, who have brand new stealthy-looking Honda BF100-powered RIBs and an ex-Royal Marine on staff who can instruct you on that camo paint, as well as how to handle your boat while being fired upon.

For an additional cost (£110), you can also get your short-range radio qualification, which requires a bit of reading but is required if you’re going to skipper a UK-flagged vessel. You may favour the skull and crossbones, but it’ll help keep you and your crew safe to learn how the radio works, the protocols, and what you need to say and when. We got both done in the same 48 hours.

Our heavy-duty aluminium-hulled craft is made by Honda’s boatbuilding partner, Highfield. Called the HX6, it’s 6m long and weighs less than 700kg, yet can accommodate up to 14 people. At the rear is a 100hp VTEC outboard which revs to 6,300rpm. Honda has been a leader in four-stroke marine engines for over 50 years, and has earned a reputation for being very reliable and efficient, like its cars. Between these and the HondaJet , it’s the only manufacturer that can transport you across air, land and sea.

The RIB also boasts a built-in Garmin navigation screen, but we’re taught how to plot our own course using an Imray chart, a Breton plotter and a pair of dividers. It’s good to be able to use both, and any additional apps that might help, so you’re extra confident of where you are and where you’re heading.

After you’ve mastered your latitudes and longitudes, and studied the tides, you’ll need to learn some knots. There’s the round turn and two half-hitches, the clove hitch, the sheet bend, the bowline and the reef knot for starters. Soon you’ll be lassoing cleats and bollards like a nautical cowboy. Next up: tobacco chewing and scurvy.

When you’re ready to fire up the powerboat, you must remember K.N.I.G.HT.S: To start it, you’ll need the key with the Kill cord, to which the skipper attaches themselves. Check it’s in Neutral. Then Ignition. Gently test the Gears go backwards and forwards. The water that spurts from the engine is called the Hot Tail, and if that’s not happening, the engine will overheat. Finally, look back and check the engine rotates from side to side when you move the Steering. Now slip the ropes and you’re good to go.

We head down the River Hamble towards Southampton Water, where we practise what we’ve learned in the classroom and do some manoeuvres, mooring techniques and man-overboard rescues. We use a discarded fender for this, but volunteers are welcome. We also practise anchoring; one needs to check the depth on the charts, then multiply that by at least three to get the correct length of chain. The charts also show where submarine cables lie, which you really don’t want to get caught up on, and all the buoys you’ll encounter, which you should be able to identify by their different colours and shapes which mark where you can and can’t go. Mistake a “south cardinal” for a “north cardinal” and you might end up colliding with a sunken wreck!

On Day 2, we go beyond Southampton Water and into the Solent, getting more comfortable with crossing the pathways of container ships and passenger ferries. Learning to trim the angle of the propeller in the water as speed increases, we surf the waves at a thrilling 30 knots, holding on tight. Remember to always keep your hand on the throttle – that’s even more important than the steering.

It’s a half-hour scream across the high sea to the Isle of Wight and we put into Cowes using our radio skills. The two main channels one needs to know are 80, where you can book a parking space with the marina as though making a dinner reservation, and 16, which is for safety and distress calls. If lives are in danger, you broadcast “MAYDAY”. If the ice in your beer cooler has melted it’s “PAN PAN”, like the French “panne panne”, as in “it’s buggered”. Surprisingly, while it’s illegal to drink while in charge of a commercial vessel, recreational boating in the UK is exempt from alcohol laws, making RIB runs to the Isle of Wight a popular booze cruise. Just be sensible before you try and play chicken with an oil tanker on your way back from the Fisherman’s Arms.

RIB rentals are charged at £200-300 for the day (Urban Truant has its own RIB Club, which costs £175 a year plus £150 whenever you take a boat out), or you can have your own HX6 for around £35,000. In addition, Honda have turn-key boat partnerships with two non-inflatable builders that fall beneath the 10m licence cut-off. There’s Italian speedboat maker Ranieri, which can pack up to 300hp, and the more sedate sub-£10k Maxima, which would make a stylish perch from which to watch Henley Regatta.

The RYA PB2 licence enables the holder to qualify for an International Certificate of Competence, meaning that when normal service is resumed, you can travel far beyond Britain’s waterways and go full Miami Vice .

For more information on Honda-powered boats, visit honda.co.uk/marine

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This is the new £1.2m Mercedes yacht

Powerboat Over 10m - The International Certificate of Competence (ICC)

ONLINE PREP TRAINING AVAILABLE SOON!

Boat licence.

• UK Nationals  
• UK Residents  
• Other Countries that have accepted Resolution 40 can also apply for an ICC here in the UK, please follow the link below and go to section 2 of the application form to see if you are eligible:  

ICC Application Form

Please note that some countries, especially France and Croatia are now also asking for the VHF radio license in addition to the ICC, albeit mainly for the larger boats. The Power Over 10 metre ICC assessment can be taken over a one day assessment or if a bit rusty we can offer you a days training prior to your assessment to bring you back up to speed with the rules and regs as well as the required boat handling skills. 

You will cover/ be assessed on the following:

Regulations - Applicable to all Candidates

• Knows responsibility for keeping a proper lookout 
• Can determine a 'safe speed' 
• Can recognise a potential collision situation 
• Can identify 'give way' vessel in a collision situation 
• Knows what action to take as 'give way' and 'stand on' vessel 
• Knows responsibilities of a small vessel in a narrow channel 
• Can recognise manoeuvring signals (1.2.3 & 5 short blasts) 
• Can make and recognise visual distress signals 

Boat Preps and Planning

• Engine checks 
• Obtain weather forecast 
• Check fuel for range / Duration of Trip 
• Avoid overloading boat 
• Can recognise, by day and night, and understand significance of buoys of the IALA system 
• Knows sources of information on: local regulations, port entry and departure signals, VTS and Port Operations Radio 
• Can plan a harbour entry/departure, taking account of possible presence of large vessels and avoiding navigational hazards 

Regulations - for Coastal Waters

• Knows rules relating to Traffic Separation Schemes 
• Knows requirements for navigation lights and shapes to be displayed by own vessel 
• Can recognise the following from the lights: Power driven, sailing vessel, vessel at anchor, tug and tow, fishing vessel, dredger 
• Knows sound signals made by vessels as for those above 

Safety - Can Use and Instruct the Crew on

• Life jackets 
• Fire extinguishers 
• Distress alerting (DSC VHF, EPIRB,Flares etc.) 
• 'Kill cords' (if fitted) 
• Can interpret a navigational chart, understand significance of charted depths and drying heights and can identify charted hazards 
• Can plot position by cross bearings and by Lat/long 
• Can determine magnetic course to steer, making allowances for leeway and tidal stream 
• Can use a tide table to find times and heights of high and low water at a standard port 
• Can determine direction and rate of tidal stream from a tidal stream atlas or tidal diamonds on a chart 
• Understands basic use of GPS 

1. All Candidates From the Start

• Can give a safety briefing including the use of safety equipment carried 
• Has listened to weather forecasts 
• Can carry out pre start engine checks 
• Start the engine 
• Knows how to check cooling 
• Knows the fuel range 

2. Can Depart From a Pontoon

• Understands the use of springs to depart from a lee wall lee wall/pontoon 
• Can communicate with crew effectively 
• Has positioned fenders correctly 

3. Do a 360° Turn in a Confined Space

4. secure to a mooring buoy, 5. man overboard.

• Observe MOB or instruct crew to do so 
• Demonstrate correct direction and speed of approach 
• Make suitable contact with MOB 

6. Planing Speed Manoeuvres (If Appropriate) 

• Use of kill-cord as appropriate 
• Choose a suitable area 
• Show awareness of other water users 
• Warn crew before each manoeuvre 
• Look around before S and U turns 
• Control speed on U turns 

7. Coming Alongside Windward Pontoon

Leisure and RYA Training Course we offer

Rya powerboat, rya powerboat level 1, rya powerboat level 2, rya intermediate powerboat, rya advanced powerboat, icc powerboat under 10m, icc powerboat over 10m, pwc (jetski) - personal water craft, shore based courses, rya first aid, rya sea survival, rya tender operator.

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What License Do I Need?

At the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School we offer both the Irish Sailing training scheme and RYA (Royal Yachting Association) training scheme for powerboating.

There’s no powerboat “license” per say, upon successful completion of the course, a certificate is issued to you. The Irish Sailing certificate is called the “National Powerboat Certificate” and the RYA certificate is called the “Level 2 Powerboat Handling”.

Choosing which certificate, you require primarily depends on where you live. Neither is more internationally recognised than the other, while the RYA certificate may be more applicable to say the Mediterranean, there is an EU wide licensing scheme called the ICC (international certificate of competency) which supersedes national certificates, and this is what we recommend you apply for upon course completion. The ICC is what you would need when on holiday abroad.

• If you are a resident in the Republic of Ireland, you will require an Irish Sailing “National Powerboat Certificate” as Irish Sailing, the governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing are the ICC issuing body in Ireland.
• If you are a UK, including Northern Ireland, resident you would require an RYA certificate.

We’ve a detailed article explaining what the ICC is, and how to apply for one upon completion of a powerboat course  here .

Once you’ve completed a powerboat course you may be interested in further training.

• VHF SRC Radio Course  – important for those heading to sea. It’s a legal requirement to hold a VHF licence when operating a VHF radio in Ireland. We offer the Irish Department of Marine course, the one you’ll need if registering for a “Ships Radio License” if you are planning on installing a VHF radio on your own boat.
• Essential Navigation & Seamanship  – Brush up on your navigation and theory with this online course, building upon the introduction you’ll receive to these topics on your powerboat course.
• Practise the skill; Powerboat Charter  – We have a number of our RIBs available for three hour and full day charter to keep the skills you’ll learn on the course fresh.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you on a Powerboat Course soon. If there’s anything we can be of assistance with in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on  01 2844195  or  [email protected]

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WELCOME TO THE RPBA

POWERBOATING - MAKE YOUR PASSION YOUR LIFESTYLE! The Recreational Powerboating Association is the leading authority for hands-on powerboat instruction, powerboat certification & powerboat schools in the United States. Take powerboating instruction through our network of certified powerboating schools with certified powerboat instructors . Through our powerboat courses , the RPBA will help you learn powerboating and achieve powerboating certification safely & with confidence. RPBA Certified Students can go from basic powerboat maneuvering to advanced powerboat courses, then enjoy powerboat vacations around the world. EARN POWERBOAT CERTIFICATION WITH THE RPBA The Recreational Powerboating Association is committed to helping you understand, appreciate and fully enjoy the incredible world of powerboating. Whether you need to fine-tune your existing powerboat handling skills, meet your state’s safe boating requirements or learn basic powerboat handling as someone completely new to the world of powerboating, the RPBA’s comprehensive set of powerboat training courses , network of professional powerboat training instructors and powerboat training schools provides the solution. The RPBA will do much more than simply show you the basics; our affiliated schools can teach you everything you need to be a skilled and experienced powerboater, including helping you earn your powerboat certification. If you'd like to learn more, the best way to start your journey is to explore TheRPBA.com for more information on learning to powerboat.

Polish up your docking skills!

The Recreational Powerboating Association will be conducting “Close Quarters Powerboat Handling” clinics using its newly developed training simulator at 5 indoor boat shows during January and February to promote awareness of its training programs and kick off its instructor development efforts.

Close Quarters Powerboat Handling

Close Quarters Powerboat Handling is an intensive, 12-hour powerboat handling course that is designed to provide the skills necessary to maneuver a powerboat confidently, competently and safely in tight spaces. Successful completion of the program indicates the student has demonstrated competence in handling either a twin inboard, single inboard or outboard/stern drive vessel in close quarters in light wind and or currents.

The goal of this course is to teach safe, efficient use of radar for small-craft navigation in any condition of visibility. Radar teaches safe, efficient use of small-craft radar for piloting, chart navigation, and collision avoidance, including radar principles and practical matters of radar operation as well as using a realistic PC based radar simulator to illustrate radar measurements. This course covers a broad range of topics related to radar. Specific topics to be learned include, how radar works, interpreting the screen, position navigation, radar and navigation rules.

Boater Education Card

By taking a boating safety course with the Recreational PowerBoating Association's partner, BoaterExam.com™, you help make our waterways safer and more enjoyable. Your boater education card may help you avoid fines from states where mandatory boater education laws are in effect, and may also entitle you to a reduction on your marine insurance.

Boating Safety Tips

The captain’s first and primary responsibility is for the safety of the vessel, passengers and crew. A prudent skipper always conducts a safety briefing prior to departure, because the best preparation for emergencies is a well trained crew. Crew training is the responsibility of the skipper and it is prudent to conduct drills with the crew to include: man overboard recovery, fire and abandon ship procedures.

RPBA Schools

• Boating Safety
• Twin Inboard
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Home  Instructor Courses

Instructor Courses

Safe powerboat handling instructor (click here to learn more).

The Safe Powerboat Handling (SPH) Instructor Course prepares experienced boat operators to teach the student level Safe powerboat Handling and Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling Certification Courses. Candidates are evaluated on their powerboat handling skills as well as their knowledge, presentation, and evaluation skills.

• This course is taught by US Powerboating Safe Powerboat Handling Instructor Trainers.
• Prerequisites: Safe Powerboat Handling or Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling Certification
• Total Course Time: Three days, 24 hours

SAFETY & RESCUE BOAT HANDLING INSTRUCTOR (Click here to learn more)

The Safety and Rescue Boat (SRB) Handling Instructor Course prepares the SPH Instructor to teach the Student level safety and Rescue Boat Handling Certification Course. The course is offered as a one-and-one course. The instructor course is a one day, 10-hour course. It is typically preceded by a one day student level SRB course to help potential candidates meet the prerequisite. In order to be certified, candidates must also take a Race Management Seminar to round out their knowledge of race support operations.

• This course is taught by US Powerboating SRB Instructor Trainers
• Prerequisites: SPHI Certification and Safety and Rescue Boat Handling Certification.
• Total Course Time: One day, 10 hours

MARK BOAT HANDLING INSTRUCTOR (Click here to learn more)

The Mark Boat Handling Instructor Course prepares the SPH Instructor to teach the Student level Mark Boat Handling Certification Course. The course is offered as a one-and-one course. This course is typically preceded by a one-day student level MSBH course to help potential candidates meet the prerequisite.

• This course is taught by US Powerboating Mark Boat Handling Instructor Trainers.
• Prerequisites: SPHI Certification, Mark Set Boat Handling Certification, and one-day Race Management seminar

NIGHT OPERATION INSTRUCTOR ENDORSEMENT

The Night Operation Instructor Endorsement prepares the SPH Instructor to teach the Student level Mark Boat Handling Certification Course. The course is offered as a one-and-one course. This course is typically preceded by a one-day student level MSBH course to help potential candidates meet the prerequisite.

• Prerequisites: SPHI Certification
• Total Course Time: 3 hours* *US Sailing is still in the process of finalizing the Instructor training program for Night Operations.

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• Safe Powerboat Training
• Safety & Rescue Boat Handling

Course Types

About our courses.

US Powerboat Training’s philosophy is that there is no substitute for practical, hands-on experience. After all, you wouldn’t drive a car without taking driver’s education so consider us your source for  Driver’s Education for Boaters TM .

Our courses are offered at over 100 Course Providers and Powerboat Training Centers around the country and are taught by knowledgeable, professional instructors who are dedicated to ensuring you get the most out of your educational experience. With offerings ranging from beginner to advanced, we are sure we have something for everyone.

We strive to emphasize the fun side of boating while ensuring that you feel safe, comfortable and confident!

In addition to practical training, we offer comprehensive books and videos designed to help you learn quickly and easily. As a partner of the United States Coast Guard, we understand the value of high quality education and importance of safe boating practices.

What course is right for me?

Safe powerboat handling.

Safe Powerboat Handling combines classroom instruction with practical, hands-on experience.

• Single Engine Course – $1,095 per person plus fuel
• Twin Engine Course – $1,295 per person plus fuel

Recommended for:

• New boaters
• First-time boat owners
• Sailing instructors and coaches
• Advanced boaters looking to brush up on skills
• Professional mariners

Safety & Rescue Boat Handling

Safety & Rescue Boat Handling topics range from equipment, preparation and operator and crew responsibilities during an emergency to the practical techniques used in rescue situations.

• $895 per person plus fuel
• Commercial certification
• Mark boat operators
• First responders

Private Training

Private Instruction is available in all facets of powerboating on your own boat or on one of ours. This includes refresher courses as well as confidence-building practice in docking, close quarters maneuvering, or whatever skillset you’d like to improve on.

Private Instruction Is $175 per hour with a minimum of three (3) hours.  These prices do not include certification. Give us a call and together we can build a program to meet your needs and objectives.