National Education Standards

Updated information regarding the status of revisions to national boating education standards is posted on the EZ-BSP webtool.

Recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as American National Standards (ANS):

ANSI/NASBLA 100-2022 Basic Boating Knowledge -- Core 
- American National Standard, effective June 1, 2022.

ANSI/NASBLA 101-2022 Basic Boating Knowledge - Plus Human-Propelled 
- American National Standard, effective June 1, 2022.

ANSI/NASBLA 102-2022 Basic Boating Knowledge - Plus Sailing 
- American National Standard, effective June 1, 2022.

ANSI/NASBLA 103-2022 Basic Boating Knowledge - Plus Power 
- American National Standard, effective June 1, 2022.


ESP TR 101-2022: Technical Report – Basic Boating Knowledge – Core Plus Human-Propelled - This Technical Report provides information to help design and implement successful recreational human-propelled boating education and training programs based on ANSI/NASBLA 100-2022: Basic Boating Knowledge – Core and ANSI/NASBLA 101-2022: Basic Boating Knowledge – Plus Human-Propelled (ANS). Produced by the National Education Standards Panel, effective June 1, 2022. (This replaces the previous version entitled ESP TR 101-2018: Technical Report – Basic Boating Knowledge – Human Propelled.)

ESP TR 102-2022: Technical Report – Basic Boating Knowledge – Core Plus Sailing This Technical Report provides information to help design and implement successful recreational sail boating education and training programs based on ANSI/NASBLA 100-2022: Basic Boating Knowledge – Core and ANSI/NASBLA 102-2022: Basic Boating Knowledge – Plus Sailing (ANS). Produced by the National Education Standards Panel, effective June 1, 2022.

ESP TR 103-2022: Technical Report – Basic Boating Knowledge – Core Plus Power - This Technical Report provides information to help design and implement successful recreational powerboating education and training programs based on ANSI/NASBLA 100-2022: Basic Boating Knowledge – Core and ANSI/NASBLA 103-2022: Basic Boating Knowledge – Plus Power (ANS). Produced by the National Education Standards Panel, effective June 1, 2022. (This replaces the previous version entitled ESP TR 103-2018: Technical Report – Basic Boating Knowledge - Power.)

ESP TR 103.1-2022: Technical Report – Basic Boating Knowledge – Core Plus Power, including Water-Jet Propelled - This Technical Report provides information to help design and implement successful recreational powerboating education and training programs based on ANSI/NASBLA 100-2022: Basic Boating Knowledge – Core and ANSI/NASBLA 103-2022: Basic Boating Knowledge – Plus Power (ANS). Produced by the National Education Standards Panel, effective June 1, 2022. (This replaces the previous version entitled ESP TR 103-2018: Technical Report – Basic Boating Knowledge - Power.)




The following standards and technical reports were in effect through May 31, 2022.

ANSI/NASBLA 101-2017: Basic Boating Knowledge – Human Propelled - American National Standard, effective Sep. 28, 2017.


ANSI/NASBLA 102-2017: Basic Boating Knowledge - Sail
- American National Standard, effective Feb. 24, 2017.


ANSI/NASBLA 103-2016: Basic Boating Knowledge - Power - American National Standard, effective Jan. 1, 2016.

  • ESP TR 103-2018: Technical Report – Basic Boating Knowledge - Power - This Technical Report provides information to help design and implement successful recreational power boating education and training programs based on ANSI/NASBLA 103-2016: Basic Boating Knowledge - Power (ANS).  Produced by the National Education Standards Panel, June 26, 2018.

ANSI/NASBLA 103.1-2018: Supplement - Basic Boating Knowledge – Water-Jet Propelled Boats - Supplement, effective Mar 3, 2018.

ESP White Paper – Modernizing the Knowledge Standards: Transitioning American National Standards for Basic Boating Knowledge to a Core/ Plus Approach

Insight on NASBLA Course Approval


ESP Style Guide with Terms and Vessel Types