Verified Boating Skills Courses

 

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators implemented a process of voluntary third-party conformity assessment for on-water boating skill programs to verify a course meets American National Standards for Power, Sail, and Human-Propelled. Successful completion includes the award of a uniquely-numbered “Verified Course” mark indicating “The content of this course conforms to the American National Standard for on-water skills as verified through an independent third-party assessment process.”
 
Recognized by the American National Standards Institute as American National Standards, the On-Water Power, On-Water Sailing, and On-Water Human-Propelled standards identify fundamental skills that entry level recreational boat operators should be able to demonstrate after receiving instruction.  The standards are freely available for voluntary application by organizations providing recreational boating instructional programs. More information about these standards can be found at www.abycinc.org or www.usnows.org
 
Among other documents, course providers earning the Verified Course mark will sign a Terms and Conditions agreement to provide numeric and survey data needed to evaluate the USCG National Recreational Boating Safety Strategic Plan.   This information includes:

  • numeric data of numbers of students enrolled in and completing the Verified Course; 
  • distribution to students of an online survey link (provided) to evaluate the level of recognition and influence on a student’s decision to enroll in a course due to the Verified Course mark;  
  • the course provider’s agreement to provide the course content as submitted; and,
  • course provider’s agreement to provide feedback on the overall program.


Parties interested in submitting materials for this verification process should download and complete the following:

 1.    Flow Chart – Verified Course Review Process
 2.    On-Water Skills Course Verification Process (Includes Appendices A – E) 
  On-Water Skills Course Verification Process (fillable form)
Appendix D – Power Outline (Excel)
Appendix D – Human Propelled Outline (Excel)
Appendix D – Sail Outline (Excel)
 3.    Verified Course Application
 4.    Fee Schedule for Skills Course Verification Review

Parties should also download these documents based on the skills course they wish to submit:

 5.    American National Standard - On-Water Recreational Boating Skills Standard – Power 

  • EDU-1 On-Water Power Standard - A free download of the POWER Standard is available from ABYC’s OnLine Store at: www.abycinc.org. The standard is also included on pages 57-63 of the Technical Support document below.

 6.    Technical Support Document – On Water Recreational Boating Skills Standard - Power

 7.    American National Standard – On-Water Recreational Boating Skills Standard – Human-Propelled

  • EDU-2 Skills Based Human Propelled Boat Standard - A free download of the POWER Standard is available from ABYC’s OnLine Store at:  www.abycinc.org. The standard is also included on pages 48-53 of the Technical Support document below.

 8.    Technical Support Document – On Water Recreational Boating Skills Standard - Human Propelled

 9.    American National Standard – On-Water Skills – Sail 

  • EDU-3 Skills Based Sailing Boat Standard - A free download of the SAIL Standard is available from ABYC's Online Store at: www.abycinc.org. This standard is also included on pages 65-71 of the Technical Support Document below.

10.    Technical Support Document – On-Water Skills – Sail

Send all completed documents, PLUS one electronic copy AND one printed copy of all course materials to:

Verifiedcourse@nasbla.org
Attn:  Mark Chanski, Education Director
NASBLA
1020 Monarch Street, Suite 200
Lexington, KY 40513


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