NASBLA Course Approval

All NASBLA approved course must meet the ANSI/NASBLA Basic Boating Knowledge Standards. These standards define general, entry-level knowledge a boater should possess for safe recreational boat operation. This consensus-based standard is designed to support course providers and raise the overall level of quality, availability, and consistency of instruction in entry-level recreational boater knowledge. This standard functions within a national system of standards for recreational boat operation. It is recommended this standard be used in conjunction with any accompanying Technical Report.

• ANSI/NASBLA 100-2022 Basic Boating Knowledge - Core - 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 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.)

Parties interested in receiving NASBLA approval for their boating safety courses should download and complete the following:

• NASBLA Course Review Approval & Flow Charts
• Fee Structure Conformity Assessment With Interactivity Option
• Terms and Conditions for Course Approval (fillable)
• NASBLA policy for Course Delivery Platforms and Student Assessments for a Boating Safety Education Course
• Application form 2023 (fillable)
• Appendix H Reading Comprehension and Grammar (fillable)
• Appendix A NASBLA Checklist Conformity Assessment (fillable - NASBLA & state)
• Appendix C and Section 9 Checklist (fillable)
• Appendix E, F, G, Test Questions (fillable - NASBLA & State)
  
• Interactive Course Option Additional Information

Deadline

Renewals (Applies to ALL courses):

All NASBLA course approvals will be conducted in the order in which they are received. 

All expiring courses must be submitted to NASBLA for renewal no later than three months before the expiration date of the course. Only courses submitted three months before their expiration will be given extensions on their approval date if the course review is unable to be completed before the course’s expiration date.

Courses that are received by NASBLA within three months of their expiration date will be reviewed after all other courses received within their review period are completed. If a review cannot be completed before the end of the remaining time period, the NASBLA approval will expire on the course’s expiration date, without exception.