About Enhanced Recreational Boating Certificate (ERBC)
The Enhanced Recreational Boating Certificate (ERBC) is a NASBLA-issued certification recognizing boat operators who have successfully completed both:
- A NASBLA-approved knowledge-based boating safety course, and
- A NASBLA-verified on-the-water, skills-based course
By combining these two established education standards, the ERBC provides boaters with a more comprehensive learning experience that strengthens real-world boating skills and promotes safer operations on the water.
The ERBC is designed to complement — not replace — existing state boating education laws. States can be confident that operators holding an ERBC have received advanced, hands-on instruction beyond knowledge-only education requirements.
The ERBC has launched as a pilot program, beginning in Florida, to evaluate benefits, stakeholder impacts and long-term opportunities for broader adoption.
Benefits of the ERBC
For boaters and the public, the ERBC offers several advantages:
- Hands-on, on-the-water training that reinforces classroom learning
- Clear verification that the holder has completed advanced boating education
- A photo credential that positively identifies the recipient
- Potential insurance incentives as partnerships develop
- Added credibility when renting or chartering vessels domestically or internationally
- A strong foundational credential that may be expanded with advanced training in navigation, VHF communications and trip planning