Public Education Courses

        Learn the fundamentals of safe boat handling and operation, and basic piloting in one comprehensive classroom course.  As an additional feature, this newly revised course includes a digital chart training CD and instructional material on modern navigation techniques as well. 

This course meets state specific and National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) requirements for certification.  And completion of the course is accepted by most insurance companies. 

You will learn the basics of what you need to safely and comfortably go on the water with your boat.  This course includes lessons on seamanship, boat handling, boat types, rules of the road, navigation aids, regulations, adverse conditions, marine VHF radio, knots, trailering and introductory piloting.  The course includes an extensive course book, training charts, and basic navigation tools.  As a special feature it also includes an introduction to digital charting on CD-ROM in an appendix, and an overview of electronic navigation. Maptech's Chart Navigator Training CD includes software and digital charts to gain familiarity with this exciting new technology.  

Many of today’s recreational boaters utilize GPS receivers and perform electronic, waypoint navigation which is great.  This basic course teaches the use of charts as a foundation and building block toward use of GPS.  

       America ’s Boating Course (ABC) is a joint effort between the United States Power Squadrons and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  This course is predominantly a home study course for individuals who cannot attend an USCGAux or the USPS Squadron Boating Course.  ABC includes an interactive computer CD-ROM which serves as a "virtual" instructor with audio and video clips.  The CD runs on PCs using MS Windows 95 or greater. The CD may also run on Macintosh versions prior to OS X if a manual installation is used, but the CD is unsupported under OS X.  Most states recognize ABC as meeting their education requirements.  The course material covers seven chapters, which touch on:

• General information about boats and maintenance
• Information to make your boating experience safer and more comfortable
• Tips on being a more courteous boat operator
• Laws and regulations to which you must adhere

The purpose of America's Boating Course is to teach introductory safe boating techniques.  As an introductory course, ABC does not cover such topics as the use of a nautical compass or the techniques of plotting.  These subjects, and more, are covered in Advanced Grade and Elective USPS courses

If you elect to take ABC, a qualified, enthusiastic, and experienced VBSPS instructor will provide you with support as a civic service.  He or she will provide state specific information you will be expected to know.  Once you have mastered the ABC course material and the state rules and regulations, that same instructor will make arrangements for you to take a proctored exam, thus completing the course.  

Although Virginia allows online testing, many other states do not.  If you ever intend to operate your boat or PWC in another state that requires proof of boater education, you should consider taking the proctored exam or a classroom course (all states accept a classroom course certificate).  Also, Virginia ’s new boating education law addresses a proctored exam requirement when implemented in 2008.  Find the new Virginia Law by following the News Bulletins link on this site.

While the content of the ABC student manual serves as the basis for this course, it will also serve as a reference book in basic boating long after the course work is completed.  We believe that the more educated a boater becomes, the more likely that boater will be a safe boater. 

Please contact our Squadron Education Officer, Lt/C Bill Schwieder at education@vbsps.org.