Main Menu
Professional Instructor Training
IYT’s professional courses are delivered by experienced yachtsmen and women with years of industry expertise. If you have the skills and background to teach, you can apply to become a certified IYT Professional Instructor.
How to Apply
- Complete the online application form and upload the required documents.
- IYT will review your qualifications and determine the level you may instruct.
Important: All instructors must be associated with an IYT partner school. Freelance instruction is not permitted.
Teaching Language Requirements
- Master of Yachts courses: Must be taught and examined in English (required by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency).
- Other professional courses: May be taught in any language.
Instructor Certification & Membership
Approved instructors receive:
- An IYT Professional Instructor Certificate (valid for 5 years).
- An Official Instructor Membership Letter (renewed annually), listing approved courses.
Membership must remain current to teach and to order student certificates. Course approvals are also listed in each instructor’s online account.
Instructor Responsibility
Becoming an IYT instructor carries significant responsibility. Certifying a student confirms that, on that specific day, they demonstrated the skills required to safely command a yacht and met the IYT standard of competence.
This process is similar to licensing in aviation or driving: certification is based on performance during the examination, not future assumptions of ability.
Instructors must:
- Document their evaluation of each student.
- Be prepared to fail candidates who do not meet standards.
- Avoid certifying students who are not competent, as this may create liability issues.
Legal Considerations
In the event of an accident, instructors may be called upon in court to provide records proving that the student met certification standards at the time of testing.
IYT has direct experience with this: a Master of Yachts 200 Ton candidate, certified in Fort Lauderdale, was later involved in an accident. Though not at fault, the instructor’s documentation was required to prove competence.
This underscores why accurate evaluation and record-keeping are critical for every instructor.
Ready to apply?