Maritime Exams by Country
Each country applies its own rules around selected shared study topics such as COLREG 1972 and IALA buoyage. We add country-specific context and limits. Pick your exam:
Spain
PER (Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo) — Spain
The PER is a Spanish recreational qualification for motorboats up to 15 m and within 12 nautical miles of the coast. Sailing requires complementary sailing training. Titles are issued by the DGMM or the competent autonomous-community authority.
PNB (Patrón para Navegación Básica) — Spain
PNB is a Spanish recreational qualification for motorboats up to 8 m, within 5 nautical miles of a port, marina or place of shelter, by day or night. Sailing requires 16 hours of complementary sailing practice.
Patrón de Yate — Spain
Patrón de Yate is a Spanish recreational qualification for motorboats up to 24 m and up to 150 nautical miles from the coast. Sailing requires the complementary sailing attribution.
Capitán de Yate — Spain
Capitán de Yate is Spain's highest recreational qualification: motorboats up to 24 m with no distance limit. Sailing requires the complementary sailing attribution.
United Kingdom
RYA Day Skipper — UK
The RYA Day Skipper pathway combines shorebased knowledge with practical training to skipper a small yacht by day in familiar waters.
RYA Yachtmaster — UK
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore are certificates of competence assessed through practical examinations with separate experience requirements.
United States
Europe
International
STCW II/1 — Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch
STCW II/1 sets IMO's mandatory minimum standards for flag-State certification of officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 GT or more.
MARINA deck officer — Philippines COLREG reviewer
This MARINA COLREG reviewer helps you revise collision avoidance for deck officer study in the Philippines, with free lessons and unofficial practice.
Second Mate (FG) — India COLREG study and oral practice
Prepare your Second Mate rules-of-the-road explanations by linking each COLREG rule to the encounter, vessel lights and sound signals you observe.
Timed practice exams
Test yourself on one subject against the clock. These are practice papers from this site, not an official exam.
- COLREG rules30 questions · 25 min · 80% to pass
- COLREG Lights & Shapes30 questions · 25 min · 80% to pass
- COLREG Sound Signals30 questions · 25 min · 80% to pass
- IALA buoyage30 questions · 25 min · 80% to pass
- GMDSS30 questions · 25 min · 80% to pass
- Signal flags (ICS)30 questions · 25 min · 80% to pass
- Knots and ropework20 questions · 15 min · 80% to pass
Which maritime exam do you actually need?
Maritime qualification requirements depend on the country, waters and intended use. This site covers selected study topics, including COLREG and IALA buoyage; check your authority’s full syllabus and practical requirements.
Below, exams are grouped by region and authority. Click any exam for the syllabus breakdown, sample questions, and the topic pages on this site you should drill before sitting.
If you cannot find your country, compare its authority and operating area with the ICC, RYA or USCG routes; none is a universal substitute and eligibility and acceptance depend on the issuing and destination authorities.
For Spanish-speaking readers, the comparison page PER vs PNB explains the two entry-tier Spanish licences. For US-bound candidates, the COLREG vs US Inland Rules page covers the exam-trap differences between international and Inland rule sets.