Argentina
- Who issues it
- Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA) [Argentine Naval Prefecture]; nautical sports federations may also issue specified categories, subject to PNA registration.
- Minimum age
- 16 years
- Buoyage
- IALA region B
- Collision rules
- Reglamento Internacional para Prevenir los Abordajes en el Mar (RIPA)
Do you need a licence?
Yes, a licence is normally required.
You don't need one for:
- a motorboat up to 5 metres and 10 HP, or its electric equivalent, by day within 2 nautical miles of a port, marina, shelter or where you set off
- a sailboat up to 6 metres by day within 2 nautical miles of a port, marina, shelter or where you set off
PNA may vary the distance. For an exemption you must be 18 or have parental consent; Conductor and Timonel licences start at 18, or over 16 with parental consent.
Conductor Náutico · Recreational motorboat operator
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You can run motorboats up to 10 metres and 150 HP, plus jet skis of any power. It covers lakes and rivers, the Río de la Plata limits, and elsewhere up to 5 nautical miles from departure in fair weather, subject to local limits.
- How you get it
- You take theory and practical examinations for the boat category.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Timonel de Yate a Motor · Motor yacht helmsman
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You can run motorboats up to 20 metres at any power on inland waters and on the Río de la Plata west of Atalaya–Rosario. Elsewhere, you can go up to 10 nautical miles from your departure port, or the local limit.
- How you get it
- You take theory and practical examinations for the propulsion category.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Timonel de Yate a Vela y Motor · Sail and motor yacht helmsman
From 16- What it lets you do
- You can run sail or motor boats up to 20 metres at any power on inland waters and on the Río de la Plata west of Atalaya–Rosario. Elsewhere, you can go up to 10 nautical miles from your departure port, or the local limit.
- How you get it
- You take theory and practical examinations for the propulsion category.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Patrón de Yate a Motor · Motor yacht skipper
From 18
- What it lets you do
- You can run motor yachts of any length and power on inland waters and throughout the Río de la Plata. At sea, you must stay within sight of land or up to 30 nautical miles offshore.
- How you get it
- You take a theory examination.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Patrón de Yate a Vela y Motor · Sail and motor yacht skipper
From 18- What it lets you do
- You can run sail or motor yachts of any length and power on inland waters and throughout the Río de la Plata. At sea, you must stay within sight of land or up to 30 nautical miles offshore.
- How you get it
- You take a theory examination.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Piloto de Yate a Motor · Motor yacht ocean skipper
From 18- What it lets you do
- You can run motor yachts with no length, power or offshore-distance limit.
- How you get it
- You need to pass the course at Centro de Extensión Universitaria en Náutica Deportiva y Recreativa (CEUN) and receive its approval certificate.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Piloto de Yate a Vela y Motor · Sail and motor yacht ocean skipper
From 18- What it lets you do
- You can run sail or motor yachts with no length, power or offshore-distance limit.
- How you get it
- You need to pass the course at Centro de Extensión Universitaria en Náutica Deportiva y Recreativa (CEUN) and receive its approval certificate.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Professional deck titles
Marinero de Puente
STCW II/4- What it lets you do
- Deck rating forming part of a navigational watch.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Marinero de Primera de Puente
STCW II/5- What it lets you do
- Able seafarer in the deck department of seagoing ships.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Piloto de Ultramar
STCW II/1- What it lets you do
- Navigational watch officer; higher duties require a máximo de cargo endorsement.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Piloto de Ultramar de Primera
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- Chief mate; command privileges require a máximo de cargo endorsement.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Capitán de Ultramar
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- Master of seagoing merchant ships.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio certificates
Certificado de Operador Radiotelefonista Restringido VHF
- What it lets you do
- Restricted VHF voice-radio certificate for stations outside GMDSS.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificado de Operador Radiotelefonista Restringido
- What it lets you do
- Restricted voice-radio certificate for stations outside GMDSS.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificado de Operador Radiotelefonista General
- What it lets you do
- General voice-radio certificate for stations outside GMDSS.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificado Especial de Radiotelegrafista
- What it lets you do
- Special radiotelegraph certificate for stations outside GMDSS.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificado de Operador Radiotelegrafista de Segunda Clase
- What it lets you do
- Second-class radiotelegraph operator certificate for stations outside GMDSS.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificado de Operador Radiotelegrafista de Primera Clase
- What it lets you do
- First-class radiotelegraph operator certificate for stations outside GMDSS.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificado General de Operador de Radiocomunicaciones
- What it lets you do
- General radiocommunications operator certificate for stations outside GMDSS.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificado de Operador Restringido
ROC- What it lets you do
- Restricted operator certificate for GMDSS stations.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificado de Operador General
GOC- What it lets you do
- General operator certificate for GMDSS stations.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificado de Operador Radioelectrónico de Segunda Clase
- What it lets you do
- Second-class radioelectronic operator certificate for GMDSS stations.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificado de Operador Radioelectrónico de Primera Clase
- What it lets you do
- First-class radioelectronic operator certificate for GMDSS stations.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Ready to study for it?
The Academy is free with an account: lessons for every topic, timed mocks marked like the real exam, and your progress saved.
Official sources: Poder Ejecutivo Nacional — Decreto 37/2025, REGINAVE annex, sections 301.0102 and 401.0401–401.0413 · Prefectura Naval Argentina — Obtener el certificado de Piloto de yate · Prefectura Naval Argentina — Obtener el certificado de Patrón de Yate · Agencia Nacional de Puertos y Navegación — Resolución 35/2026, seafarer titles and certificates · Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones — Categorías de certificados · Agencia Nacional de Puertos y Navegación — Balizamiento