Please do not apply if you do not meet the following criteria. 

IYT’s Recreational Training programme is taught by highly qualified yachtsmen and women with years of experience.

If you have the required skills and experience and wish to instruct for an IYT partner school, we welcome reviewing your application to become a certified IYT Recreational Instructor. Simply complete the instructor application online providing the necessary documents. We will determine the level at which you can teach based on the information provided. We may ask that you undergo an instructor training course to ensure you are familiar with the IYT programme and teaching techniques.

Please note that all instructors must be associated with a school. We do not allow freelance instructors.

Recreational courses may be taught in any language.

Again, please note that all instructors must be associated with a school. We do not allow freelance instructors.

Instructors will receive an “IYT Recreational Certificate” and “Official Instructor Membership Letter” listing the courses they are approved to instruct. This list of courses is also available on the instructor’s IYT account profile. Instructor membership is annual and must be maintained in order to remain qualified to instruct and place orders for student certificates.

Instructor Approval General Guidelines

Instructor approval will be determined by evaluating each application on a case-by-case basis. However, the instructor:

  • Should hold a qualification at least a level above what they are requesting to be certified to instruct,
    • OR
  • Hold same level as requesting to instruct but have instruction experience on resume/CV.
  • Hold the same level as requesting to instruct and do an instructor training course with an approved IYT instructor training school.
  • Should be 18 years or older
  • As of August 10, 2023, a valid Basic First Aid Course completion certificate for all levels of Instructors that teach on water courses is required – does not have to be an STCW certificate for Recreational Instructors.
  • Meet the other course specific requirement listed below for each instructor level.

We accept qualifications from other sailing and boating organisations for instructor certification, but do so on a case-by-case basis. Examples: AMSA, RYA, Sail Canada, US Sailing.

Course Specific Guidelines


Dinghy Instructors

  • Hold qualifications as described above in “General Guidelines", however, we will evaluate these based on recommendation of school. 
  • Hold a valid Basic First Aid Course completion certificate – does not have to be an STCW certificate for Recreational Instructors. (as of August 10, 2023)

Personal Watercraft Operations Instructors

  • Hold qualifications as described above in “General Guidelines.”
  • Hold a valid Basic First Aid Course completion certificate – does not have to be an STCW certificate for Recreational Instructors. (as of August 10, 2023)

IYT Try Sailing Instructor

  • Hold Qualifications as described above in “General Guidelines”.
  • Hold the IYT Marine Communications VHF/SRC certificate or a national issued radio operators license.
  • Hold a valid Basic First Aid Course completion certificate – does not have to be an STCW certificate for Recreational Instructors. (as of August 10, 2023)

IYT Introductory Sailing Skills Instructor

  • Hold Qualifications as described above in “General Guidelines”.
  • Hold the IYT Marine Communications VHF/SRC certificate or a national issued radio operators license.
  • Hold a valid Basic First Aid Course completion certificate – does not have to be an STCW certificate for Recreational Instructors. (as of August 10, 2023

IYT Day Skipper / Crew – Sail Instructor

  • Hold Qualifications as described above in “General Guidelines”.
  • Hold the IYT Marine Communications VHF/SRC certificate or a national issued radio operators license.
  • Hold a valid Basic First Aid Course completion certificate – does not have to be an STCW certificate for Recreational Instructors. (as of August 10, 2023)

Learn to Sail / Introduction to Yachting

  • Hold Qualifications as described above in “General Guidelines.”
  • Hold the IYT Marine Communications VHF/SRC certificate or a national issued radio operators license.
  • Hold a valid Basic First Aid Course completion certificate – does not have to be an STCW certificate for Recreational Instructors. (as of August 10, 2023)

International Crew Instructor

  • Hold Qualifications as described above in "General Guidelines."
  • Hold the IYT Marine Communications VHF/SRC certificate or a national issued radio operators license.
  • Hold a valid Basic First Aid Course completion certificate – does not have to be an STCW certificate for Recreational Instructors. (as of August 10, 2023)

International Flotilla, International Bareboat Skipper and ICC <24 Metres Instructor

  • Hold Qualifications as described above in "General Guidelines."
  • Hold the IYT Marine Communications VHF/SRC certificate or a national issued radio operators license.
  • Have a current medical fitness certificate (including colour blind test) – within two years from date of issue by clinic/doctor.
  • Recommend holding STCW certifications – HOWEVER, at minimum must hold a recognised first aid certificate and sea survival course completion certificate
    • STCW certificates do not have to be in date as applicant may not be currently working in commercial marine industry.
  • Logged 1,500 nautical miles in power or sail vessels; a portion must be command experience.
    • Note that 1500 nm is an increased requirement from previously allowed 500 nm.  All applications submitted after April 1st, 2018 must show proof of 1500 nm

Yachtmaster Coastal Instructor

  • Hold qualifications as described above in “General Guidelines.”
  • Hold the IYT Marine Communications VHF or VHF/SRC certificate or a national issued radio operators license.
  • Have a current medical fitness certificate (including colour blind test) – within two years from date of issue by clinic/doctor.
  • Recommend holding STCW certifications – HOWEVER, at minimum must hold a recognised first aid certificate and sea survival course completion certificate.
    • STCW certificates do not have to be in date as applicant may not be currently working in commercial marine industry.
  • Logged 2,500 nautical miles in power or sail vessels; a portion must be command experience.

Yachtmaster Offshore Instructor

  • Hold qualifications as described above in “General Guidelines”
  • Hold the IYT Marine Communications VHF or VHF/SRC certificate or a national issued radio operators license.
  • Have a current medical fitness certificate (including colour blind test) – within two years from date of issue by clinic/doctor.
  • Recommend holding STCW certifications – HOWEVER, at minimum must hold a recognised first aid certificate and sea survival course completion certificate.
    • STCW certificates do not have to be in date as applicant may not be currently working in commercial marine industry.
  • Logged in excess of 3,500 nautical miles in power or sail vessels, a portion must be command experience.

Yachtmaster Ocean Instructor

  • Approval will be given based on the background and experience of ocean navigation of the applicant.

Small Powerboat and RIB Master Instructor

  • Hold qualifications as described above in “General Guidelines.”
  • Hold the IYT Marine Communications VHF or VHF/SRC certificate or a national issued radio operators license.
  • Hold a recognized first aid course completion certificate.
    • Note that this is an increased requirement.  All applications submitted after April 1st, 2018 must hold a recognized first aid course completion certificate.

Marine Communications VHF/SRC Instructor

  • Approval will be given based on the marine communications experience of the applicant.
Please complete the application online. The registration and application process will involve uploading the following so please have these on hand before beginning the application. If documents are not uploaded, we will be unable to process the application. If you have difficulty uploading documents, please contact us at support@iytworld.com.
  • Current photograph (passport style face shot in either jpg or png format). Please upload to your IYT Account ID/profile
  • Copy of government issued ID (passport or driver's license). Please upload to your IYT Account ID/profile
  • Copy of any relevant currently held instructor qualification.
  • Copy of any relevant nautical qualification(s).
  • Copy of proof of sea time.
  • CV (Curriculum Vitae) or resume of maritime experience (if applicable).
  • Copy of Mariners Medical Fitness form.

If you already have an IYT account ID, please login and complete the instructor application.

If you have not registered on our site, please register and complete the instructor application.


What does it cost to be an IYT Instructor

Please see this document for Instructor Membership & Certificate Prices as of April 1, 2017 instructor cert and membership-fees-2017-to publish.pdf  The cost is based on the range of courses covered and the depth of knowledge required.