How to Become an ASA Sailing Instructor?

If you want to become an ASA Certified Sailing Instructor, you must earn Instructor Certification for any ASA Certification level you want to teach. ASA student level classes include ASA101, ASA102, ASA103, etc.  The instructor level certifications are similar, but they all begin with a 2 such as ASA201, ASA202, ASA203, etc.

In order to gain ASA Instructor Certification, you must attend an ASA Instructor Qualification Clinic (IQC) at an ASA Affiliated Sailing School.  The ASA Affiliated Sailing School will have an ASA Certified Master Instructor who will evaluate your sailing knowledge and skills. 

Testing is rigorous with a written test similar in difficulty to the USCG exam.  There is also on the water evaluation of your sailing ability.  An ASA201 IQC takes 2 days, followed by one day each for ASA202, ASA203, if desired.

You do not need to have a USCG Merchant Mariner Credential to participate in an ASA IQC but, in order to teach ASA Certified Sailing Classes on an auxiliary sailboat, you must have a US Coast Guard issued Merchant Mariner Credential. (MMC).  The minimum MMC required is Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) commonly referred to as a “6-pack” or “Charter boat Captain’s License.

To see prices, IQC dates, and sign up for an IQC at Nockamixon Sailing School, please visit the Classes, Prices, Schedules, and Shop pages for ASA201, ASA202, and ASA203.

ASA201, ASA202, and ASA203 IQCs are conducted on a Catalina Keelboat with Outboard Engine and Tiller.

Higher level IQCs for ASA204, ASA205, ASA206, ASA207, ASA216, ASA217, ASA218 are available at our sister sailing school, Delmarva Sailing School.  Please visit the Becoming an ASA Sailing Instructor page at www.delmarvasailingschool.com to learn more.

All Instructor Qualification Clinics are run by Captain Michael Brown, ASA Master Instructor and USCG 50 Ton Ocean Master.