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This guide covers why invigilation matters, when you need it, and how to arrange it if you study online. It applies to RYA Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore, and Yachtmaster Ocean shorebased courses. Classroom courses include invigilation by default, since you sit assessments in the training centre.
Quick answers
Most online students do not need invigilation.
You do need invigilation for some commercial endorsement routes, professional roles, or specific employer requirements. See details below.
Classroom shorebased courses should include invigilation by default, but it’s always worth checking beforehand.
An invigilated exam is supervised at an RYA Recognised Training Centre, or under an agreed remote procedure that your provider arranges with a centre. You sit the assessment under exam rules, show ID, and use only permitted materials.
Which theory courses have an invigilated path
Day Skipper Shorebased with optional invigilation when required.
Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased with optional invigilation when required.
Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased with optional invigilation; required if you want written-exam exemption at the oral.
Essential Navigation and Seamanship is assessed within the course; no separate invigilated path is available. The SRC (VHF) Certificate uses a separate in-person practical exam at an RYA centre.
Online course or classroom
Classroom shorebased: you attend the centre; the instructor supervises assessments; invigilation is included by default.
Online or distance learning: you study at home; ask your provider to arrange an invigilated exam if you need one; you sit it at their centre or via an agreed remote process.
Obtain an International Certificate of Competence (ICC).
Most online students sit their final exams at home or in a quiet place of their choice, with no formal invigilation.
You do need invigilated exams in order to:
Obtain a Commercial Endorsement to a Day Skipper Certificate of Competence.
What it allows: Skipper MCA-coded small commercial vessels carrying up to 12 passengers.
Required for endorsement: Day Skipper shorebased exams invigilated at an RYA training centre.
Where you can operate: Set by vessel coding, not the exam provider.
Category 6, up to 3 miles from a nominated departure point, favourable weather and daylight.
Category 5, up to 20 miles from a nominated departure point, favourable weather and daylight.
What to do next: Check with your employer or operator which category they require.
Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory Invigilation
You do not need invigilated exams in order to:
Skipper vessels up to 200 registered tonnes.
Attain a Commercial Endorsement to a Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore Certificate of Competence.
Qualify as an RYA Cruising Instructor or Yachtmaster Instructor.
Most online students sit their final exams at home or in a quiet place of their choice, with no formal invigilation.
You do need invigilated exams in order to:
Use the Yachtmaster Shorebased Course Completion Certificate as entry into MCA large yacht qualifications such as OOW 3000 or Master 200 certification route.
For the MCA to accept your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased qualification as collateral for MCA large yacht qualifications your exams must be invigilated by an RYA Instructor.
Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Invigilation
You do not need invigilated exams in order to:
Invigilation is not required if you are taking the course for your own personal interest and simply intend to use the knowledge gained for leisure sailing.
Most online students sit their final exams at home or in a quiet place of their choice, with no formal invigilation.
You do need invigilated exams in order to:
Invigilation by an RYA Instructor is required if you intend to use this course as a pre-requisite for the RYA/MCA Ocean Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence Exam, or MCA Master 200 (unlimited) Certificate of Competence.
How to arrange invigilation if you study online
Step 1:
Tell your course provider you need an invigilated exam.
Step 2:
Choose a venue and date. Use our Directory to find local training centres, then contact us to coordinate.
Step 3:
Expect a fee. The host centre sets it. Prices vary by partner and location.
Step 4:
Bring ID and permitted materials. Your invigilator will confirm the list.
Step 5:
Sit the exam under supervision. Papers go back to your provider for marking and certification.
Day Skipper uses two written papers, typically 90 minutes each.
Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore uses either three longer papers or four shorter papers, depending on the centre.
Yachtmaster Ocean offers a written-exam exemption only if your Ocean shorebased final exam was invigilated; otherwise you sit a written paper at the oral exam.
Accessibility
Ask for adjustments when you book. Centres and providers can agree reasonable accommodations in advance.
International students
You can arrange invigilation with an RYA centre outside the UK. Use our Directory to find a local training centre, then contact us to coordinate dates and exam format.
FAQs about our exam invigilation
Most students do not. You only need invigilation if you want a commercial endorsement or your employer requires it. The standard online assessments are included and marked by an instructor.
Yes. We can invigilate at our own assessment centre or arrange a session with a partner centre. Availability varies by location. Let us know and we’ll arrange it for you.
You will sit two papers, 90 minutes each. Bring photo ID. You may use a 2B pencil, eraser, Portland plotter, dividers, a non-programmable calculator, the RYA Training Almanac, RYA Charts 3 and 4, and scrap paper.
Fees apply for invigilated exams and vary by partner or venue. We will confirm the price before you book.
Please contact us before you enrol so we can confirm the best option, dates, and costs for you.
Yes. You can take the standard online assessments now and book an invigilated exam later if you need one for commercial endorsement.
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Most students do not. You only need invigilation if you want a commercial endorsement or your employer requires it. The standard online assessments are included and marked by an instructor.
Yes. We can invigilate at our own assessment centre or arrange a session with a partner centre. Availability varies by location. Let us know and we’ll arrange it for you.
You will sit two papers, 90 minutes each. Bring photo ID. You may use a 2B pencil, eraser, Portland plotter, dividers, a non-programmable calculator, the RYA Training Almanac, RYA Charts 3 and 4, and scrap paper.
Yes, we do! If you want to sign up with more than one person, you get a 10% discount on the total enrollment cost.
Each student requires a login, so to get the multi-person discount, add the course to your basket, then add the additional person by selecting the ‘Additional Enrollment’ option. This will automatically discount the total course price in your basket and generate a voucher code for the extra person (or people) to enrol themselves.
After completing the online RYAMarine Radio SRC course, choose an available assessment slot with us or another RYA Recognised Training Centre. We offer scheduled assessment days and can arrange an individual appointment when the published dates are not suitable.
You must be at least 16 on the day of the exam and bring acceptable evidence of course completion or another qualifying radio certificate. You will also need the paperwork requested by the RYA, including a passport-sized photograph.
The RYA exam fee is currently £76 and is separate from any assessment-centre booking charge. Pay the RYA fee before the assessment and bring the resulting application paperwork with you. The official RYA SRC course and exam page has the latest eligibility, payment and document requirements.
Our instructor support is available from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week, using any channel you choose. From Email to WhatsApp to Messenger, you can get help on whatever channel works for you. We’ll even schedule a call if that’s how you want to chat with us.
We love talking with people! Call us on +44 23 8000 0270Send us an email, we are here to help you 7-days a week. [email protected]Send us a text; we are here to help you 7 days a week. +44 23 8000 0270Send us a WhatsApp; we are here to help you 7 days a week. +44 23 8000 0270Instagram Messaging: we are here to help you 7 days a week. @mysailingcourseFacebook Messenger: we are here to help you 7 days a week. @mysailingcourseBook a video call to chat through your options.
Everything is logged in your briefing room, so you can go back, ask for more details and track all your conversations with an instructor.
If you are unsatisfied with the course and want a refund, you must initiate a return process. Your course pack needs to be returned to us, complete and intact. We cannot offer a full refund for items returned damaged or missing, and replacement charges may be deducted from the course price to reflect this.
To start a return and refund process, go to your account and tap on ‘refund’. You will be issued a refund number and returns label that covers the cost of sending the course pack back to us.
Once your course pack is received, we will refund the card you placed the order with. It can take 5 & 7 days for the refund to appear on your statement. This is in the hands of the card issuer, and we cannot control this. We cannot process refunds to other cards or by other means for security reasons.
How does the RYA Marine Radio SRC examination work?
The SRC exam must be completed in person at an RYA Recognised Training Centre. An independent examiner assesses both your practical use of a marine VHF radio and your knowledge in a written theory paper; the exam cannot be completed entirely online.
You must be at least 16 on the examination day and provide acceptable evidence of completing an RYA SRC course, an RYA Restricted VHF certificate, or a suitable aviation radio operator certificate. Online-course students should bring their course-completion evidence, the required application paperwork and a passport-sized photograph.
The current RYA exam fee is £76. It is paid to the RYA and is separate from any fee charged by the training centre for hosting or facilitating the assessment. Check the official RYA SRC exam page before booking because fees and administrative requirements can change.
How long is the Day Skipper theory certificate valid?
The Day Skipper theory certificate is valid for life. However, like many things, brushing up and learning new skills is continuous. Anyone who thinks they’ve completed their learning is probably not best suited to skipper a boat!
The Day Skipper theory course involves a minimum of 40 hours of teaching and two assessment papers, each lasting 1½ hours.
You can complete the online course at your own pace. Everything is stored, so you can take a break and return anytime. There isn’t a time limit, and you get 12 months of instructor support spread over any timeframe you like.
However long it takes you to complete the course, you will retain access to the content, which will allow you to revise before your practical course.
The RYA First Aid Course is one day and covers all the usual first aid subjects, but it is from a boating perspective. It is aimed at anyone who goes afloat, whether on motor cruisers, sailing yachts, powerboats, RIBs or canoes.
I’ve started the Sailing Essentials course. Will I have to redo the sessions?
No! Any progress in Sailing Essentials is migrated to your Day Skipper progress, so you won’t have to do it again.
Most students ask for help when doing the navigation modules, so your 12-month instructor support time only starts once you start the ‘How to read the map!’ module of the Day Skipper theory course.
What are the terms and conditions for course vouchers?
Course vouchers and gift cards issued by My Sailing Course can be used to pay in full or in part for eligible courses, services or products in our online store. The main conditions are:
Vouchers are valid for 12 months from the purchase date and must be redeemed before the expiry date shown.
Digital vouchers are issued automatically after purchase. A voucher sent to somebody else is emailed to the address supplied at checkout. Posted course vouchers are normally issued within 48 hours and sent using a tracked Royal Mail service.
Redeem the voucher online using its unique code, or contact us if you would like help redeeming it against a My Sailing Course course.
A voucher becomes void once it has been redeemed. Voucher codes are not tied to an email address, so the purchaser is responsible for sharing the code with the intended recipient.
Vouchers are non-refundable except during the statutory 14-day cancellation period. They cannot be exchanged for cash, and no change or credit is given when the voucher value is higher than the purchase total.
Lost, stolen or destroyed vouchers cannot be replaced or refunded.
The course includes everything you need to earn the Day Skipper theory certificate successfully. The only thing you need to provide is your time.
Course pack
You’ll receive a course pack (dispatched the same day if ordered before 3 p.m. on weekdays) that contains everything you need to complete the course.
Instructor support
You’ll get 12 months of unlimited support from RYA-qualified instructors 365 days a year, all managed using your briefing room.
Course content
You’ll have immediate, lifetime access to over 50 hours of engaging, interactive teaching content, including practice exercises that provide debriefings and support.
Social group
You’ll have immediate access to the Day Skipper social group, where you can meet and connect with like-minded people at the same stage of their journey as you.
Downloadable & support content
You’ll have access to our downloadable & support content. We have over 50 supplementary downloads to help you learn the topics and techniques.
See the ‘What’s included?’ tab on the Day Skipper theory enrolment page for more details.
Our scheduled SRC assessment appointments are booked in three-hour slots, with no more than three candidates in each slot. The appointment normally follows this order:
Check-in and review of your course-completion evidence, application paperwork and photograph.
Time to familiarise yourself with the training radios used for the assessment.
A practical assessment in which the examiner asks you to demonstrate marine-radio scenarios.
A short written theory paper. Our current assessment schedule allows 30 minutes for this multiple-choice paper.
Completion of the administration needed for the RYA to process your certificate.
The RYA confirms that the SRC exam contains both a written theory paper and a practical assessment. See the official SRC exam information for current eligibility and payment requirements.
After passing, you’ll receive a valid RYA First Aid Certificate for three years.
Additionally, RYA First Aid satisfies the prerequisites for qualified small craft skippers operating within 60 nautical miles of a safe haven, including Boatmasters, as well as the requirements for the Senior First Aid certificate required of offshore racers subject to ISAF’s first aid training regulations (OSR 4.08.4).
What is included in the free Sailing Essentials course?
Sailing Essentials is our free introductory course. Its bite-sized modules cover seamanship and nautical terminology, safety equipment and procedures, basic meteorology, collision regulations and protecting the marine environment.
The material introduces subjects that also form part of the RYA Day Skipper Theory syllabus. You can work through it at your own pace on a phone, tablet or computer, although a larger screen is helpful when studying detailed material.
If you later enrol on our Day Skipper Theorycourse, your completed Sailing Essentials sessions are carried into your Day Skipper progress, so you do not need to repeat them.
What is included with the RYA Day Skipper Theory course?
The Day Skipper Theory course includes the learning, equipment and support needed to work through the syllabus and complete the standard assessments.
Immediate lifetime access to approximately 40 hours of interactive course content and resources.
A course pack containing two Admiralty training charts, RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Notes, the RYA exercises and course-information booklet, an RYA Training Almanac, two 2B pencils, a soft rubber, a Portland plotter, dividers and rope for knot practice.
Twelve months of instructor support, available through your Briefing Room and supported communication channels.
More than 50 downloadable learning resources and access to the Day Skipper learner community.
The standard online assessments, an instructor debrief and a course-completion certificate. An invigilated exam can be arranged separately when required for commercial endorsement or by an employer; additional fees apply.
A 14-day money-back guarantee, subject to returning the course pack.
Orders placed before 3pm are scheduled for same-day dispatch. The RYA describes Day Skipper Theory as 40 hours plus exam time. See the official RYA course information.
What is included with the RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course?
Your Essential Navigation and Seamanship enrolment includes the online course, the materials needed for the exercises and support from My Sailing Course.
Access to the RYA Interactive course and its exercises.
A course pack containing two Admiralty training charts, the RYA exercise and course-information booklet, an RYA Training Almanac, two 2B chartwork pencils, a soft rubber, a Portland plotter and dividers.
Access to our free Sailing Essentials course and more than 50 supporting downloads.
Twelve months of instructor support through your Briefing Room, with the option to extend support later while retaining access to the course content.
A 14-day money-back guarantee, subject to returning the course pack.
Orders placed before 3pm are scheduled for same-day dispatch. The RYA also confirms that the official course pack includes a chart, plotter, dividers, course handbook and exercises. See the official RYA course information.
Day Skipper theory is an RYA shore-based qualification and the required level of navigational & sailing theory for anyone intending to take the Day Skipper Practical course. It provides an excellent foundation and platform for learning how to put out to sea safely.
What should I know about the RYA First Aid course?
The RYA First Aid course is a one-day, classroom-based course designed for people who go afloat. No previous experience or minimum age is required.
It covers first aid from a boating perspective, including CPR and the drowning protocol, bleeding, head injuries, cold-water shock, hypothermia, seasickness, dehydration and casualty evacuation.
You will also learn how to request medical advice or assistance by VHF and how to prepare for a helicopter rescue.
The course is MCA approved and meets the first-aid requirements for RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster and Advanced Powerboat certificates of competence, as well as some commercial work afloat.
Everyone attending an RYA First Aidcourse receives the RYA First Aid Book.
What should I know about the RYA Marine Radio SRC course?
The RYA Marine Radio Short Range Certificate course prepares you to operate fixed or handheld marine VHF and Digital Selective Calling equipment correctly. The course takes around 10 hours plus exam time and can be studied online or in a classroom, but the final exam takes place in person at an RYA Recognised Training Centre.
Course subjects include basic radio operation, channels and frequencies, radio rules and procedures, Digital Selective Calling, the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, and distress, urgency, safety and medical-assistance calls.
No previous experience is required for the training course. You must be at least 16 on the day of the SRC exam.
After completing the online learning, you will receive evidence of completion that you must present when taking the exam.
The SRC is the minimum qualification required to operate marine VHF radio equipment on a voluntarily fitted UK-flagged vessel. See the official RYA course and exam information.
The RYA course develops navigation knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical examinations. It involves 40 hours of learning plus exam time, and assumes knowledge to Day Skipper Shorebased level. Topics include advanced position fixing, course shaping and plotting, tidal knowledge, almanacs and publications, electronic position finding and weather interpretation. See the official RYA course description for the current requirements.
Our scheduled SRC assessments take place in central Guildford, at the lower end of Guildford High Street. The venue is approximately a five-minute walk from Guildford railway station, with parking and tea and coffee available.
You can also take the exam at another RYA Recognised Training Centre if that is more convenient. The RYA requires the practical assessment to take place at a recognised centre; it cannot be completed entirely online. Use the RYA course finder to check other centres and confirm their dates directly with them.
Who is the RYA Day Skipper Theory course for, and what does it cover?
RYA Day Skipper Theory is designed for prospective skippers and inexperienced crew who want the knowledge needed to make safe decisions aboard a small vessel in familiar waters. It is also valuable preparation for an RYA Day Skipper practical course. Some practical experience is helpful, but it is not required and the RYA sets no minimum age.
The course involves about 40 hours of learning plus assessment time. It covers seamanship, coastal navigation and pilotage, chartwork, electronic navigation, position fixing, course-to-steer calculations, weather and meteorology, tides, passage planning and collision regulations.
Our online course uses short, interactive sessions and includes the two theory assessment papers. See the official RYA Day Skipper Theory course page for the current syllabus.
Who is the RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course for?
The RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course is an introduction to navigation and safety awareness for new or inexperienced skippers and crew, as well as people returning to boating who want to refresh their knowledge. It is relevant to sailing, motor boating, sea angling and diving, and complements practical training such as Powerboat Level 2 or Competent Crew.
The online course takes approximately 8–10 hours. There is no required previous experience or minimum age. Subjects include charts and publications, safety, engine checks, buoyage, tides, visual and electronic navigation, pilotage, collision regulations, anchoring, weather forecasts and passage planning.
We’ve taught the RYA Yachtmaster scheme in classrooms for over ten years, earning consistent 5-star reviews. We’ve poured that experience into our online course — it’s as close to the classroom as you can get online.
To pass, you have to finish the course!
It’s easy to say online provides ‘flexibility’ and ‘you can do it in your own time’, but it’s harder to construct engaging course content to overcome specific digital learning challenges and keep students motivated. Through thorough testing, using our classroom students as guinea pigs*, we have structured a course to support how you learn online, building confidence in each topic, tool and skill at every stage.
* No students were harmed in the testing of our content!
Content designed to provide support at every stage
We questioned why the other providers put so much emphasis on their instructor support. Our view is simple: the better the content, the less support a student should need. We are here to support you at every step of your journey but have fed ten years and hundreds of students’ worth of understanding into building content that teaches, supports, reaffirms and checks the knowledge of a topic, tool or technique. And, above all, fun!
Everything you need is included – no hidden ‘extras’
We are the only provider that has no hidden extras. Everything you need to complete and pass the course is included.
No hidden extras Everything you need to complete the course is included.
No course extension fees Once you sign up, you control when your instructor support starts and can pause it (in fact, if we don’t see you for a while, we’ll pause it automatically so you don’t accidentally run out of time).
Lifetime access You retain access to the content for as long as you need it. You can use it for revision, particularly useful before taking the practical course or perhaps before you embark on that charter holiday.
You are no longer nine minutes from an ambulance or a professional paramedic at sea.
The course allows you to learn what to do if an accident occurs on a small vessel or in the maritime environment and how to stabilise the situation before calling for help from the SAR Services with this comprehensive training course. Anybody who spends time on the water will benefit greatly from this RYA First Aid course. A validated First Aid certification is also a pre-requisite for individuals taking Yachtmaster and Coastal and Yachtmaster offshore exams or wishing to obtain their instructor qualifications of commercial endorsements.
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