The International Certificate of Competence (I.C.C.) is often referred to as the Mediterranean Boat Licence. Motorboats and sailing yachts are all required to have this, even for privately owned vessels. To be assessed for an I.C.C. or join an RYA Day Skipper Practical Course your navigation and passage planning must be at the Day Skipper level or higher. Most countries also require you to have your VHF Radio licence.

The next step from the I.C.C. or RYA Day Skipper qualification is the  RYA Coastal Skipper, RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualifications. The The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory Course provides the advanced navigation, passage making and meteorological training to achieve these internationally recognised qualifications. The Yachtmaster Qualification is the most widely respected boating qualification for recreational and commercial skippers globally.