Assessment Invigilation and Commercial Endorsements

We are regularly asked by students for information about assessment invigilation and commercial endorsements, so we put together a question-and-answer page to help you demystify the requirements.
To ensure that our information remains current and completely up to date, we communicate regularly with the RYA and are compliant with their requirements. We cannot guarantee that other online providers do the same, so please do check directly with the RYA if you are unsure.


What is a Commercial Endorsement, do I need one and how do it arrange it?

A commercial endorsement will be required if you intend to work onboard British flagged vessels which are subject to the MCA's codes of practice for small commercial vessels.
A number of additional training courses and medical fitness certificates are required to be eligible for a commercial endorsement.
For further information and to check which certificates may be commercially endorsed, Please use the following link to the RYA website where the information appears in full:
RYA commercial endorsements


What is assessment invigilation and who can conduct it?

In some cases, it is necessary to arrange for an RYA Instructor to be present throughout the assessment to verify that you haven't received any outside assistance. This may be an RYA Instructor of any level. However, to ensure legitimacy we do take care to verify their credentials and will require sight of their qualification for our records.


When is invigilation required, do I really need it?

In most cases, invigilation of the final theory assessment is not necessary and is completely optional. We have summarised this for you below but if you are unsure, please ask.


Invigilation is not required:

If you are going to be using the qualification for leisure purposes (flotilla, charter, own boat cruising etc).

• If you wish to qualify as a RYA Cruising Instructor or an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor.

Invigilation will be required:

If you wish to enter MCA large yacht qualifications such as Officer of the Watch or Master 3000 all of your theory assessments must be invigilated


If you intend to use your RYA Day Skipper Certificate of Competence for commercial purposes, you will require a professional endorsement to a Day Skipper Certificate of Competence and this must be backed up by a Day Skipper shorebased theory qualification (online or in a classroom) which has been invigilated.

If you are taking the Ocean Yachtmaster oral examination, the invigilation of the shorebased assessment is optional. However, if you choose not to have your assessment invigilated, the Examiner may ask you to complete a further theory paper during your oral examination.


How can invigilation be arranged?

• We can assist you with this or you may prefer to make your own arrangements independently.
• If you would like us to help, we will not make any additional charges for this service. However, at their discretion, the chosen RYA recognised Training Centre may wish to charge a fee to cover their instructors time.
• If you would like us to assist, we will require details of your preferred location for where the assessment may be completed. This doesn't need to be in the UK as we work with many RYA recognised Training Centres throughout the world. Once we have identified a suitable Centre, we will be able to put you in touch with each other to confirm a date and time of mutual convenience directly.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch and we will be happy to help.