SLC vs. ICC vs. IPC: What's the Difference?
The Summary
When chartering a yacht internationally, particularly in the Mediterranean, you will often need a recognized sailing license or certificate of competence. Three commonly discussed credentials are the SLC, ICC, and IPC, but there are important differences between them.
The SLC (Sailing License and Credentials) is issued by NauticEd and is internationally recognized by port authorities and yacht charter companies worldwide and in particular in the Mediterranean, where licenses are demanded. It is officially listed on the Ministry of Marine Transportation as an accepted qualification in Croatia and is available to qualified sailors of any nationality. Unlike credentials based primarily on course completion, the SLC requires documented sailing and skippering experience, completion of required online coursework, and a practical on-the-water assessment conducted by an authorized NauticEd instructor. NauticEd has a worldwide network of instructors and assessors.
The ICC (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft) is established under UN Resolution 40 and issued through organizations authorized by participating governments, such as the UK's Royal Yachting Association (RYA). The United States and Canada have not adopted Resolution 40, although their citizens may obtain an ICC through eligible foreign issuing organizations such as the RYA at an RYA training Facility.
The IPC (International Proficiency Certificate) is issued by US Sailing and American Sailing (formerly ASA). It is not the same as the ICC. Although accepted in some international charter destinations, the IPC does not necessarily establish sufficient real-world skippering experience. NauticEd is aware of cases where IPC holders have been refused charters because their sailing resumes lacked adequate experience.
Which Is Best for International Chartering?
NauticEd recommends the SLC because it combines verified sailing knowledge, demonstrated practical competency, and documented skippering experience. This provides greater assurance that the holder has the qualifications expected of an international bareboat charter skipper.
The SLC is available to experienced sailors worldwide, regardless of citizenship, and can generally be obtained without repeating extensive practical training if the sailor already possesses the required skills. Many times a one day assessment is sufficient - provided the skills are up to standard.
Read below for a detailed comparison of the SLC, ICC, and IPC, including their requirements, recognition, and how to obtain each credential.
Detailed Comparison of the SLC, ICC, and IPC
1. The SLC — Sailing License and Credentials
The SLC (Sailing License and Credentials) is an internationally accepted sailing credential issued by NauticEd. It is designed specifically to demonstrate that a sailor possesses the knowledge, practical skills, and real-world experience necessary to safely skipper a bareboat charter yacht. This ensures the charterer is not turned down due to an insufficient resume or experience.
NauticEd is a U.S. Coast Guard–recognized sailing and boating education organization with training and assessment programs aligned with applicable American National Standards and independently verified through the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).
International Recognition of the SLC
The SLC is recognized by many yacht charter companies and port authorities internationally, particularly in the Mediterranean.
For example, the Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure officially lists the NauticEd SLC among its accepted qualifications for operating recreational and bareboat charter yachts.
This is significant because Croatia requires skippers to possess a qualification recognized by its authorities. The SLC is specifically identified on the ministry's published list.
The SLC also has an established history of acceptance in other international sailing destinations. However, as with any sailing credential, sailors should confirm acceptance in the country where they intend to charter when discussing an upcoming charter with a qualified charter agent. (NauticEd Yacht Vacations division of NauticEd is a registered and qualified agency)
Who Can Obtain the SLC?
The SLC is available to qualified sailors of any nationality, anywhere in the world.
It is not restricted to citizens of the United States or Canada. Sailors from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Asia, and other regions may also qualify.
The principal requirement is that the sailor must satisfy NauticEd's qualification standards, including a practical on-the-water assessment conducted by an authorized NauticEd SLC instructor/assessor.
NauticEd has a worldwide network of instructors, including qualified SLC assessors in North America and internationally.
Sailors can locate a nearby instructor through the Sailing Schools and Instructors directory on the NauticEd website.
How Do You Obtain the SLC?
To qualify for the SLC, a sailor must satisfy three primary requirements:
1. Sailing Knowledge
Complete the required online courses and examinations in NauticEd's Bareboat Charter Master Bundle, including the SLC examination. These courses cover important areas such as sailing, navigation, safety, rules of the road, and bareboat charter operations.
2. Documented Sailing Experience
Record at least 50 qualifying days of sailing experience, including at least 25 days as master of the vessel, along with the applicable vessel-size and recent-experience requirements.NauticEd's electronic logbook allows sailors to document this experience and establish their sailing resume.
3. Practical On-the-Water Assessment
Successfully demonstrate the required sailing and skippering skills during an assessment conducted by an authorized NauticEd SLC instructor/assessor. The assessment generally takes approximately six hours and evaluates the sailor's ability to safely operate and command a sailing yacht.
Experienced Sailors Do Not Need to Repeat Extensive Training
One of the major advantages of the SLC is that experienced sailors do not necessarily need to attend a multiday practical training course.
If you already possess the required sailing skills and experience, you can complete the required online coursework and arrange a practical assessment to demonstrate your competency.
This provides an efficient pathway for experienced sailors who may have accumulated years of sailing experience but do not yet hold a formally recognized international sailing credential.
Once all requirements are satisfied, NauticEd can issue the SLC electronically.
For complete details, visit www.nauticed.org/SLC.
2. The ICC — International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft
The ICC (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft), historically known as the International Certificate of Competence, is a boating qualification associated with United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Resolution No. 40.
Under this framework, participating countries may authorize designated organizations to issue ICC certificates on their behalf.
For example, the United Kingdom has authorized the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) to issue ICC certificates under the authority of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Why Don't the United States and Canada Issue the ICC?
Neither the United States nor Canada has adopted Resolution 40. Consequently, these countries do not have a domestic government-authorized ICC issuing system under that resolution. However, this does not mean their citizens are prohibited from obtaining an ICC. Eligible American and Canadian sailors may obtain an ICC through an authorized organization in another country, such as the UK's RYA, provided they meet the relevant eligibility and competency requirements. But they must travel to an RYA training facility.
Is It Difficult to Obtain an ICC in North America?
Obtaining an ICC can be less convenient for sailors in North America because there are relatively few authorized RYA assessment locations. Depending on their existing qualifications, sailors may need to arrange a specific practical assessment or complete an approved training program.
For experienced sailors, the NauticEd SLC provides another pathway to obtaining an internationally accepted sailing credential, without necessarily traveling to an RYA assessment location.
Do You Specifically Need an ICC to Charter in the Mediterranean?
Not specifically an ICC. Although the ICC is widely recognized, it is not the only sailing qualification accepted in Mediterranean countries. Individual countries determine which licenses and certificates they recognize. Croatia, for example, officially recognizes the ICC in addition to the NauticEd SLC as well as other country boating licenses.
Therefore, sailors should check the specific requirements of their intended charter destination rather than assuming an ICC is universally required.
3. The IPC — International Proficiency Certificate
The IPC (International Proficiency Certificate) is issued by American sailing education organizations, including US Sailing and American Sailing (formerly ASA).
The IPC is not the ICC and is not issued under UN Resolution 40. It is intended to provide qualifying sailors with a certificate they can present when seeking to charter yachts internationally.
How Do You Obtain an IPC?
IPC eligibility is generally based on completing the prescribed certification requirements of the issuing organization.
For example, American Sailing uses its ASA 101, 103, and 104 certification pathway, while US Sailing uses corresponding certifications through Bareboat Cruising.
These qualifications demonstrate completion of the applicable sailing certification requirements. However, holding an IPC does not necessarily establish that the sailor has accumulated sufficient documented experience as skipper of a comparable yacht to qualify for an international bareboat charter.
Why Sailing Experience Matters
International charter companies frequently evaluate more than the sailing certificate or license itself. They may also examine the skipper's sailing resume to determine whether the sailor has sufficient experience to safely command the chartered yacht.
This can include total sailing experience, days spent as skipper, recent experience, and experience operating yachts of comparable size and type.
NauticEd is aware of actual instances in which IPC holders have been refused bareboat charters because their sailing resumes did not demonstrate sufficient skippering experience, despite possessing an IPC. In particular, American Sailing has been known to issue IPC's after "Zero to Hero" training programs where the candidate has spent 5 days only on a vessel. Yacht charter companies will turn down such a charterer to command one of their yachts. This illustrates why obtaining a sailing certificate and qualifying to skipper a bareboat charter are not necessarily the same thing.
Is the IPC Accepted Internationally?
The IPC is accepted in certain destinations and by certain charter operators, but acceptance is not universal and also dependent on the resume. Sailors should confirm both that their IPC is recognized at their destination and that their sailing experience satisfies the charter operator's requirements.
The important point is that possessing an IPC alone does not guarantee acceptance for an international bareboat charter.
How Is the NauticEd SLC Different?
The NauticEd SLC directly incorporates documented sailing experience into its qualification requirements.
Before NauticEd issues the SLC, the sailor must demonstrate knowledge, successfully complete the practical assessment, and satisfy the required sailing and skippering experience thresholds.
This helps ensure that an SLC holder has demonstrated more than the successful completion of a series of sailing courses. The credential reflects a combination of actual experience, verified knowledge, and practical competency.
4. Why NauticEd Recommends the SLC
NauticEd's educational philosophy is based on a simple principle:
Competence = Knowledge + Skills + Experience
We believe all three elements are essential for anyone intending to command a bareboat charter yacht.
Knowledge alone is not enough. A sailor must also be able to apply that knowledge practically and have sufficient real-world experience to make sound decisions when operating a yacht. The SLC was purposefully designed around this principle to ensure yacht charter companies were comfortable with the SLC.
Rather than issuing the credential solely upon completion of sailing courses, NauticEd verifies the student's practical competency and documented sailing experience before issuing the SLC. For experienced sailors, this provides an efficient qualification pathway without requiring them to repeat training they have already mastered.
For yacht charter companies, it provides a structured credential supported by defined knowledge, competency, and experience standards.
5. Avoiding Surprises at the Charter Base
Imagine arriving at a Mediterranean marina for a sailing vacation, only to discover that the charter company does not consider your qualifications sufficient to skipper the yacht. In some situations, the company may require you to hire a professional skipper or may decline to release the yacht. This can occur even when a sailor possesses a sailing certificate, particularly if their sailing resume lacks the experience required by the charter company.
NauticEd's SLC qualification process is designed to reduce this risk by requiring documented sailing and skippering experience before the credential is issued.
An Additional Advantage of Booking Through NauticEd Sailing Vacations
When you book a yacht through NauticEd Sailing Vacations, our team reviews your sailing resume and qualifications and works with the charter company to obtain advance confirmation of your suitability to skipper the yacht.
This preclearance helps avoid unexpected qualification problems upon arrival at the charter base.
6. Final Recommendation
For experienced sailors planning to charter internationally, NauticEd recommends the SLC, regardless of nationality. This because of its simplicity to obtain: Online courses - a one-day assessment - log previous history of experience into the electronic logbook - global network of instructors/assessors.
The ICC is an established international certificate issued through authorized organizations in participating countries. The IPC provides another qualification pathway through US Sailing and American Sailing, but holders must still ensure their sailing experience meets the requirements of their charter destination and operator.
The SLC combines verified knowledge, demonstrated practical skills, and documented real-world skippering experience into a single qualification.
With a worldwide network of authorized instructors and assessors, the SLC is accessible to qualified sailors internationally.
Ready to obtain your SLC?
Visit www.nauticed.org/SLC to review the requirements, learn about international recognition, and find a qualified NauticEd SLC instructor/assessor.