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 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 fairly 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 typically takes 2 days, followed by one day each for ASA202, ASA203, etc.

You do not need to already 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 “Charterboat Captain’s License.

In order to see IQC prices or to sign up for an IQC at Delmarva Sailing School, please visit the Classes, Prices, and Pay by Credit Card  page.

At Delmarva Sailing School, all on the water Instructor Qualification Clinics are conducted on a 39 foot Pearson sloop.

ASA201 Basic Keelboat Sailing

April 12-13, 2025
October 18-19, 2025

ASA202 Keelboat 2

April 14, 2025
October 20, 2025

ASA203 Basic Coastal Cruising

April 15, 2025
October 21, 2025

ASA204 Bareboat Cruising IQC

April 16, 2025
October 22, 2025

ASA205 Coastal Navigation & Piloting IQC

April 17, 2025

ASA206 Advanced Coastal Cruising IQC

April 17, 2025
October 23, 2025

ASA207 Celestial Navigation IQC

April 5-6, 2025

ASA217 Celestial Navigation Endorsement IQC

April 5, 2025

ASA218 Docking Endorsement IQC

April 18, 2025
October 24, 2025

ASA216 Dinghy and Outboard Engine IQC- Upon Request

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