Maritime and Coastguard Agency Yacht Qualifying Panel

Maritime and Coastguard Agency Yacht Qualifying Panel

The MCA Yacht Qualifying Panel (YQP) is a collaborative committee comprising of representatives from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), International Yacht Training (IYT), the Professional Yachting Association (PYA), and IAMI members involved in delivering MCA Large Yacht Deck and Technical qualifications.

Formed in the late 1990s, the panel was initially established as a consultative group tasked with developing the Large Yacht qualification pathways, which were officially introduced in 2002. Since then, the YQP has met annually to oversee and maintain the standards, structure, and syllabus of these qualifications.

IAMI is responsible for administering the MCA Yacht Deck examinations, including setting, marking, and certification, for MCA Yacht Deck qualifications. During YQP meetings, the panel reviews annual pass/fail data and examines the effectiveness of current assessments. MCA YQP Member collages and education providers also provide detailed feedback on course content, structure, and training methods to ensure qualifications remain relevant, accurate, and aligned with evolving industry practices.

As part of its role, the MCA provides detailed reports on Certificate of Competency (CoC) oral examinations, including candidate performance and trends. The panel also reviews proposed updates from MCA on the yacht qualification pathways and addressing the need for clearer progression routes and improved alignment with commercial standards. In addition, the YQP considers changes in maritime legislation and their impact on training requirements, certification standards, and overall qualification frameworks to ensure compliance and continued relevance within the sector.