There's no government licence for yacht and small craft surveying in the US, as The Log's attorney column explains. The industry vets itself: professional bodies test their members, and insurers and lenders choose whose reports they accept. These are the credentials you'll meet.
SAMS: Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors
SAMS has two classes for practising surveyors:
- Surveyor Associate (SA). For surveyors who don't yet meet the AMS requirements and haven't passed the exam. You apply with a CV and survey reports from each year of your experience, and the membership committee decides.
- Accredited Marine Surveyor (AMS). At least five years of surveying experience within the past ten, in your field, a written exam in it, and SAMS's continuing education.
AMS members add specialist designations, each with its own exam. Yachts and Small Craft (Y&SC) covers yachts and small commercial vessels up to 200 gross domestic tons. Others cover hull and machinery, cargo, gas and diesel engines, fishing vessels, and tugs and barges.
NAMS: National Association of Marine Surveyors
NAMSGlobal has three levels: Apprentice, Associate Marine Surveyor and Certified Marine Surveyor (NAMS-CMS). The procedure on its site:
- Sponsorship by a NAMS-CMS or retired life member, for every level.
- Screening of your experience and qualifications.
- An ethics test.
- The NAMS-CMS test, for CMS status only.
You send the application with a CV and, where required, five reports. The experience needed for each level is set out in a qualifications matrix on the application form.
IIMS: International Institute of Marine Surveying
The IIMS awards its own qualifications, studied by distance learning. The Professional Qualification in Yacht and Small Craft Marine Surveying has four core units and ten specialist units. You pass the four core units and four specialist units of your choice, with two years to finish. A further four specialist units take you to the Advanced Professional level. The IIMS calls both equivalent to a level 4/5 qualification. There's a commercial ship version too.
YDSA: Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association
The UK-based YDSA covers surveying and design of craft under and over 24 metres, excluding ships and cargo vessels. It assesses and gives feedback on the reports you submit for membership, and its Articles require members to hold professional indemnity insurance. Members can go on to become coding surveyors for UK small commercial vessel codes, or measurers for registration. More in becoming a surveyor in the UK.
ABYC certifications
The American Boat and Yacht Council writes the US standards surveyors judge boats against. Its certifications are aimed at technicians and advisers. They cover marine systems, marine electrical, corrosion, engines and fuel systems, and the ABYC standards. Exams are multiple choice, certifications last 5 years, and recertification takes a shorter exam plus continuing education. Classes run in person and online.
Many surveyors use them to learn the systems in depth: Norm LeBlanc, a past SAMS president, told Soundings he relied on annual ABYC courses for electrical and plumbing.
Boat Safety Scheme examiner (UK inland waterways)
On UK inland waterways, boats need a Boat Safety Scheme examination, carried out by BSS examiners. The New Examiner Training Programme assumes you already know boat systems: the BSS says it isn't designed to teach boat construction or marine engineering. It lists marine engineering and boatbuilding qualifications, from City & Guilds to degrees, as significant for the role. Many examiners also survey.
Which to choose
Start with where you'll work and who'll read your reports. In the US, that's usually SAMS or NAMS, with ABYC courses for the systems. In the UK and much of Europe, IIMS or YDSA. For commercial vessels in Australia, AMSA accreditation is the requirement: see becoming a marine surveyor in Australia. Then ask two or three insurers and brokers you want work from which memberships they accept.
The full route, from first job to first survey, is in how to become a marine surveyor.