Public Education

The mission of the Education Department of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary is twofold: to provide exceptional boating safety education to the American public with the aim of reducing loss of life, personal injury and property damage to recreational boaters; and to deliver the highest possible quality training, resources and timely materials in support of our flotilla instructors and public education staff officers at every level who are furnishing such boating safety education.

How Do I Become a Qualified Instructor?

To become a qualified Instructor (IT), a member needs to complete Instructor Development Course (IDC). Credentialed teachers & instructors may seek a waiver from the DSO-MT as specified in the Auxiliary Manual.

Complete the Instructor Development Course (IDC). IDC material is comprised of four documents:

• Student Course Book
• Appendix A IDC Student Study Guide
• Appendix B IDC PQS (Performance Qualification System) Student Workbook
• Appendix C IDC Mentor Guide

Pass the open book examination within a three-hour time limit with a passing grade of 90% or better.

Teach a minimum of two classes of satisfactory instruction under an Auxiliary certified instructor's supervision. The certified instructor determines whether or not the instruction was satisfactory and provides specific, instructional feedback to the qualifying Auxiliarist to assist them in gaining qualification. The instructor may be in the same flotilla as the candidate. The first presentation should be 10-30 minutes in length, and the second presentation should be 1-2 hours in length.

The supervising instructor or an elected leader signs and dates the completed examination form stating IT qualifications have been met. The Flotilla Commander completes the Qualification Request Form to certifiy that the member has satisfactorily met the Auxiliary Instructor requirements established in the Auxiliary Manual.

If a member applies for an Instructor wavier, the decision to waive requirements will be based on sufficient documentation, but at a minimum, the waiver will include the following criteria:

• Documentation of two or more years of recent work experience as an instructor such as a certified schoolteacher or as a full-time or adjunct instructor in the military, business, academic or professional communities. The number of years' service and recent experience will weigh in the DSO-MT's decision. The Flotilla Commander will review and approve the application before forwarding to the DSO-MT.
• United States Power Squadron (USPS) members who have completed the USPS Instructor Qualification course and are graduates of the Coast Guard's Instructor Development Course (IDC) will be certified as Auxiliary Instructors upon application.

How Do I Maintain My Certification?

To remain certified, an Auxiliary Instructor must teach a minimum of 2 hours or serve as an assistant Instructor for 4 hours or by teaching 1 hour and assisting for 2 hours each year. Instructors must also attend approved workshops when required.

Failure to satisfy annual requirements will require the Auxiliarist to recertify as an Instructor. When the hours for teaching/serving as an assistant Instructor have not been met, the Instructor must perform the annual certification task(s), as a trainee, under the supervision of a certified Instructor. The certified Instructor receives the training (PE or MT) credit for the 2 or 4 hours performed during this recertification process. The candidate must then complete the annual certification requirements to retain certification for the following year.