Getting Certified

All applicants must:

• Complete two years of full-time yacht sales experience *
• Adhere to the CPYB Code of Ethics
• Acknowledge your Fiduciary responsibilities

Specifically, the applicant must, and where appropriate, the brokerage firm with whom the applicant is currently employed, meet or agree to comply with the following:

1. The applicant must provide proof that they have worked for at least 2 years during the past 10 years as a full-time yacht broker and that they are currently employed as a full-time yacht broker and has been for the past 1 year.
2. The applicant has not been convicted of a felony offense or equivalent within the previous seven years.
3. The brokerage firm/broker of record maintains a dedicated escrow/trust account that is used for all client funds in trust.
4. The brokerage firm/applicant currently holds all necessary licenses required by all applicable governmental entities.
5. All client payments are made payable to the brokerage firm/broker of record and not to individual brokers.
6. All client transactions are supported by fully executed, contractually sound written agreements, affording protection to both the buyer and seller.
7. All business conducted by the applicant complies in full with the CPYB Code of Ethics.
8. The applicant has not been found in violation of any other yacht broker association's Code of Ethics (of which they are a member) within the previous seven years.

* Apprentice Application - If you don't have the two years required for the CPYB Candidate Application, you can get started as an Apprentice instead. During a formal CPYB apprenticeship period, the applicant is eligible to participate in most of the CPYB educational programs and will be fast tracked to candidacy once the two-year period has been completed.

• Quick 15-minute online application form
• Provide references - Three references are required for the application: Two must be CPYB-certified individuals who can attest to the quality of your work. One will be the Principal of the brokerage firm you work under who can attest to your years of experience. An online form is provided to facilitate this.
• Include job history
• Submit application with exam fee - The non-refundable $325 fee includes the exam fee and up to two retakes.
• On the application, you will have the option to order "The Guide," which is a recommended resource for exam preparation.

• Reference and employer verifications
• Certification advisory council review
• Once approved, candidacy is confirmed and eligible to take exam

• Participate in an optional study session
• Review "The Guide"
• Pass the online, proctored exam

Consumers recognize the value of certification. Boat sellers and buyers are in a better position to select qualified, competent sales professionals with confidence and trust.