Dec 18, 2018

The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) is launching new online education opportunities for marine technicians, broadening the educational offerings already available.

Starting in December 2018, ABYC will release one new comprehensive course to the public each quarter. Additionally, each month free micro-courses will be made available to ABYC members. This will provide many opportunities to accumulate Continuing Education Units (CEUs) which are required to maintain certifications with ABYC and an array of other organizations. 

“ABYC is working diligently to expand its training offerings to move beyond its traditional “standards-based” programming by offering on-going updates and courses that address the every-day problems field service personnel have to face,” said Ed Sherman ABYC Vice President of Education. “Our goal in offering scheduled monthly and quarterly updates is to create an environment where technicians will feel comfortable and acquire the up-dates they need to stay relevant in their career pathway.”
 
The first course released and now available is “AC Dock Pedestal Testing” which features Ed Sherman and ABYC instructor Rob Berenwick testing various voltage ranges, voltage drop, ground integrity, short circuit current, the functionality of the available GFCIs and leakage current. This course provides a thorough look at many of the tests required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in their electrical codes that apply to marinas and docks.

To learn more about this course visit www.abycinc.org/dockpedestaltesting. An introductory rate of $28.99 USD is available until Jan. 4, 2019.

In addition to writing the safety standards for the design, construction and repair of recreational boats, ABYC has a long-established education program which began in 1989. Their nationally accredited certification program provides standards-based technical education for marine technicians throughout the industry. 

ABYC launched their online learning platform to allow employers and students more flexibility and less travel expenses. Course difficulty ranges from basic topics that provide useful content for onboarding new technicians, to advanced topics for seasoned marine technicians looking to develop their knowledge base.

“In todays fasted paced world, keeping up with technical change has become increasingly challenging and more important than ever,” said Sherman. “Online learning is a great tool to help students say when, where and how new skills are learned and keep up to date with emerging technology trends.”

To learn more about ABYC’s various online education offering visit www.abycinc.org/onlinelearning.