How to get your IPC Card | Modern Sailing

How to get your IPC Card

IPC card_Easy way to Charter in Mediterranean

Updated August 19, 2026

Planning a Mediterranean charter? American Sailing’s International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) serves as mandatory proof of bareboat charter competency for European and Mediterranean charter companies that require proficiency credentials displayed in a different format than the ASA Log Book. Updated to a durable, compact ID card format, the card features your photograph, holder details, a built-in VHF endorsement, and a QR code on the back for instant overseas verification.

ASA strongly recommends you apply for an IPC if you are chartering in the Mediterranean as well as the inland waterways of Europe and northern Europe.

To qualify, sailors must hold active certifications through ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising. The entire application process can be completed 100% online by uploading a passport-style photo and paying the processing fee. Once issued, your IPC remains valid for 5 years.

Share This Page

  • Mike, Santa Rosa, California

    All of the courses and my instructors (JT and Stan) were extremely professional and full of knowledge and experience. I found I was able to learn from their experiences beyond the scope of the courses, and look forward to future opportunities to do so. I would highly recommend Modern Sailing to anyone.

  • John Clark

    Every aspect of Modern Sailing - training, syllabus, course materials, quality of the boats, quality of the instructors, and the very friendly and helpful staff - exceeded my expectations. Modern Sailing has a first class sailing program in an environment with challenging winds and currents. I look forward to coming back to charter a boat and certainly plan to continue my sailing training.

  • Danny Collins

    The office staff was very accommodating in meeting my availability.

  • Alisa Driscoll, Dual Site Member

    Here are some snaps of Our Saturday, August 20, 2022 Modern Sailing Expedition with Captain Robert Bivin, who was outstanding. Please convey photos and thanks to him. He is an outstanding individual, leader and sailing instructor. His knowledge and experience made us all feel safe and our Farallones Day Trip educational and just amazing. 

  • Emma & George Stubbs, Sausalito

    We just took our ASA 106 at a school in Rhode Island as we prepare for 6 months of cruising in the Caribbean. The class was great, but more than anything it made us really appreciate the quality of teaching and rigor at Modern Sailing. Even though we were the newest to sailing, the group seemed to think that we had the best fundamentals. We felt very well prepared and we see why Modern Sailing has the reputation it does.

Follow us
on Social Media