International Certificate of Competence (ICC)

Norwegian boating license is not always enough abroad

ICC is an abbreviation for International Certificate of Competence. The certificate entitles you to drive a recreational boat in other countries that have accepted the ICC as a boating licence.

It may also be that private actors in countries that have not officially accepted the ICC will require this in order to allow rentals. We recommend that you check whether the ICC is required to rent or borrow a recreational boat in the country you are going to visit.

Which countries are part of the scheme?

Today, the following countries are affiliated to the ICC. (unece.org)

In addition, there are countries that are not part of the scheme, but which will still be able to impose requirements on the ICC or accept it as valid driver documentation.

The NMA recommends, on a general basis, that persons who are going to travel abroad and who plan to rent a recreational boat, contact the relevant country's maritime administration and lessor, in order to clarify any requirements for the ICC.

Read the full resolution 40 on the ICC, new member states from 2017 and the guidelines associated with the resolution.

What are the requirements to be issued an ICC?

There are 3 requirements that must be met before one can apply for the ICC:

1. passed a boating exam or another qualification certificate (see more information on the application form).
2. passed practical check-out with the tenderer approved by the NMA. Here, one of these options must be met:
   1. Practical test ICC (motorboat, sailboat or both). The vessel on which the practical test is taken will be reflected in the rights on the certificate.
   2. Practical test (qualifies for ICC for motorboat and/or sailboat, depending on the type of boat the check-out was taken on)
3. self-declaration of health. A separate health certificate is not required.

A deck officer's certificate (D6-D1) and a Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft (D5L/D5LA) qualify for the issuance of an ICC for a motorboat. To get the ICC for sailing vessels, you must take a practical test on a sailboat as usual.

It is Norsk Test that issues the ICC on behalf of the Norwegian Maritime Authority. Questions about applying to the ICC can be directed to Norsk Test. 

Information about the Practical Test for the ICC

• Here you will find information about the practical test in ICC. (word)
• Here you will find approved providers of practical tests for the International Boat Driver's License.

What are the different types of ICC certificates?

The ICC exists in two variants: coastal certificate and channel certificate, where the channel certificate was the original certificate.

In Norway, it is not possible to take the channel certificate. The reason for this is that we do not have channels in Norway that require knowledge of CEVNI. When Norway adopted the resolution in 2011, priority was therefore given to coastal certificates.

The vessel on which the practical test for ICC coastal waters is taken (sailboat or motorboat) will be reflected in the rights on the certificate.

What boats can I drive with an ICC certificate?

The ICC gives the same rights as a regular boating license, i.e. Norwegian recreational boats up to 15 meters.

Note that when you are abroad, you must also comply with the regulations of that country, and the country is not obliged to give you the same rights.

You should always contact the authorities in the country you are visiting to find out what certificate requirements apply.

What is the origin of the ICC?

The ICC was originally created to allow pleasure boats to navigate along the Rhine and Danube rivers, both of which pass through several European countries. It was originally only a canal certificate where the goal was to standardize the qualification needed to navigate the two major rivers, as each of the countries that the rivers passed through had its own certification requirements.

Later, the ICC developed to apply not only to rivers, but also to coastal waters. There are thus two different types of ICC certificate, one for rivers and one for coastal waters. In Norway, it is currently only possible to take the ICC for coastal waters. This can be taken on a motorboat and/or on a sailboat. The vessel on which the practical test is taken will be reflected in the rights on the certificate.

The ICC is published under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). UNECE is a body under the United Nations that works for an efficient, harmonized and safe pan-European transport system.

It is UNECE's Resolution 40 that regulates the ICC, and this is where the regulations surrounding the certificate are located, such as curriculum requirements and guidelines for issuance.

How does the ICC work?

When you visit another country, you will in most cases be required to follow the maritime legislation of the country you are visiting, in addition to still having to comply with the rules of the country where your vessel is registered (the flag state). The regulations for recreational craft can vary significantly from country to country, and it can be very different what is required of each country for the issuance of national leisure certificates. The ICC is intended to help overcome the difficulties these differences can cause.

An ICC certificate issued by a country that has adopted Resolution 40 indicates that the holder of the certificate has the competence required by the resolution for the certificate to be issued. In other words, it is an assurance from one government to another that the holder of the certificate is competent to operate a pleasure boat, despite not holding the national certificate of the country visited.

Validity

The validity of the ICC is often misunderstood. The ICC is not equivalent to the EU's driving licence for cars, which all countries within the EU/EEA are obliged to accept.

The ICC's validity is determined by the country visited, and thus does not become a fully international certificate. However, it is a valuable document when you travel by boat abroad, and the ICC is the only near-international certificate we have for recreational boat users today.

Some countries may accept the ICC as an alternative to their national requirements and the certificate. However, this should never be expected, as the ICC has never intended to be an alternative to the flag state's own requirements.

Resolution 40 does not place any restrictions on the size of the vessel on which the certificate can be used. This is therefore determined by the country in which the certificate is used. The validity of the ICC is usually linked to the size of the boat, but the individual country can also limit how far out to sea you can go, or what type of boat you can use. Countries may also refuse to accept the ICC as a valid proof of eligibility if they have not adopted Resolution 40.

It is up to you to make the necessary preparations before applying the ICC in another country. You are therefore advised to check whether the ICC is accepted as a valid certificate of eligibility in the country you wish to visit, and within what limitations the certificate may apply.

It should also be noted that the ICC is not a requirement in principle, and that the countries that have accepted the resolution may have different regulations and practices. In some countries, this will in reality mean that there are requirements for the ICC (regardless of whether you were born earlier than 1980). Furthermore, despite the fact that a country's maritime authority does not impose requirements on the ICC, the lessor will still be able to demand the ICC in order to rent out its leisure boats.

I want to offer a practical test – what do I do?

If you wish to be approved as a provider for the ICC practical test, you must apply to the Norwegian Maritime Authority. Such an application must be sent by e-mail to post@sdir.no.

Mark the e-mail with "application as a provider of practical test ICC". There is no separate application form for such an application, so the application can be written directly in the e-mail with the relevant attachments attached.

What should the application contain?

• The application must include a quality system with the points mentioned in the document "guidelines quality system".
• Information such as the examiner's competence and vessel for taking the test must be documented in the application. This is entered in the quality system or as an attachment.

Before applying, it may be useful to familiarize yourself with the material below:

• Guidelines for conducting the practical test (word)
• Paint practical test (pdf)
• Guidelines for quality systems (pdf)

International working group for the ICC

Norway is a member of an international working group, the "Informal Working Group on Recreational Navigation", consisting of representatives from other nations' maritime administrations and representatives from international and public organisations.

The purpose is to maintain a dialogue about the ICC, disseminate information about the certificate, and exchange experience regarding practice and training in recreational boats.

The working group is chaired by UNECE and the meetings take place at UNECE's headquarters in Geneva.

You can read more about the working group here. (unece.org)

Confirmation Letter of Driving Privileges for Boat License, ICC and D5L

From 1 May 2022, Sweden introduced a requirement for a separate licence to drive a personal watercraft. In connection with this requirement, the NMA has prepared a confirmation letter stating that the Norwegian boating license, ICC and Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate (D5L) also provide driving rights on personal watercraft. This letter must be carried when driving a jet ski in Sweden.

For information, the exemption from the requirement for a boating license does not apply to those born before 1.1.1980 in Sweden. Everyone, regardless of age, must therefore hold a certificate of competence to drive a jet ski in Sweden.
If you have any questions, please contact the Swedish Transport Agency.

Attachment:
Confirmation Letter of Driving Privileges - Boat License, ICC and D5L (pdf)