Yacht Sales Professionals nationwide have a benchmark for measuring their skills, abilities and performance, while enhancing their marketing value.
Yacht Sales Professionals – YSPs (brokers, dealers, salespeople) nationwide have a benchmark for measuring their skills, abilities and performance, while enhancing their marketing value. Boat sellers and buyers are in a better position to select qualified, competent sales professionals with confidence and trust. The Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) program has made this dream a reality.
Thanks to the joint efforts of the YachtBrokers Association of America (YBAA), Florida Yacht Brokers Association (FYBA), Northwest Yacht Brokers Association (NYBA), California Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA), Boating Ontario Dealers, Gulf Coast Yacht Brokers Association (GCYBA) and British Columbia Yacht Brokers Association (BCYBA), over 550 YSPs have earned the CPYB designation, with another 100 applicants now preparing for the exam. Since 1999, the CPYB program has been the industry performance standard for yacht sales professionals throughout North America. A program Design Team of industry volunteers worked with the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute to define the industry's body of knowledge - the key performance skills and knowledge required to be a Certified Professional Yacht Broker. The team then crafted the certification exam, comprised of over 150 questions, serving as the objective measurement of the applicant’s knowledge.
“The process of developing the certification concept and determining the essential skills that a yacht sales professional needs to have was daunting,” stated Vincent Petrella, Design Team member, past President and current Executive Director of YBAA. “This had never been done before, and it was both a challenge and an honor for our volunteer team to be involved in this project. Our efforts have raised the bar of performance for the yacht sales profession and have greatly enhanced our credibility in the minds of the boating public.”
Like many other industries, performance standards, professional training and recognition are essential tools for ensuring that the industry encourages and maintains aggressive performance goals and sound business practices. YBAA, FYBA, NYBA,CYBA, BCYBA, GCYBA and Boating Ontario Dealers each have association mandated Codes of Ethics, which provide the minimum standards for ethical YSP performance and which are mandatory for all those who desire membership in the organizations. The CPYB program takes this process to a new level, providing a comprehensive method for qualifying eligible YSPs who have the necessary experience, skills and know-how to be recognized as a Certified Professional Yacht Broker. YBAA’s Guide for the Professional Practice of Yacht Brokerage & Sales provides a comprehensive study manual of the industry skills and knowledge essential to the profession of yacht sales. Based upon the CPYB body of industry knowledge, The Guide serves as the perfect preparation tool for YSPs planning to sit for the CPYB exam, as well as a valuable reference manual for yacht sales firms and for new entrants into the profession.
“Thanks to YBAA’s efforts, combined with the support of our association partners,our industry has become better positionedto meet the needs of the boating public,” noted Petrella. “This serves to make their boat selling or buying experience more rewarding, and greatly enhances our profession.”
06/19/2026
Congratulations to the newest CPYBs!
Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) is THE mark of excellence for yacht sales professionals throughout North America. Hundreds of CPYB brokers have met professional qualifications and have successfully passed a three-hour examination, testing their skills and knowledge as yacht sales professionals.
More information about becoming certified, or working with a CPYB on a purchase or sale: https://www.ybaa.org/cpyb/
06/18/2026
NEXT WEEK is the next CPYB Exam Study Session (offered quarterly)!
💻️ Register: https://bit.ly/3PZuvJx
📅 Wednesday, June 24
🕑️ 2:00-3:00 PM ET
✔️ Candidates - Review relevant material
✔️ Current CPYBs - Earn CE credits
Yacht brokers who pass the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) certification exam have demonstrated their knowledge on a broad range of topics that indicate their high ethical standards and comprehensive knowledge of the industry.
Join us at YBAA University for the session, What Brokers Need to Know to Master a Survey!
Surveys are a critical part of every transaction and a source of frequent questions for brokers. ABYC's Education Director Tim Murphy breaks down what brokers need to understand about the survey process, how to set client expectations, and how to navigate survey results with confidence.
⚓️ YBAA University
🗓️ Wednesday, July 15
📍 Bristol, RI
Before you click “Not Available for Co-Brokerage,” read this.
What does your code of ethics say? What did you agree to in the central listing agreement? This article by YBAA Executive Director JP Skov, CPYB explores why a seemingly simple listing decision may deserve a closer look.
Join us at YBAA University for our State of the Industry Report insights!
Industry leaders - Andy Miles, CPYB (Miles Yacht Group), Jason Dunbar (Vessels Value Survey), and Courtney Chalmers (Boats Group) - will provide a data-driven look at where the yacht brokerage market stands and where it's heading. They will share the latest market intelligence and open the floor for discussion on the trends, challenges, and opportunities defining 2026.
⚓️ YBAA University
🗓️ Wednesday, July 15
📍 Bristol, RI
The CPYB offers Exam Study Sessions quarterly. This is an opportunity for:
✔️ Candidates to review relevant material
✔️ Current CPYBs to earn CE credits
Register for our next session:
📅 Wednesday, June 24
🕑️ 2:00-3:00 PM ET https://bit.ly/3PZuvJx
Yacht brokers who pass the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) certification exam have demonstrated their knowledge on a broad range of topics that indicate their high ethical standards and comprehensive knowledge of the industry.
YBAA University Sponsorships - Partner with the Yacht Brokers Association of America (YBAA) to align your organization’s objectives with the advancement of industry excellence. Your support directly empowers YBAA members and Certified Professional Yacht Brokers (CPYB) by expanding access to training, education, and business-building resources.
Your sponsorship extends beyond visibility, supporting the advancement of industry standards and the long-term success of yacht brokerage professionals.
06/19/2026
06/03/2026