ISSA school accreditation
Join the Global Network of ISSA Accredited Sailing Schools
Trusted by sailing schools in over 40 countries worldwide. Elevate your standards and gain recognition worldwide.
● Global Recognition
→ Official international recognition through ISSA accreditation.
● Professional Network
→ Connect with a global network of certified sailing schools.
● Quality Standards
→ Meet internationally recognized standards for safety and training.
Start Your Accreditation Journey
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
ISSA Accreditation: Eligibility, Standards & Process
Positioning
ISSA schools are competence-based training centers. Opening a school requires qualification, not only investment.
Who is this for
- For: Long-term operators focused on training quality
- Not for: Seasonal rental operators, certification-only schools.
Minimum eligibility (high-level)
- Stable access to sailing area
- Training vessels suitable for instruction
- At least one candidate for Head Instructor
ISSA vs School responsibilities
- ISSA: Training standards, instructor system, audits
- School: Operations, staffing, local compliance
Launch Roadmap
1. Application — Submit school profile
2. Inspection — On-site facility audit
3. Approval — Accreditation granted
School Launch Overview
1.Instructor alignment
2. Pilot training phase
3. Accreditation
Readiness Checklist
Core requirements for accreditation:
Requirement
Description
Category
Sailing Area
Access to safe, navigable waters appropriate for training
Infrastructure
Training Vessels
Minimum of 1 seaworthy vessel suitable for instruction
Infrastructure
Safety Equipment
PFDs, flares, and communication tools for all students
Infrastructure
Certified HeadInstructor
The school already has a certified instructor, is ready to train their staff, or will hire a certified professional on a permanent or fractional basis
Staffing
Accreditation Framework
ISSA is an international non-profit association. it establishes and maintains unified training standards.
Accreditation is not a franchise — no exclusive territories, no revenue-based royalties.
Entry paths: Existing school (direct or with instructor conversion), new school (launch from scratch), hybrid/upgrade.
Statuses: Applied → Conditional Accredited → Accredited; or Suspended/Withdrawn for serious non-compliance.
All training under ISSA standards must be delivered by ISSA-certified instructors; instructor training/conversion only by ISSA-certified trainers.
Training activities must be managed through ISSA Hub. Courses, students, instructors, assessments and certificates must be registered there.
Inspections assess infrastructure, vessels, safety procedures, operational processes, instructor integration, and correct use of ISSA Hub. Travel and accommodation for the inspector are borne by the school.
Pricing
Transparent investment — initial 5-year cycle
Year 1
€500
Initial audit
Year 2
€750
Support fee
Year 3-5
€1250
Total (3 years)
Total 5-year initial investment: €2,500
Includes 2inspections. Flights and accommodation of the inspector are on the school side.
Subsequent 5-year cycles
€1,250 per 5-year cycle. One inspection included (flights and accommodation on school side).
No hidden royalties or annual dues.
Mandatory visit after two years
After two years of operation, the school must be ready to host an ISSA inspector/trainer. Travel and accommodation costs are borne by the school.
Combined School & Instructor Event
Accelerate accreditation with an intensive on-site program combining facility inspection and instructor training (typically 1 week).
School inspection
€2,000
Full on-site facility and equipment audit
5-year ISSA School Accreditation granted upon success
Administrative setup and curriculum alignment
Instructors training
€4,000
Training of up to 4 instructors to ISSA standards (need more than 4? Additional trainers may be required; pricing subject to discussion)
Intensive 1-week training program
Pedagogical and practical skills assessment
Note: Certificate conversion is required for instructors holding non-ISSA credentials.
Logistics
Facilities: The school provides suitable training vessels, classrooms, teaching materials and all necessary infrastructure for the duration of the event.
Travel & accommodation: Not included. Flights and lodging for the ISSA inspector/trainer(s) are provided by the school.
ISSA School Application Form
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Accreditation Statuses
Applied — Application submitted, assessment in progress
Conditional Accredited — Basic compliance achieved, corrective actions required
Accredited — Full compliance with ISSA standards
Suspended / Withdrawn — Accreditation suspended or revoked due to serious non-compliance
Quality Assurance And Appeals
ISSA may conduct regular and ad-hoc audits, request reports, and investigate complaints or non-compliance. Schools may submit appeals, provide corrective action plans, and request re-inspection in accordance with ISSA procedures.