Can the PER be obtained independently?

One of the first questions that comes to mind when we consider obtaining any degree is: do I prepare it in a specialized school or on my own? The PER is no exception and, therefore, many people doubt whether or not the PER can be obtained independently. The answer is that yes and in this post we analyze the possibility a little more to do it.

Advantages of studying the PER on your own

As in any other matter, obtaining the PER on your own, without being tied to a nautical school, has certain advantages, which we list below:

• Economy: The first and most obvious advantage refers to the costs associated with obtaining the degree, which will be significantly lower if you choose to prepare it at your own pace, since you will save on school fees.
• Freedom of schedules: If you prepare the PER on your own, you will not have to adapt to the schedules imposed by the school, but you will be able to organize yourself to study at those times when it suits you.

Disadvantages of preparing the PER without a school

However, facing yourself to obtain the title, without the support of a specialized teacher, carries a series of disadvantages:

• You will depend only on your own effort and self-discipline.
• You will have to dedicate more hours to the study of theory.
• If in doubt, you will have to look for the solution on the Internet or in books specialized, since you will have no one to ask.
• You run the risk that you syllabus becomes obsolete in the face of possible changes in legislation or regulations.
• You will not have one test collection from previous years to prepare for the exam.
• You will have to get the study material on your own, including nautical charts to perform the exercises.
• You must be pay attention to exam dates and deadlines of application and payment of fees so that you do not miss them.

In summary, prepare the PER on your own It is possible if you organize yourself, but you will miss out on the experience and support from a qualified teacher, who can help you enormously.

What do you need to prepare the PER on your own?

If you finally choose this option, we leave you a indicative list of the material you will need, both during the study phase and to take the exam. 

• Theoretical manual. The most used is “The PER book”, by Alfonso Jornada, although there are other very complete books.
• Nautical chart exercises. For example, “The PER letter exercise book”, also by Alfonso Jordana.
• Test of previous exams, to practice. On the Ministry of Public Works website you will find real exams from old calls in Madrid, with which you can practice.

What does the PER exam consist of?

Once you have internalized the theory, the next step is to introduce yourself to the PER exam, which you must pass to obtain the title. This theoretical test is organized as follows:

• 45 multiple choice questions, with 4 possible answers each, divided, in turn, into two blocks.
• Theoretical-specific block, which includes the sections on Nomenclature, Mooring and Anchoring Elements, Safety, Legislation, Beacons and Regulations (RIPA).
• Theoretical-complementary block, composed of the sections of Maneuvers, Emergencies at sea, Meteorology, Navigation Theory and Navigation Chart.

The total time to perform the test is 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Can I get the PER without an exam and without prior knowledge?

No, it is not possible to obtain the title of Recreational Boat Skipper (PER) without taking an exam and without having prior knowledge, although you do not need a previous title. The PER exam evaluates the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to operate a recreational boat safely. It is important to study and prepare adequately for the exam, as it covers topics such as navigation, maritime safety, regulations, and nautical maneuvers.

In addition, it is required to meet the established age and medical fitness requirements. It is advisable to take a specific training course to acquire the necessary knowledge before taking the PER exam.

What you can do is take the PER on your own and not do approved internships, but then you will have to take a practical exam on safety and navigation.

Can I do the internship if I have studied the theory on my own?

Getting over the practical part is absolutely essential if you want to obtain the title of Recreational Boat Skipper, so you have to do them regardless of how you approach the theory. Additionally, you can organize to Simultaneously carry out the practices with the preparation of the theoretical part, so that you obtain the permit in less time.

PER online: the best solution

If you are considering preparing the PER on your own because you have little free time or it is difficult for you to organize yourself to attend classes, in Anclademia offers you the best option to enjoy all the advantages and none of the drawbacks of both options: the PER Online course.

With this modality you will obtain access to our virtual classroom, in which you will find the updated syllabus and all the notes necessary to study, as well as official tests to practice and two nautical charts with which to perform the exercises.

In addition, the online PER course allows you combine the theoretical part with the mandatory practices, so if you organize yourself well, you can obtain the title in about a month.