Where candidates go wrong
- They assume the PPER is an STCW certificate. It is a certificado nacional (national certificate) under RD 269/2022. It gives nothing on yachts over 24 m or under another flag.
- They think passing the test is enough. The test is one of eight requirements in article 93.3.
- They mix up the 60-mile primera categoría (1st category) with the 150-mile segunda categoría (2nd category), which also needs 24 months serving as PPER.
What the certificate allows (art. 93.1–93.2)
| Attribution | Content |
|---|---|
| Craft | Embarcaciones de recreo, Spanish flag, lista 6ª or 7ª, length ≤ 24 m |
| People | Up to 12 passengers plus crew, within the craft's certified maximum |
| 1st category | Along the coast, within 60 nm |
| 2nd category | Cabotaje and coastal waters within 150 nm |
| Training | Instructor for PNB and PER practicals |
All of this is "without prejudice" to any other training or despacho (clearance) requirement.
Requirements for 1st category (art. 93.3)
- Age 20.
- Capitán de Yate, issued by the DGMM or a region.
- A registro de navegación (sea log): at least 50 days and 2,500 nm, with five passages over 60 nm as skipper, each de altura (open sea) and of at least 48 hours. The DGMM's peripheral offices validate it "in the form set by ministerial order".
- Operador General or Restringido GMDSS card (GOC or ROC).
- Formación básica en seguridad (Basic Safety Training).
- Formación sanitaria específica inicial (Medical First Aid, initial).
- A valid certificado médico (medical fitness certificate).
- The DGMM prueba de conocimiento (knowledge test).
The 2nd category needs the same (bar a second test) plus 24 months at sea as PPER.
Direct issue (art. 93.4–93.5)
- 1st category: professional deck officers under articles 12–16, Patrón Mayor de Cabotaje and Patrón de Cabotaje, with a valid medical; Navy officers (Cuerpo General) with medical and first-aid training.
- 2nd category: holders under articles 12 and 13, and 14–15 with master's attributions, Patrón Mayor de Cabotaje; Navy officers with 12 months aboard.
Validity
Five years, revalidated as the promised ministerial order provides (art. 93.6–93.7). A valid medical is always required.
WARNING — To sit the test you need only the Capitán de Yate The 2026 convocatoria admits on that title alone. Everything else is proved when you apply for the certificate. Sit without it and the exam is annulled.
PPER against the habilitaciones anejas
A Capitán or Patrón de Yate with a habilitación aneja (annexed endorsement) may take up to 6 passengers within 5 nm (RD 875/2014 art. 34). The PPER is the step up: 12 passengers and 60 or 150 nm. For the whole ladder of titles and flags, see Working on Yachts in Spain: Titles, Flags & Charter Law.
CAUTION — Two texts that disagree The 2017 DGMM resolution, still on the BOE, says "12 persons including crew". RD 269/2022, higher in rank and later, says "12 passengers plus crew".
What the examiner wants to see
Article 93 is not itself on the syllabus, but knowing it stops you passing a test you cannot convert into a certificate. Start logging every 60-mile passage now, with dates, ports and hours.
Vocabulario del examen
| Español | English |
|---|---|
| certificado nacional | national certificate |
| primera / segunda categoría | 1st / 2nd category |
| registro de navegación | sea log |
| travesía de altura | open-sea passage |
| formación básica en seguridad | Basic Safety Training |
| formación sanitaria específica inicial | Medical First Aid (initial) |
| habilitación aneja | annexed endorsement |
| prueba de conocimiento | knowledge test |