PNB or PER: which Spanish boating licence do you need?

Choosing between the PNB or PER is the most common question for anyone getting into boating in Spain. Understanding the difference between the two Spanish boating licences saves you from getting a licence that falls short the following year or, the other way round, studying a longer syllabus than you really need. Here we explain it with a comparison table and according to the kind of sailing you have in mind.

PNB or PER: what is the difference?

Both are Spanish recreational boating licences regulated by Royal Decree 875/2014. The PNB is the basic licence, designed for coastal boating in small boats. The PER is the intermediate licence and the most popular one: it covers larger boats, longer distances from the coast and opens the door to higher qualifications such as the Yacht Master (Patrón de Yate).

The navigation licence, known in Spain as the «titulín», is the quickest way to start, although it has strict limits. We explain it in our article on the navigation licence in Malaga.

PNB or PER: which one should you get?

The key question is not which one is easier, but what boat and what kind of sailing you have in mind for the next few years:

• Choose the PNB if you will be using small motorboats or sailing boats, close to the coast, during the day and for trips of a few hours.
• Choose the PER if you want to hire boats over 8 metres, go on day trips, sail at night or move from one port to another along the coast.
• Think ahead: the PER is the step before the Yacht Master. Many people who start with the PNB end up taking the PER soon afterwards.

The areas each licence lets you sail in are easier to understand with a map of distances; we explain them in our guide to navigation zones.

Requirements and exams for the PNB and the PER

For either licence you need to meet the minimum age, pass a medical check, pass the multiple-choice theory exam and complete the compulsory practical training at an authorised school. The PER exam is longer: it covers more navigation, meteorology, regulations and chart work.

In Andalusia the theory exams are held by the regional government several times a year. The practical training can be done before or after the exam, and both are needed for the licence to be issued.

Can you move up from the PNB to the PER?

Yes. Holding the PNB does not give you the PER, but many students start with the PNB to get out on the water sooner and then prepare for the PER once they have more experience. If you are sure you want to sail seriously, it usually pays to go straight for the PER: the PNB syllabus is included in the PER one, so you avoid going through the process twice.

You can see the other licences and what each one allows in our guide to boat licences and types of navigation licences.

PNB and PER courses in Malaga

At Oceanautic we prepare students for both licences at Benalmadena marina, with classroom or online theory and practical training on our own boats. Take a look at the PNB course in Malaga and the PER course in Malaga, or the rest of our recreational boating licences.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the PNB and the PER?

The PNB lets you skipper boats up to 8 metres, up to 5 miles from a port or shelter. The PER covers boats up to 15 metres, up to 12 miles from the coast and at night, and with extensions up to 24 metres and the Balearic Islands.

Is it better to get the PNB or the PER?

It depends on how you will use it. For coastal trips in small boats the PNB is enough. For larger boats, longer trips or night sailing, the PER is the better choice.

Can you sail to the Balearic Islands with the PER?

Yes, but only with the corresponding extension, which requires additional practical training. The standard PER lets you sail up to 12 miles from the coast.

Does the PER include the PNB?

The PER covers everything the PNB allows. If your goal is the PER, you don’t need to get the PNB first.