Why I Became a CPYB

So what is a CPYB and why did I become one? Here’s the official definition: A Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) is recognized as having achieved the highest level of industry accreditation available to yacht sales professionals. The CPYB program is administered by a consortium of professional associations including Yacht Brokers Association of America, British Columbia Yacht Brokers Association, Boating Ontario, California Yacht Brokers Association, Gulf Coast Yacht Brokers Association, International Yacht Brokers Association, and the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association. The certification is endorsed by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Marine Industry Certified Dealership program and leading yacht manufacturers.

The path to becoming a CPYB involves being a full time, professional broker for at least 3 years, being recommended by a group of your peers, and by passing a written test. The test is HARD. At least for me it was, and required a great deal of study to pass. Ultimately, what the qualification really means to me is a way of showing my commitment to the profession. It’s a way of demonstrating proficiency as well as commitment: the last time I checked there are less than 500 CPYBs in all of North America. We’re required to maintain an ongoing education program to keep the CPYB qualification current, which is acknowledgement that things change over time and as professionals who want to be on top of our game, staying up to speed with current best practices is critical.

To learn more about the CPYB program check out this link: CPYB.net