Section 3.6 of the USPS by-laws reads as follows:

Any person who: (1) is able and willing to contribute time, energy, and skills to the objectives of USPS; (2) has passed an examination approved by the Operating Committee; and (3) is at least 18 years of age may be admitted to active membership in USPS under such conditions as these by-laws and the Governing Board may prescribe. The validity of memberships acquired by persons below age of 18 years prior to April 21, 2001 shall not be affected.

While requirements (1) and (3) are pretty much self-explanatory, requirement (2) is more complicated and deserves some detailed explanations. The following is taken from THE ENSIGN, edition September 2001, page 3:

"The Operating Committee has now approved the passing of a proctored final examination for 22 different courses or programs as meeting this educational requirement for USPS membership. And the list keeps growing. The key word here is proctored. It is up to the Squadron Executive Committee to satisfy itself that the candidate being considered for membership has passed an Operating Committee-approved proctored examination"

"As of this writing, any person may be considered for USPS membership who meets qualifications !(1) and (3) above, and who has passed the proctored final examination for any of the following courses:

Boat Smart

Squadron Boating Course

America's Boating Course

USPS Video Boating Course

Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons' Boating Course

USCG Auxiliary Boating Skills & Seamanship

USCGAux Sailing & Seamanship

the state-sponsored boating-safety courses for Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin

the American Sailing Association's Basic Keelboat Sailing Course

The Operating committee has also declared that membership qualification #2 is satisfied by graduates of the U. S. Naval Academy and the U. S. coast Guard Academy, by deck officer graduates of the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, and by holders of a USCG "operator license for hire" (6-pack or higher).

Note, too, that there is no time limit on passing one of these qualifying exams. If a prospect can validate that he or she passed one of the approved proctored examinations 3, 5 or even 11 years ago, section 3.6 qualification No. 2 has still been met"