Overview
The Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo (PER) is a Spanish qualification for skippering recreational motor vessels up to 15 metres in length, in the zone between the coast and a line 12 nautical miles from it. Theory exams are called by the Dirección General de la Marina Mercante.
Who can take it
You must be 18 at the time of the exam. Besides the theory exam, the title requires regulated practical training in safety and navigation (at least 16 hours).
Exam pattern
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 45 multiple choice |
| Time | 90 minutes maximum |
| Minimum correct | 32 |
| Extra limits | At most 5 errors in collision regulations, 2 in buoyage and 2 in chart navigation |
Marking and results
You must reach the overall minimum and also stay within the error caps for each of those subjects.
Important dates
For 2026 there are three sessions, all in Madrid at the Faculty of Law of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
| Session | Exam date | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 18 April 2026 | 9 February to 18 March |
| 2nd | 27 June 2026 | 20 April to 27 May |
| 3rd | 21 November 2026 | 14 September to 21 October |
Fees
For 2026 the PER exam fee is 55.98 euros, paid with form 790 (code 077) at a bank or electronically.
How to apply
Register through the online Matriculación Exprés platform or in person at government offices, and pay the fee.
Preparation tips
Practise chart work, buoyage and collision-regulation questions, since each has its own error cap.
Check the official syllabus in Real Decreto 875/2014.
How many questions are on the PER exam?
45 multiple-choice questions in up to 90 minutes.