The American Boat & Yacht Council announced that it has awarded accreditation through its Marine Trades Accreditation Program to Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School in Massachusetts, making it the first high school in the country to earn the distinction. Additionally, The Landing School in Arundel, Maine, successfully renewed its MTAP status.
“These schools represent some of the top marine service training programs and set a good example for how education can align with industry needs,” ABYC accreditation director Sarah Devlin said in a statement.
Launched in 2022, MTAP evaluates marine service programs based on their alignment with industry needs and instructional consistency. The accreditation process includes application review, third-party commission oversight and on-site evaluations.
Beyond formal accreditation, ABYC continues to expand the reach of its Marine Service Technology curriculum. A variety of institutions — from high schools to correctional facilities — have adopted the program to better prepare candidates for marine industry careers. The curriculum package provides comprehensive teaching tools, including instructor guides, assessments and access to nationally recognized certification.
Participating schools include Okaloosa Technical College in Florida, Kodiak College in Alaska, and Future Jobs Skills of Tomorrow in the U.S. Virgin Islands. A full list of participating schools is available here.
