Skagit Valley College Just Launched the Marine Surveying Program the Industry Has Been Waiting For
If you've been in the marine surveying profession for any length of time, you've noticed something: the people doing this work are getting older, and not enough new people are coming in behind them.
The average marine surveyor in the United States is well into their 50s. Many are approaching retirement. And the traditional path into the profession — years of hands-on experience followed by an apprenticeship with an established surveyor — simply isn't producing replacements fast enough.
That's why what's happening right now on the working waterfront in Anacortes, Washington matters.
A Real Program at a Real College
In November 2025, Skagit Valley College (SVC) announced a new certificate program: Marine Surveying: Yachts and Small Craft. The first cohort started February 23, 2026, and the program is in session right now at SVC's Marine Technology Center — a facility that sits directly on Anacortes' commercial waterfront, surrounded by boatyards and working vessels.
This isn't a weekend seminar or an online course you can click through. It's a 9-week, full-time, hands-on program — Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Roughly 315 contact hours of classroom instruction, lab work, instructor-led vessel surveys, independent surveys, sea trials, and full report writing assignments.
The program is operated through Cruisers College, SVC's continuing education arm for marine courses, which has been running marine skills training since 2016.
The Instructor: Mike Reese
The person leading this program is Mike Reese, and his background is exactly what you'd want to see.
Reese is a 30-year marine industry veteran. He's held leadership roles at Redden Marine Supply (as President and COO) and has deep experience across the marine supply chain. He holds seven ABYC certifications — covering Marine Electrical, Corrosion, Marine Systems, Diesel Engines, AC/Refrigeration, and more. He's also an ABYC Technical Instructor, meaning he teaches courses for the American Boat and Yacht Council directly.
He's a professionally trained marine surveyor and a faculty member of SVC's Marine Technology Program. He brings both the technical depth and the real-world credibility that a program like this requires.
As Reese put it when the program was announced: "Marine surveying is an essential function in the boating industry, requiring a mix of technical expertise, attention to detail, and professional integrity."
That's a straightforward statement, but it captures something important: surveying isn't just about knowing boats. It's about the judgment that comes with experience, and the professional standards that protect both surveyors and the boating public.
What the Curriculum Covers
The program is structured into three phases:
Weeks 1-6 are dedicated to marine surveying instruction. Students learn vessel inspection techniques, federal regulations, ABYC standards, report writing, ethics, client relations, and the business side of running a surveying practice. This isn't just classroom theory — the curriculum includes instructor-led vessel surveys, independent inspections, sea trials, and full survey report assignments. Each module ends with assessments and case studies.
The focus is on condition and valuation surveys for vessels up to 65 feet — the bread and butter of the profession.
Weeks 7-9 are where things get especially interesting. Students sit for three ABYC certification exams:
- ABYC Marine Standards Certification
- ABYC Marine Systems Certification
- ABYC Marine Electrical Certification
Graduates who earn all three qualify for the ABYC Master Advisor designation. That's a credential that carries real weight in the industry and would normally require significant time and expense to pursue independently.
Why This Program Is Different
There are a handful of marine surveying training programs in the United States. The Chapman School in Florida offers a 6-week program. The Atlantic School of Marine Surveying in Maine runs a 21-day course. Both have good reputations.
What sets SVC's program apart is the integration of ABYC certifications directly into the curriculum. Students don't just learn about standards — they leave with three nationally recognized credentials in hand. SVC is the only program in Washington State where students can sit for ABYC certification exams, and the college is a member of the Marine Trades Accreditation Program.
The program has also been recognized by NAMSGlobal (National Association of Marine Surveyors) as an affiliate — a signal that the professional community is paying attention to what's being built in Anacortes.
And then there's the location itself. Anacortes isn't a classroom in a strip mall. It's a town with a maritime heritage dating to the 1890s, home to multiple boatyards, marine service companies, and the Washington State Ferry terminal. Students learn surrounded by the industry they're entering.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
We've written before about the aging workforce challenge facing marine surveying. The numbers are stark: 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day in the United States. The marine trades are feeling this acutely — average worker ages above 50, attrition rates for younger workers exceeding 20%, and a pipeline that takes years to develop qualified professionals.
The traditional path into marine surveying — spend a decade working on boats, then apprentice with an established surveyor, then pursue SAMS or NAMS accreditation — produces excellent surveyors. But it's slow, and it's not structured in a way that attracts career-changers or younger professionals who expect a defined educational pathway.
Programs like SVC's don't replace experience. Nothing can. But they do something equally important: they create a legitimate, structured entry point into the profession. They tell experienced marine professionals — riggers, mechanics, yard workers, yacht brokers — that there is a credible path from where they are to where they could be.
Mike Beemer, Department Chair of SVC's Marine Technology Center, has described the demand for marine trades training simply: "It's a need in our industry." Local boatyards are already sending staff to SVC for training. The Anacortes Chamber of Commerce's marine trades committee has allocated funding to support the program.
The industry is responding because the industry needs this.
What Comes Next
The first cohort graduates in late April 2026. A fall session is tentatively planned for September 2026, depending on interest. Tuition is $8,500 plus a $200 application fee — roughly comparable to other surveying programs and a fraction of what a traditional college degree costs.
The program targets experienced marine professionals looking to transition into surveying. It's not designed for someone with zero boat knowledge. But for the rigger who's been working in a yard for 15 years, or the marine mechanic who's ready for a career change, or the retired Coast Guard engineer looking for a second act — this is exactly the kind of opportunity that didn't exist before.
An Industry Evolving
Marine surveying is a profession built on deep expertise, professional standards, and the kind of judgment that only comes from time on the water. None of that changes. But the way people enter the profession is evolving — and it needs to evolve faster.
Skagit Valley College and Mike Reese deserve recognition for building something the industry needs: a structured, credible, certification-backed pathway into marine surveying. If this program succeeds — and the early signs suggest it will — it could become a model for marine surveying education across the country.
The profession's future depends on attracting talented, dedicated people who are willing to do the work. Programs like this one make that possible.
For more information about the program, visit the SVC Marine Survey Course page or contact Mike Reese at mike.reese@skagit.edu.
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