I plan on joining the USCG soon. Advice reading from the internet many note to receive boat crew qualifications with the local Auxiliary unit. This may be difficult, but not impossible with the proximity of the closest USCG Auxiliary unit. Though the local community college has boat certification courses they offer. Description of the two courses: Certificate of Personal
Watercraft Operation. This one-day course focusing on
boating safety ends in a certification exam. Approved by
both the State of Connecticut and the National Association
of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), the course
is recognized by the United States Coast Guard as well.

students develop
“hands on” charting and plotting skills using nautical charts,
tools, and publications. Topics include: longitude and latitude,
position fix, dead reckoning, GPS and radar basics, Compass
deviation and variation, the use of plotting tools, marine
time conversions, speed/distance/time calculations, aids
to navigation, cruise planning and more. Participants will
receive a State Coastal Boater’s endorsement sticker for their
operating certificate.

Would these two courses certify me in boat crew qualifications, bring me close to it, or won’t do much except allow you to learn something? Appreciate the response.

When you join the aux - these are required classes but do not qualify you for boat crew. There are many hours of hands on boating time that must be done to get the actual qualification.