Boat Captains Training - FAQs

1. What is an OUPV license?
The Operator of Un-inspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) license is commonly called a six-pack or charter captain's license. This Coast Guard license is required by those operating un-inspected vessels, (not required to undergo inspections by the Coast Guard) that carry no more than six passengers for hire. It will NOT allow you to operate inspected vessels or carry more than six passengers for hire.

2. How long is the OUPV course that the Charter Captain School offers?
This is a 56-hour course. Check the schedule page for the next available course.

3. How much does the course cost?
$ 850.00.

4. Where is the course being held?
See schedule page or call for nearest location.

5. What other costs are involved?
The Coast Guard charges user fees for licenses.
For the OUPV license, the fees are Evaluation: $ 100.00
Issuance: $ 45.00.
These fees are paid to the U.S. Coast Guard.

6. Will I still have to take an examination at the Coast Guard Examination Center?
No. If you satisfactorily complete this course you will not have to take a written examination at the Coast Guard. You will be tested as you go along in the Charter Captain School course.

7. How do I receive my license?
The U.S. Coast Guard will issue your license. Under the authority of Title 46 U.S. Code, the U.S. Coast Guard promulgates the requirements for the licensing of mariners. These requirements are found in Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 10. The Coast Guard office responsible for this area is the Regional Examination Center (REC) Baltimore, (410) 962-5132.

8. Are course materials provided for the course?
Yes, All course materials will be provided and will be turned in at the end of the class.

9. What equipment do I need?
You'll need a notebook to take notes, and a calculator.

10. Is there anything I have to do besides taking the course to get my license?
Yes. There are Coast Guard requirements. They include the following:

AGE REQUIREMENTS
Most licenses require the applicant to be at least 21 years of age. An applicant of 18 may apply for a near coastal or inland license as limited Master of not more than 100 GT, Mate of not more than 200 GT, or Operator of Un-inspected Passenger Vessels.

CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Applicants for an original license must present acceptable proof of citizenship. The Coast Guard may reject any evidence of citizenship that is not believed to be authentic. Identification should agree with current name. If not, the applicant will need to submit court records documenting the name change. The following are examples of acceptable forms of evidence meeting the citizenship requirements:

  • Birth certificate or birth registration
  • Certificate of naturalization
  • Baptismal certificate or parish record recorded within one year after birth
  • Statement of a practicing physician certifying attendance at the birth and who possesses a record showing the date and location at which it occurred
  • State Department passport
  • Merchant Mariner's Document issued by the Coast Guard which shows the holder as a United States citizen
  • Delayed certificate of birth issued under a state seal in the absence of any collateral facts indicating fraud in its procurement
  • Certificate of citizenship issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. An individual who is not a U. S. Citizen may receive a license. This license will be restricted to uninspected, undocumented passenger vessels of not more than 5 net tons. A birth record and alien registration card is required for all applicants that are not U. S. Citizens. When the name that an applicant uses is different from what appears on the proof of citizenship or social security card, the applicant must show that the name has been legally changed. Certified copies of a court order or other official document, such as a marriage license, effecting a name change must be presented. Without this documentation, the name on the proof of citizenship must be used.

SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
Evidence of having a Social Security Number must be submitted. An ORIGINAL Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration is acceptable. Plastic or metal plate copies of the Social Security Card are not recognized replacements for the official card. A driver's license or Military ID card will not be accepted in lieu of the Social Security Card. A copy of the Social Security Card may be submitted for evaluation purposes, but the original Social Security Card must be presented before a license can be issued. If you do not have your original Social Security Card, you can apply for a duplicate from the Social Security Administration. Receipts issued for a duplicate Social Security Card by the Social Security Administration are not acceptable evidence unless the receipt is accompanied by a Social Security Administration computer print out reflecting your current name and Social Security Number.

FIRST AID AND CPR CERTIFICATION
All applicants for an original license must present an original certificate indicating completion of a first aid course within the past 12 months from:

  • The American National Red Cross "Standard First Aid and Emergency Care" or Multi-Media Standard First Aid" course; or
  • A Coast Guard approved first aid training course; or
  • A course the Coast Guard determines exceeds the standards of the Red Cross courses

All applicants for an original license must present an original certificate indicating completion of a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course within the past 12 months from:

  • The American National Red Cross; or
  • The American Heart Association; or
  • A Coast Guard approved CPR training course

APPLICATION PROCESS
Each mariner seeking a license or document, including endorsements and renewals must complete an application. An examination can neither be administered nor can a license be issued until the application has been reviewed and approved by the Coast Guard. It is the responsibility of the applicant to prepare the application form properly and to submit all required attachments when applicable. For example, in section VI of the application, the applicant must answer each question by initialing each response. If the applicant should answer yes to any of these questions, a statement must be attached The most important point here is to tell the truth on your application. A criminal record does not necessarily mean that you will be denied a license. Each application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. However, failure to truthfully answer questions on the application will result in denial of the application and could lead to criminal prosecution for fraudulent application. Please ensure sections VII and IX of the application have been read and signed. Finally, THE APPLICATION IS ONLY VALID FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF RECEIPT. If the application is not approved before the application has expired, it will be necessary for the applicant to reapply.

CHARACTER REFERENCES
For original applicants, three written recommendations attesting to the applicant suitability for a Coast Guard License must be submitted. For a license for which no commercial experience is required, such as: Master or Mate 25-200 GT, Operator of Un-inspected Passenger Vessels, the applicant may have written recommendations from three persons who have knowledge of the applicant's suitability for duty.

Qualifying sea service

  1. Applicants for a license need 360 days experience in the operation of vessels including 90 days service on inland, Great Lakes, ocean, or coastwise service.
  2. Of the above service, at least 90 days must have been obtained in the past three years prior to submittal of your application.
  3. Owners of vessels may attest to their own service as long as proof of ownership is provided, such as boat titles, registrations, or insurance receipts.
    Each license requires a minimum amount of qualifying sea service. This service is based on the number of days the applicant has worked at sea. A day is defined as eight hours of watch-standing or work day, not to include overtime. For service on vessels of under 200 gross tons, owners of vessels may attest to their own service as long as proof of ownership is provided. In all cases, the evidence produced by the applicant must be original
    Physical

Each application for an original license must include an original physical examination report (form CG 719K, pages 1-2) completed by a U.S. Licensed physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner within one year of the application. This report certifies that the applicant is in good health and has no physical impairment or medical condition which would render him or her incompetent to perform the ordinary duties required by the issued license. Please ensure this form has been completed entirely before forwarding it to our office. Delays in approving applications are typically the result of incomplete physical examination reports. For example, block 15 addresses medications. physicians will often forget to include a statement regarding whether or not the applicant is experiencing side effects from prescribed medications. If side effects are experienced, they must be listed. If no side effects are experienced, then a statement to that effect must be included. Occasionally, an applicant may not meet the vision, hearing, or general physical condition required for a license. This does not automatically cause an applicant to be denied a license. Upon request of the examining physician a physical waiver may be granted by the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard if extenuating circumstances warrant special consideration. Applicants should submit this request to our office to be forwarded to headquarters for approval. Waivers are not normally granted to applicants with insulin dependent or poorly controlled diabetes, applicants on psychotropic medication, or applicants with any disease which may result in the gradual deterioration in the performance of their duties or compromise shipboard safety at sea.

VISION
For licenses as Master, Mate, Pilot, or Operator, applicants must have vision correctable to at least 20/40 in each eye and uncorrected vision of at least 20/200 in each eye. For Engineering licenses, the corrected vision can be no worse than 20/50 in each eye. The color sense test must be determined to be satisfactory when tested by any of the methods listed on form CG-719K.

BLOOD PRESSURE
Applicants for an original license may not have blood pressure higher than 150/90 regardless of age, treatment or medication.

DRUG TESTING
All applicants for a U.S. Merchant Marine license must pass a drug test approved by USCG. For a list of approved facilities click HERE.

Written professional examination - This course will satisfy the Coast Guard requirement for a written examination for issuance of a license. You will not have to take an examination at the Coast Guard.

TOWING ASSISTANCE ENDORSEMENT
Individuals who engage in assistance towing (towing disabled vessels for monetary consideration) are required to obtain an endorsement on their license that allows assistance towing. The endorsement is applicable to all licenses EXCEPT operators of un-inspected towing vessels and Master or Mate licenses over 200 GT (holders of these licenses are authorized to engage in assistance towing without an endorsement). An applicant for an assistance towing endorsement must pass a written examination demonstrating his or her knowledge of assistance towing safety, equipment and procedures.

RADAR OBSERVER COURSE
Applicants for a license in the following categories must present a certificate of completion from a Coast Guard approved Radar Observer course of instruction. After attending an approved course, an applicant may bring the Radar Observer certificate to any REC and have the endorsement placed on the license. There is no charge for this endorsement. The endorsement is valid for 5 years from the date of completion of the course and may have a different expiration date than the license. A Coast Guard approved Radar Observer renewal course must be completed within every 5 years to maintain a current Radar Observer endorsement.

  • All licenses for service on vessels of 200 GT or less in ocean service.
  • All Master or Mate's licenses for over 200 GT.
  • All Operators of Un-inspected Towing Vessels greater than 26 feet in length equipped with radar.

11. Where is the closest Regional Examination Center?
Go to http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/mmic-regions.htm

12. Is there a Retest Policy?
Yes. You can retest after a review of the material.

13. Why take our course versus going to the Regional Examination Center?
Good question. The REC charges an examination fee of only $95, plus other licensing issuing fees.. However, the REC's select from a pool of 22,000 questions, many of which can be challenging and ambiguous. Private schools develop their own questions for USCG approval.
Our Four-part course and exam consists of:
Rules of the Road, 30 questions, 90% to pass.
Chart Plotting 10 questions, 70% to pass.
Navigation General 20 questions, 70% to pass.
Deck General and Safety 60 questions, 70% to pass.

Additional info is available HERE