How Long Does It Take to Get Your Captain’s License? A Realistic Timeline and Process

Serious mariners want their captain’s license, and they want it yesterday.

I get it. You’ve got big plans, maybe a boat business to launch or a summer season to hit. But before you dive in, you need an answer to this key question:

How long does it take to get your captain’s license?

The truth is, captain’s licenses require a bit of time. If you want to do it right — and stay out of trouble with the Coast Guard — you need to give yourself the space to complete the process carefully and confidently.

In my experience, the sweet spot for most people is about three to six months. Of course, some individuals take more time, and a few take less. But this window allows most people to successfully earn their license with their sanity intact.

So, let’s walk through what it really takes to get a captain’s license: the timeline, the steps, and how to avoid delays that could sink your plans before you even leave the dock.

Why You Need to Plan a Realistic Timeline

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is waiting until right before boating season to get started. The captain’s licensing process takes more than a couple of weeks, and the Coast Guard won’t hurry because you started your application late.

Technically, I’ve seen some highly motivated students finish their captain’s license course in a matter of days. But most people have jobs, families, and other responsibilities that don’t allow for that level of intensity. 

Perhaps more importantly, your course isn’t just about memorizing facts for a test. It’s meant to teach you the crucial, real-world knowledge you’ll need to safely and lawfully operate a commercial vessel on the water. 

Remember, too, that even if you speed through your course, you still have to complete the other requirements — like the drug test and medical exam — and wait for the Coast Guard to review and approve your paperwork. 

Planning ahead by starting three to six months before you need your license gives you room to breathe. You have ample time to gather all the necessary paperwork, complete your course, pass your exam, and wait for the Coast Guard to process your application. 

Whether you start in January or April, you’re looking at the same three-to-six-month timeline. The Coast Guard won’t be moved because you have a charter booked for Memorial Day weekend.

So, if you’ve got big business plans for May, I suggest beginning the licensing process no later than December or January.

Step-by-Step: How Long Does It Take to Get Your Captain’s License?

Here’s a realistic breakdown of each stage in the journey from student to licensed captain (assuming you have or nearly have your sea time completed):

1. Take a Coast Guard-Approved Course

Timeframe: 30–90 days

This is where most people start. Whether you’re going for an OUPV/Six-Pack or Master license, your course lays the foundation.

At Mariners Learning System, our courses are self-paced and online. Most students complete their course in under 90 days, but some take longer due to preference or other responsibilities, and some finish in as little as three days. 

But faster isn’t always better. 

Students who rush through may struggle with the practical application of what they learned so quickly. So give yourself enough time to truly absorb the material. Again, you’re not just memorizing answers for a test — you’re learning skills that could save lives on the water (including yours!).

2. Pass Your Exam

Timeframe: Built into the Mariners course timeline

Some schools require you to take the Coast Guard exam at an approved facility, which can be a scheduling hassle. With Mariners, you take your proctored exam online when you’re ready.

Passing the exam is a major milestone, but you’re not done yet.

3. Complete Required Certifications and Paperwork

Timeframe: 2–4 weeks

Once you’ve completed your course and exam, you’ll need to gather all the required documentation and complete the additional licensing requirements. This typically takes two to four weeks if you’re organized and proactive.

• Adult CPR and Basic First Aid certification
• Drug test from a Coast Guard-approved lab
• Physical exam
• TWIC card (Transportation Worker Identification Credential)
• Documented boating experience (minimum 360 days on the water, 90 within the past three years)

Filling out the application and taking care of all the paperwork is more complicated than most people expect, which is why we include a two-year MM-SEAS Expert Access membership to simplify the application process for Mariners students.

4. Await Coast Guard Processing

Timeframe: 4–8 weeks

After submitting your application package, the Coast Guard needs time to review everything. This typically takes four to eight weeks, though processing times vary based on their workload and any complications with your application (more on that below).

During the peak season rush — when everyone is clamoring to get licensed before summer — processing times can stretch even longer.

What Factors Extend Your Licensing Timeline?

Several factors can significantly impact how long it takes to get your captain’s license. Building in buffer time for the ones you can’t control — and avoiding those you can — will help ensure you have your license in hand when you need it.

1. Incomplete or Incorrect Paperwork

Hands down, paperwork problems are the number one cause of delay in captain’s licensing. One missing form or a signature in the wrong place can send your application back to square one.

My advice? Double-check every page before you submit. Better yet, work with a reputable school or service (like MM-SEAS) with the expertise to review it with you.

2. Medical Problems

If you have a medical condition — especially something like heart disease, diabetes, or a psychiatric diagnosis — the Coast Guard could require you to apply for a medical waiver. Depending on the reason, you might need time for additional testing or for specialists to sign off on your health status.

The steps for a waiver can add weeks or even months to your timeline. If you’re concerned, take your physical at the very beginning of the process, before you even enroll in a course, to find out exactly what you’re dealing with.

3. TWIC Card Delays

TWIC cards are processed by the TSA, and their timelines can be unpredictable. Some people get theirs in a couple of weeks. Others wait well over a month.

To give yourself some breathing room, apply for your TWIC as early as possible. You can’t submit your final application without it.

4. Honesty Issues

Applicants sometimes think they can speed up the process by omitting past convictions or inflating their boating experience. But this can backfire spectacularly.

The Coast Guard conducts thorough background checks, and dishonesty or omissions will disqualify you faster than any medical condition or legal issue ever could. 

5. Sea Time Documentation Challenges

If you can’t directly sign off on your own boating experience (maybe you’ve been using friends’ boats or club vessels), gathering proper documentation can add weeks to your timeline.

You’ll need those boat owners or licensed captains to verify your time, and coordinating with multiple people inevitably creates delays. 

How Long Does It Take to Get Your Captain’s License: Final Thoughts

When mariners ask me how long does it take to get your captain’s license, I always emphasize that quality preparation takes time.

This isn’t a race. It’s an investment in knowledge, safety, and your future opportunities on the water. Students who approach the process with realistic timelines and thorough preparation consistently have better outcomes than those who try to rush through.

So, give yourself plenty of time and approach each step methodically. Rushing creates mistakes, and mistakes create delays. Take the time to plan, to do the work, and to get your application right the first time so you don’t have to wait any longer than necessary. 

Once you’ve got that credential in hand, it’s worth every bit of the effort.