What You Need to Know About Captain’s Licenses in Florida

Florida is a beautiful place with a lot to offer, so it’s no wonder the state is a prime location for tourism. With sunset cruises, parasailing, snorkeling, and gator spotting all on the table, the opportunities to earn a little extra cash with your boat are near-endless in Florida.

But only if you have your captain’s license. 

To boat recreationally in Florida, all you need is a simple safe boater’s course. If you want to take on paying customers, however, the U.S. Coast Guard requires you to have an official captain’s license.

Fortunately, you can find out how to earn a captain’s license in Florida right here.

Captain’s License: Florida and Beyond

To get a captain’s license in Florida, specifically an Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) license, aka a Six-Pack license, you must first meet the Coast Guard’s strict requirements. These include:

• Being 18+ years old
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or that you can legally work in the U.S.
• Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
• Passing a physical and drug test
• 360 days of boating experience (90 within the last three years)
• First Aid and CPR certification
• Completed application form with a small fee

In addition to these requirements, you’ll also have to pass a captain’s license exam. The Coast Guard’s exam is notorious for being incredibly difficult — if I took it three times and failed twice, I wouldn’t be disappointed. 

Luckily, going through the Coast Guard isn’t your only option. You can take a Coast Guard-approved captain’s license course and exam with an institution like Mariners Learning System. By passing our tailor-made exam, which is based on our thorough curriculum, you’ll earn a certificate of completion that the Coast Guard accepts in lieu of their exam.

The above requirements apply nationwide, but for a captain’s license in Florida, you may also need a state-level charter license from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Check with your FWC to make sure you meet legal requirements.

Passing Your Captain’s License Exam in Florida

The captain’s license exam involves five primary areas of study: 

1. Navigation rules
2. Chart plotting
3. Deck general and safety
4. Rules and regulations

Each of these areas comes with its own set of challenges and preparation strategies. Generally, you have two options.

Option One: You can take the hard road by trying to pass the exam through rote memorization. This involves buying the Coast Guard’s book of 10,000 questions and trying to memorize them all. 

Option Two: You take the easier way by gaining a comprehensive understanding of the subjects through Mariners’ online course. This is one of the most effective preparation strategies available. We teach all the topics you need to know, from foundational to expert level, with tools like videos, downloadable audio, electronic flashcards, knowledge checks, and in-depth study materials. Plus, you can take the entire course wherever you are, whenever it’s convenient.

Beyond these options, you can also prepare for your exam by joining a study group, which gives you extra support and the opportunity to tackle difficult topics with peers.

Another strategy is to get out on the water for some good old-fashioned practical experience. It never hurts to apply the theoretical knowledge you gain through studying in real-life situations.

Overcoming Real-Life Challenges After Earning Your Captain’s License in Florida

I’d love to say that after earning your captain’s license, everything will be smooth sailing. Of course, that’s not always the case. New captains encounter plenty of challenges — I know, I’ve been there!

Here are a few common struggles, plus my advice (from experience) on how to tackle them:

Finding Employment

Unless you’re working on your own boat, it may be a challenge to find jobs — and you may have to start out at a lower position than expected.

If you’re struggling to find a job, throw yourself into networking. You can join maritime associations, engage with other boaters on social media, and even volunteer.

Building Experience

The keys to building experience are to accept diverse assignments and dedicate yourself to increasing time on the water. If you’re ambitious, you can accept work as a mate or a deckhand to gain additional experience on larger boats.

Building experience also helps with navigating more complex situations on the water, such as changing weather and environmental conditions. You’ll never be able to pick the weather, so focus on enhancing your forecasting skills and learning to navigate currents, wind, and storms.

Adapting to Responsibilities

Your education doesn’t stop when you get your license. To adapt to new responsibilities as a captain, continue studying navigation and safety. Seeking mentorship will also help you go further as a captain.

Continuous education prepares you to upgrade your license to a higher level in the future, should you want to. For example, you might start with a Six-Pack, but later step it up to a Master captain’s license to take advantage of bigger and better opportunities. 

Regulatory Compliance

Many new captains have a difficult time keeping up with the changing requirements for running boats professionally. Stay informed by connecting often with regulatory bodies like the Coast Guard.

Physical and Mental Stress

Earning a captain’s license in Florida could be your first step toward moving into a new career or starting a new business. Opportunities like these may come with physical and mental stress, so be sure you don’t neglect your health — you’ll need it for dealing with emergencies on the water. 

Prioritize self-care in a way that makes sense to you. This might mean staying in physical shape, committing to quality rest, and/or establishing a healthy support network.

Start Earning Your Captain’s License in Florida

Earning a captain’s license in Florida can be complicated, but it doesn’t need to be difficult. If you’re ready to get started, hit the books with Mariners! Our comprehensive courses have a 98.7% success rate, and we’d love for you to be one of our success stories. Learn more about our courses today.