How Do I Get My USCG Captain's License?

What Steps Are Involved in Getting a USCG Captain’s License?

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Questions About Getting Your License

1 DO YOU NEED TO GO TO A REGIONAL USCG EXAM CENTER TO TAKE YOUR CAPTAIN'S LICENSE TEST?

No, you can take your captain's license test online with Mariners Learning System upon course completion. Mariners Learning System has gone through a painstaking vetting process and has received course approvals from the United States Coast Guard and National Maritime Center.

After completing your online captain's license course, passing our proctored exam online with MLS, and meeting other requirements, you need only submit the MLS certificate of completion and application to the nearest Coast Guard Regional Exam Center (REC). After their review and approval, you'll be issued a captain's license valid in all of the United States and its territories.

Whether you're looking for a new career or you've been boating for a while and want to brush up on your skills, Mariners Learning System has an online course for you.

You can purchase an OUPV license, Master license, and endorsement courses in the Mariners Learning System online store.

2 WHAT ARE THE PRIVATE BOAT CAPTAIN LICENSE REQUIREMENTS? 

Whether you are obtaining an OUPV or Master's level captain's license, the basic boating experience requirements are a minimum of 360 days underway since you were 16 years old, with at least 90 of those days within the last three years. Additional requirements include: 

• Be at least 18 years old (or 19 for a Master license)
• Legal to work in the U.S. (U.S. citizenship required for a Master license) 
• Pass a drug test
• Pass a physical exam
• Complete CPR and First Aid training
• Obtain a TWIC card, which is issued by the TSA and used by the Coast Guard to conduct background checks.
• Take the USCG captain's license exam and pass 

Once you have completed the necessary boat captain license requirements, submit your completed application by mail, fax, or email to any Regional Exam Center. You will then receive your license in the mail.

3 HOW CAN I LEARN ABOUT EMERGENCY BOAT PROCEDURES?

Getting your boat captain’s license online requires you to dedicate time to the process, but the test is much less challenging with proper preparation. USCG-approved courses, specifically the ones provided by Mariners Learning System, are the best for preparing boaters to pass their exams as they cover the exact information included in the exam. Students of Mariners Learning System have a success rate of 98.7%.

NEXT STEPS ON YOUR CAPTAIN'S LICENSE JOURNEY

Ready to turn your dream of obtaining a captain's license into reality with Mariners Learning System? Here's how to begin:

• Check out this guide: Why Become a USCG Licensed Captain
• Learn more about why our students succeed
• Sign up for our FREE trial
• Purchase the OUPV/Six-Pack Captain’s License - Online Course and Exam or 25/50 or 100-Ton Master Captain’s License - Online Course and Exam