Do I Have to Take a Captain’s License Course to Get My Merchant Mariner Credential?

If you’re looking into earning your Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), you might be wondering, “Do I have to take a captain’s license course?” 

It’s a fair question, and the short answer is no. You don’t technically have to take a course to get your captain’s license. 

That said, I strongly recommend you do, whether you choose our program at Mariners Learning System or go elsewhere. Let’s talk about why.

Who Needs a Captain’s License?

Before we dive into whether you need a course, let’s clarify who actually needs a captain’s license in the first place.

A captain’s license, or Merchant Mariner Credential, is issued at a federal level by the U.S. Coast Guard for commercial maritime operations in the United States. If you plan to take out passengers for hire in the U.S., you’ll need this license.

However, if you’re a recreational boater who only takes family and friends out on the water for fun, you’re not required to have a captain’s license (though your state may require a safe boating certificate).

Here’s where people sometimes get into trouble: “For hire” means more than just accepting monetary payment. According to the Coast Guard, if you receive any form of “consideration” in exchange for boating services, you must be licensed. Payment can include cash, of course, but also other elements, like trading a weekend at the country club for a fishing trip. 

Do I Have to Take a Captain’s License Course to Get My Credential?

Now let’s return to the main question: Do I have to take a captain’s license course? 

The Coast Guard doesn’t require you to complete a formal training program to earn your Merchant Mariner Credential (more on this below). Here is a list of the actual captain’s license requirements you’ll need:

Actual Captain’s License Requirements

• Sea Time: You must document at least 360 days of boating experience, including 90 days within the past three years.
• TWIC Card: You’ll need a Transportation Worker Identification Credential for security clearance, which is issued through the TSA.
• Physical Exam: A medical exam confirms you’re physically fit to operate a vessel.
• Drug Test: You’ll need to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) 5-panel drug test.
• CPR and First Aid Certification: Basic First Aid and CPR certification.
• Written Exam: You must pass a comprehensive, Coast Guard-approved exam.
• Disclosure of Convictions: If you’ve ever been convicted of a crime, you’ll need to disclose that information to the Coast Guard on form CG-719C.
• Application and Fees: You’ll need to submit official paperwork and pay the required fees to the Coast Guard.

Notice that “take a captain’s license course” isn’t on this list. You could theoretically study on your own and show up to take the Coast Guard’s exam. But here’s why I don’t recommend that approach.

Why I Recommend Taking a Captain’s License Course

The number one reason I so strongly recommend taking a captain’s license course, even though it’s not technically required, is the Coast Guard’s licensing exam. 

I’ve been teaching aspiring captains for more than 23 years, and boating for longer. I’m good at what I do. But if I were to take the Coast Guard’s captain’s license exam, I wouldn’t be surprised — or even disappointed — if I failed it a couple of times.

Why? Because the Coast Guard maintains a database of more than 10,000 questions on all kinds of subjects, not all of which are necessarily relevant to modern captaining. For example, they ask about systems like Loran, a navigational system that’s been discontinued for more than 10 years. If questions like that came up on my exam, I wouldn’t be prepared to answer them because I haven’t used that system in years.

The Coast Guard test is so difficult that we have active-duty Coast Guardsmen opt to take our course and exam all the time — because they’re aware of just how difficult theirs can be.

The Advantage of a Coast Guard-Approved Course and Exam

When you take a captain’s license course and Coast Guard-approved exam — like ours at Mariners Learning System — you’re taking a test that’s directly tied to the curriculum you study. We wrote the course, and we wrote the exam. We don’t charge an extra fee for the test, so it’s in our best interest to make sure you’re well prepared the first time around.

Our exam focuses on relevant, practical knowledge that you’ll actually use as a captain, and our coursework prepares you with comprehensive, deep knowledge on those subjects. We aim to ensure not only that you’ll pass the test, but also that you’ll have the crucial know-how you need to safely and successfully run your operation.

More than 200,000 people have taken a Mariners Learning System course since 2002, and our students have a 98.7% success rate. That’s not because we make the material easy — it’s because we control the content to ensure it’s relevant, thorough, and genuinely helpful.

Do I Have to Take a Captain’s License Course: Final Thoughts

So, do you have to take a captain’s license course? Technically, no. But should you? Absolutely.

Whether you choose Mariners Learning System or another Coast Guard-approved program, taking a course gives you the best chance of success — both in the exam and on the water. You’ll study relevant material, take an exam that directly reflects what you’ve learned, and gain the deep, practical knowledge you need to be a competent, confident captain.

The path to earning your captain’s license doesn’t require a course by law, but it’s one of the smartest investments you can make in your maritime career. 

At Mariners, we’re here to support you every step of the way — from your first lesson through passing your exam and beyond.

Ready to get started? Take it from someone who’s been helping mariners earn their licenses for over two decades: The right course makes all the difference.