How Hard Is the Test to Get Your Captain’s License?

To earn a captain’s license, mariners need to have ample boating experience, quite a bit of completed paperwork, and — most importantly — a passed written examination. 

The Coast Guard requires an exam for people’s original captain’s licenses as well as raises of grade, increases of scope, and renewal. This applies for both officer and rating endorsements as well.

So, just how hard is it to get a captain’s license? If you’re already well on your way to meeting the experience requirements, then little stands between you and a captain’s license besides a few serious study sessions.

Ready to hit the books? First, make sure you understand the scope of study.

How Hard Is It to Get a Captain’s License?

The requirements for a captain’s license — and the Coast Guard-approved test — depend on the type of license you’re aiming for. The OUPV/Six-Pack or Charter Boat Captain’s License is the most popular choice, and it’s required for commercial activities such as running fishing and sailing charters, operating a dive boat, or offering sightseeing tours. 

Exam topics for this type of license include navigational rules of the road, deck safety, environmental protection, navigation, and plotting. You need to correctly answer a certain number of questions for each topic in order to pass the exam.

Here’s an example grading chart:

How Can I Prepare for the Captain’s License Exam?

The best way to prepare for the captain’s license exam is by taking a Coast Guard-approved course. More than 200,000 people have taken a Mariners Learning System course since 2002, and our students have a 98.7% success rate.

Our fully online courses are available anytime, anywhere for 12 months after you enroll. You can go through the lessons at your own pace, whenever it’s most convenient for you. You can even take the final proctored exam online in the comfort of your home.

A big benefit of learning from an authorized trainer like Mariners is that not only did we write the course — we also wrote the final exam.

Unlike the Coast Guard’s exam, which draws from a bank of more than 10,000 questions (which may not all be related to captaining a boat), our exam is based directly on our relevant, expert curriculum. Your coursework will prepare you for the test, and you’ll know where you stand during each stage of your exam preparation.

What if I Fail the Exam?

As long as you follow our processes and procedures throughout the learning experience, there should be no surprises along the way. Still, if you don’t pass one or more modules on your first attempt, don’t worry! You can retest the failed modules two more times whenever you’re ready.

Our Mariners Pass Guarantee means that when you put in the work, we guarantee you’ll pass!

Start Preparing for Your Captain’s License Exam

Preparing for any exam can be overwhelming, especially if you haven’t taken a test in a while. But it’s not hard to get a captain’s license if you’re willing to put in the work! The key to success is thorough preparation. Start studying today with Mariners — we’re here to help you throughout the entire process.