Requirements for Inspected Vessel Master Captain’s Licenses

How To Get Your Master Captain’s License for Inspected Vessels

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Common Questions About the 25/50 or 100-Ton Master's Captain's License

1 WHAT IS A MASTER LICENSE FOR INSPECTED VESSELS?

The Master captain's license is the highest level that can be obtained and allows you to perform the duties of an OUPV/Six-Pack captain and operate inspected vessels. Inspected vessels are approved to carry seven or more paying passengers and have been built in accordance with rigid USCG standards.

2 WHAT BOAT TYPES COULD YOU CAPTAIN WITH A MASTER LICENSE? 

Inspected vessels come with a Certificate of Inspection (COI) aboard. Ferry boats, harbor tour boats, sailing schooners, and whale-watching boats are all examples of inspected vessels.

3 WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INSPECTED VESSEL CAPTAIN'S LICENSE?

A Master license is issued for operation on the Great Lakes, Inland, and Near Coastal waterways and comes in three versions: a 25, 50, and 100-Ton license. Your amount of sea service time and the sizes of the vessels you have experience with will influence the license for which you are eligible.

Although the necessary building experience required for each version of the Master license varies, the basic minimum requirements include the following:

• Be at least 19 years old
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Have a minimum of 360 days of boating experience; 90 of those days must have occurred in the last three years
• Pass a physical and drug test
• Hold a valid adult CPR and basic first-aid card
• Obtain a Transportation Workers Identification Credential or TWIC card
• Completion of the Mariners Learning System Coast Guard-approved 25, 50, or 100-Ton Master course

4 WHERE CAN YOU TAKE INSPECTED VESSEL LICENSE COURSES? 

The Mariners learning system suite of Coast Guard-approved courses offers an alternative to the regular testing process held at the USCG regional exam centers. You are not required to advance through the different licenses one at a time. If you meet the USCG requirements for the master 100-Ton Near Coastal, you are eligible to earn that as your first license.

5 WHAT SALARY DOES A MASTER CAPTAIN EARN? 

There are a variety of lucrative careers available for Master captains. A captain running a water taxi typically makes $25 to $40 per hour plus tips. A delivery captain can make $275 to $475 or more per day, plus all expenses. A full-time captain running a dinner cruise can expect to make $65,000 or more per year. An entry-level full-time captain can expect their starting salary to be $45,000 or more per year, depending on the requirements of the opportunity. Ultimately, the salary you earn as a Master captain depends on your level of experience and your career path or the business you create.

6 WHAT ARE JOBS YOU CAN DO WITH A MASTER'S LICENSE?

As a licensed Master, you can be the captain of a ferry boat, harbor tour boat, sailing schooner, dive boat, or whale-watching boat. The Master captain’s license allows you to operate a boat with more than six paying passengers. Holding this license gives you the freedom to embark on a variety of business ventures.

PREPARE FOR YOUR 100-TON MASTER LICENSE

To pursue a Master's Captain's License, consider the following steps:

• Check out this infographic: Getting Your 25/50/100 Ton Master Captain's License
• Purchase the 25/50 or 100-Ton Master Captain’s License - Online Course and Exam
• If you already have the OUPV license, purchase the OUPV/Six-Pack Upgrade to 25/50 or 100-Ton Master Captain’s License - Online Course and Exam