4th of July Sale: Save 35% with code BOAT35
4th of July Sale: Save 35% with code BOAT35
Everything you need to know - requirements, sea time, cost, and how to complete the process with a Coast Guard-approved course.
OUPV/Six-Pack License
Master Captain’s License
Upgrade or Renewal
Step-by-Step Guide
Sea Time is documented boating experience. It helps determine whether your license route is Inland, Near Coastal, or another eligible endorsement.
A Coast Guard–approved captain’s license course teaches navigation, rules of the road, chart plotting, safety, deck operations, and license-specific topics.
Captain’s license applicants must pass the required proctored exams after training to show they understand navigation, rules of the road, and safety.
A captain’s license application includes sea service, medical forms, drug testing, CPR/First Aid, identity documents, and course completion proof.
After the National Maritime Center (NMC) reviews and approves the application, the applicant receives a Merchant Mariner Credential.
After earning a captain's license, many mariners continue advancing through license upgrades, additional endorsements, and expanded commercial boating opportunities.
A captain’s license requires qualifying sea time, approved training, exams, medical/CPR, and an application.
An OUPV/Six-Pack license lets a captain carry up to six paying passengers on an uninspected vessel for hire.
A Master Captain's License is for inspected vessels or commercial trips carrying more than six paying passengers.
Captain's license course tuition starts at $695 for OUPV/Six-Pack and $895 for Master; final licensing costs may also include USCG, TWIC, medical, drug-test, and CPR/First Aid fees.
A captain’s license can take weeks or months, depending on sea time, coursework, documents, exams, and Coast Guard processing after you submit your application to the NMC.
A captain's license application typically includes form CG-719B, sea-service proof, a physical, DOT-approved drug test, TWIC evidence, CPR/First Aid, and course documents.
A captain’s license is renewed every five years; renewal typically requires forms, a physical, DOT-approved drug testing, and proof of recent sea time or a Coast Guard-approved renewal path.
Mariners Learning System provides USCG-approved training that meets all requirements for OUPV/Six-Pack and Master captain's license certification. Students complete structured coursework, required examinations, and application preparation through a program designed specifically for USCG licensing.
Complete the required captain’s license Coast Guard-approved examinations online as part of your approved training program. Mariners Learning System integrates testing directly into the course structure, eliminating the need to schedule separate testing at a Regional Exam Center. Anytime, Any Place.
Access your captain’s license training online from home, the marina, or while traveling. Mariners Learning System allows students to study on their own schedule using self-paced lessons, digital study guides, practice exams, and convenient mobile-friendly course access from virtually anywhere.
Mariners Learning System helps students navigate the captain’s license application process with structured guidance covering required forms, sea service documentation, medical certification, drug testing, and National Maritime Center submission requirements.
Mariners Learning System provides digital study guides, practice examinations, training videos, electronic flashcards, and learning tools designed to help students prepare for Coast Guard captain’s license testing and application requirements.
Mariners Learning System has helped thousands of students prepare for Coast Guard captain’s license certification through approved online training, structured study tools, and step-by-step guidance designed to support long-term success on the water.
Licensing requirements are established by the U.S. Coast Guard and may vary depending on the type of credential you pursue.