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Coast Guard-Approved License
Carry more than six passengers and operate inspected vessels with a license designed for larger commercial opportunities.
A Master Captain’s License allows you to operate inspected vessels and carry more than six paying passengers, depending on the vessel’s certification.
This license is required for larger commercial operations such as tour boats, passenger vessels, and other regulated services where higher passenger capacity is permitted.
If you are still comparing license paths, review the complete Captain’s License Guide or compare this option with the OUPV/Six-Pack captain’s license.
Operate inspected passenger vessels carrying more than six paying passengers based on a vessel's certification, route authorization, and Coast Guard inspection requirements.
Operate inspected charter boats, tour vessels, ferries, and other commercial passenger vessels meeting Coast Guard inspection and operational standards.
Move into higher-capacity commercial operations, including sightseeing tours, passenger transportation, event charters, and other regulated passenger services.
Expand from small charter operations into higher-capacity commercial passenger services requiring inspected vessels and increased passenger authority under USCG regulations.
Upgrade from an OUPV/Six-Pack captain’s license to operate inspected vessels, increase passenger capacity, and qualify for larger commercial boating opportunities.
Operate ferries, tour boats, passenger vessels, and other inspected commercial operations requiring Coast Guard vessel inspection and Master Captain licensing authority.
Applicants must document between 360 and 720 days of qualifying sea service, depending on route, including at least 90 days within the last three years, to meet Coast Guard recency requirements.
Approved training or successful examination must cover navigation, Rules of the Road, chart plotting, vessel operations, and passenger safety requirements for commercial passenger operations.
Provide valid CPR and First Aid certification meeting Coast Guard application requirements before submitting your captain’s license application package for final processing and approval.
Submit the required Coast Guard application forms, medical documentation, drug testing results, and supporting records as part of the captain's license approval process.
Master license requirements vary based on route, tonnage, sea service, and experience, and are subject to current Coast Guard regulations.
Mariners Learning System gives students immediate access to USCG-approved online license training, including integrated study materials, digital coursework, resources, and guided preparation specifically designed for professional mariners.
MLS coursework combines online lessons, chart plotting exercises, Rules of the Road training, practice examinations, and commercial vessel operation topics into a flexible learning system designed for working captains studying on their own schedule.
Mariners Learning System integrates secure online proctored testing directly into the course experience, allowing students to complete required Coast Guard-approved examinations remotely while maintaining testing integrity and compliance standards.
MLS provides guided application support to help students organize sea service documentation, medical forms, drug testing records, and supporting paperwork before submitting their captain’s license package to the National Maritime Center for review.
An OUPV/Six-Pack captain’s license allows operators to carry up to six paying passengers on uninspected vessels for fishing charters, guide services, sightseeing tours, and other small commercial boating operations.
A Master captain’s license allows operators to carry more than six paying passengers on inspected vessels and operate larger commercial passenger services based on vessel certification and route authorization.
Many captains upgrade from an OUPV/Six-Pack License when expanding into inspected passenger vessels, increasing passenger capacity, or growing into larger charter, tour, ferry, and commercial boating operations.
An OUPV license limits you to six passengers on uninspected vessels, while a Master license allows you to carry more passengers on inspected vessels.
Not always, but many operators start with an OUPV/Six-Pack captain’s license and upgrade as their experience and business grow.
Passenger capacity depends on the vessel’s inspection, certification, route, and Coast Guard requirements, not just the license itself.
The minimum sea time requirement may be the same for OUPV and entry-level Master licenses, but higher scopes and tonnages require additional experience. A Master License may require more qualifying sea time depending on the route, tonnage, and authority you are applying for.
Yes. A Master license allows you to operate inspected vessels with a Certificate of Inspection (COI) that meet Coast Guard requirements.
Yes. Many captains upgrade from an OUPV/Six-Pack captain’s license to a Master license as they expand their operations or increase passenger capacity.
Yes. Current CPR and First Aid certification is required as part of your captain's license application process.
You will complete your application and submit the required documentation to the Coast Guard for approval.
