OUPV/Six-Pack Captain’s License - Online Course and Exam

Learn and Save Together: Team up, 50% off the second course.

Why You Need This

Unlock New Adventures on the Water! The OUPV/Six-Pack captain's license online course is essential for those looking to start fishing or sailing charters, conduct sightseeing tours, and more. Known as the "6-Pack" license, it allows you to carry up to six paying passengers plus a crew member on uninspected vessels (up to 100 GRT) for both power and sail.

What Is Mariners White Glove Service

When you purchase a captain’s course from us, we include our Mariners White Glove Service. This means that we will be with you every step of the way until you have your captain’s license.

Once you’ve passed the exam for your captain’s license, there are some additional steps to apply for and receive your license from the USCG. But don’t worry, included with your purchase is our License Application Support.

Powered by MM-SEAS, you can access live, expert USCG licensing advice and career mentorship whenever needed. Our White Glove Service double-checks your USCG application for common mistakes, saving you time and hassle. Licensing paperwork has never been easier. Normally, this has a $198 value, but we include this for free for two years!

Pass Guarantee

You put in the work; we guarantee you'll pass your exam! We wrote the course material and the exam, so rest assured you'll be adequately prepared with the knowledge you need to pass the test and feel confident on the water. With our Pass Guarantee and unmatched customer support, learning with Mariners is RISK-FREE!

Put in the work, lean on our support, and we guarantee you'll pass your exam!

Guided application support included - FREE, a $198 value!


computer and phone with mariners logo icon

All Devices

phone and books icon

Flexible Learning

thumbs up and stars icon

Pass Guarantee

two anchors and a flag icon

Coast Guard-Approved

clock 24 7 icon

24/7 Support

How We Stack Up

person driving boat at sunset

Everything You Need To Know

The Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) or Six-Pack captain's license authorizes the holder to operate up to 100 gross tons of uninspected vessels, power and sail. This license applies to boats carrying up to six paying passengers plus one crew. The term "Six-Pack" refers to the license's limitation of six paying passengers.
The OUPV/Six-Pack captain's license is ideal for small-scale maritime services, such as charter fishing, SCUBA diving trips, and sightseeing or tour cruises. It's perfect for operators looking to offer personalized or specialty boating experiences.
The name "Six-Pack" derives from the license's restriction, which allows for a maximum of six paying passengers aboard at any given time, not counting the crew. This limitation aligns with regulations for uninspected vessels, making it a popular choice for small recreational and charter businesses.
Uninspected vessels are boats that do not require full inspection by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) that commercial vessels might. However, they must still comply with federal safety and operational regulations. The OUPV/Six-Pack license applies specifically to these types of vessels.
Qualification involves accumulating specific maritime experience, passing a physical examination and a drug test, obtaining a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), taking CPR and First Aid, paying a Coast Guard application fee, and successfully passing a USCG-approved examination.
Yes. The distinction between the licenses lies in operational boundaries and sea service experience. The OUPV Inland license requires experience operating on inland waters and restricts you to operating within those waters. In contrast, the OUPV Near Coastal license requires experience navigating coastal waters. With this license, you can operate professionally on inland waterways and up to 100 nautical miles offshore.
Documenting boating experience requires the completion of Sea Service Forms that detail the nature and extent of your experience on the water. These forms are part of the application package for an OUPV license and must be submitted along with other required documentation and fees to the United States Coast Guard.
Yes, personal boating experience can count towards the qualification requirements. Applicants must document their experience accurately, including dates, vessel information, and the nature of the voyages.
Yes, applicants must be at least 18 years old and legally eligible to work in the United States.
The license must be renewed every five years. Renewal requirements include showing boating experience or continuing education in some cases, passing a physical and a drug test, and paying the renewal fee.
Carrying more than six paying passengers requires upgrading to a different type of license, specifically a Master's license, and operating a vessel inspected and certified by the USCG to carry more passengers safely.
Yes, you can upgrade from one type of OUPV license to another. For example, if you have an OUPV Inland license and then gain 90 days of experience on the Great Lakes, you can upgrade to the Great Lakes & Near Coastal license. Similarly, additional sea service seaward of the boundary line can lead to an upgrade to a Near Coastal license.

Real Captains, Real Results

Why Choose Our Course?


200,000+ Students Can’t Be Wrong!


Overall rating: 4.7360597 / 5 from 269 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

The OUPV/Six-Pack Captain's License online course and exam is highly regarded for its clear and helpful videos, engaging class, well-organized package, easy-to-follow format, and comprehensive study guides. Customers appreciate the excellent system, informative material, and thorough content, though some found the content boring.

Summary topics

  • Video Clarity: 5%
  • Class Engagement: 4%
  • Package Organization: 4%
  • Product Format: 4%
  • Study Guides: 5%

Review topics: ["experience","material","support","program","delivery","service","quality","videos","setup","interface","customer service","system","layout","test","class","content","information","package","study","format","books","boater","learning","exam","lessons","help","mls","quizzes","cost","process"].

Review highlights

  • "Excellent presentation easily tracks progress, good videos, lectures and book learning all reinforcing the material."Lavender E.
  • "They shipped the books fast, and I was able to access the information online instantly."Wild 9.
  • "I Recommend the teaching style and audio visual and written material"Helpful 2.

Reviews

Appropriately Difficult

"There are plenty of resources for practicing. It is not easy to get beyond a module. The test questions are tricky. But if that is how the final exam is then it’s appropriate."

Chad S. (5/5)

So far the course is

"So far the course is going good. Will update once I have completed."

ETHAN H. (5/5)

Excellent Program

"After getting into it and putting an honest foot forward, I really enjoyed the course and learned a lot. Great overall course and thorough. Major plus for it being self-paced and the final proctored exam being on your schedule. I could work on everything or revisit sections as needed when I had the time. I think this is a plus; I could work each section and study each fully until I was totally comfortable with it. I landed on Mariner’s Learning System on my own, but I’d recommend this course to anyone looking to apply for their OUPV."

Mark W. (5/5)

It was a good system

"It was a good system and I was able to do well on the test. I really appreciated the military discount."

Terrence K. (5/5)

Six pack review

"I believe this course is designed to be way more difficult than it should be. I think more time should be spent on safety and what to do in an emergency. The course was very informative but I feel I spent way too much time and energy learning material I will never use."

tim s. (5/5)

Very well done and very

"Very well done and very easy to use on line course. You don’t really need the additional study guides as the course is sufficient. The downloadable notes for each section could be better written and provide a more concise review of key points. Often the notes are presented in more of a statement of something the rule allows as opposed to the exact requirements of the rule."

David K. (5/5)

So far it's been interesting

"So far it's been interesting and fun"

Jack R. (5/5)

I would upgrade the videos

"I would upgrade the videos and have an instructor explaining and giving memory aids."

WILLIAM F. (4/5)

So far I have no

"So far I have no issues and the material has been presented in a way that is easy to comprehend. I have only been studying and using the course for approximately a month"

JOSEPH K. (5/5)

Owen Robertson

"It’s a learning friendly way to learn"

Owen R. (5/5)

Q&A

How long do I have to complete the 6-pack course
Students have one year from activation to complete their online course and pass our final exam. How you break up your study time within that year is up to you; some students have taken 3 days, 3 weeks, or 3 months - it depends on your schedule. Consistency is key though!