Who needs an OUPV
If you carry up to six paying passengers on a boat under 100 gross tons that is not inspected by the USCG (i.e. not certificated as a Subchapter T passenger vessel), you need OUPV. Charter fishing, family sportfishing trips, eco-tour skiffs, and dive-charter operators are the typical candidates.
Inland vs Near-Coastal
OUPV Inland operates inside the lines drawn in 33 CFR Part 80 (basically: bays, sounds, the Great Lakes, and inland rivers). OUPV Near-Coastal extends out to 100 nautical miles from shore. Near-Coastal requires more sea time on ocean waters and the COLREGs / International Rules variant of the Rules-of-the-Road exam module.
Sea-service requirements
360 days of total sea service (4 hours = 1 day, 8 hours = 1 day; you cannot count more than one day in a 24-hour period). 90 of those 360 days must have been within the last three years. Near-Coastal candidates need 90 of the 360 days on ocean or near-coastal waters. See our sea-time-requirements guide for documentation specifics.
Medical and screening
Medical clearance via the CG-719K physical (signed by a licensed medical practitioner). Pre-employment drug test via the CG-719P. TWIC card application (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) — fingerprints submitted at a TSA enrolment centre. CPR and First Aid certification from a USCG-recognised provider.
The exam
Four modules: Rules of the Road (Inland and/or International COLREGs depending on credential), Deck General, Deck Safety, and Navigation General. 70% pass mark on each module. Rules of the Road carries a 90% pass mark and is widely considered the hardest module.
Cost
Current USCG lower-level officer fees total $240 for an original OUPV if you test at a REC: $100 evaluation, $95 examination, and $45 issuance. Add the CG-719K physical (~$80–200), drug test (~$60), TWIC card ($124 new or in-person renewal), and CPR/First Aid ($60–100). Approved course providers charge their own course and exam-administration fees, so compare the bundled course price against the REC fee path.
Use the captain license cost breakdown for the full out-of-pocket model, and compare Master 100 captain's license requirements if inspected passenger work is the business goal. If you already hold the credential, use the captain's license renewal forms and cost guide instead of the original-issue fee table.