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
USCG fees total around $145–185 (application, evaluation, exam, issuance). Add the CG-719K physical (~$80–200), drug test (~$60), TWIC card ($125), and CPR/First Aid ($60–100). Test-prep services range from free (CaptainsGround) to $400–900 for in-person courses.