Everything you need — one place to start.
17+ cited guides on getting licensed, choosing a credential, and passing the exam. Not sure where to begin? Pick the path that fits you below.
Just exploring
Do I even need a license?
Find out if your trips require a credential, then what the whole thing costs.
See if you need oneReady to study
Drill real exam questions
Answer NMC-format questions, every answer cited. No signup to start.
Try 5 freeClose to exam day
Format, pass marks & where to test
Module list, the 90% Rules threshold, approved courses, and REC locations.
Get exam-readyGetting licensed
6 guidesStart here — whether you need a license at all, the full path from logbook to credential, and what it costs.
USCG Captain's License Requirements — How to Get LicensedStart here
USCG captain's license requirements for 2026: choose OUPV or Master, document sea time, complete CG-719K, drug test, TWIC, CPR/First Aid, apply to NMC, and pass the exam.
Do I Need a Captain's License for My Yacht?
When a private boat, yacht, charter, or passenger-for-hire trip triggers a USCG captain's license in 2026: OUPV, Master, six-passenger limits, and bareboat edge cases.
USCG Captain's License Cost in 2026 — Total Out-of-Pocket Breakdown
A USCG captain's license costs $600–1,200 all-in — $240 USCG fees (46 CFR 10.219) plus CG-719K physical, drug test, TWIC, and CPR. OUPV ~$585–700; renewal $95–140.
USCG Sea Time Requirements — How to Document Sea Service
Exactly how the USCG counts sea time, what counts as a day, and how to document service on form CG-719S. Inland vs Near-Coastal differences explained.
USCG Medical Certificate Renewal (CG-719K) — Fee, Forms, and Filing
The Coast Guard charges $0 to renew a merchant mariner medical certificate. File the CG-719K on its own to [email protected] or the NMC upload portal — plus exam standards, who can sign, and how long it stays valid.
TWIC Card — Application, Fees, Disqualifying Offenses, and Renewal
TWIC for USCG credential applicants: current TSA enrollment fee, online renewal cost, required documents, disqualifying offenses under 49 CFR 1572.103, replacement card, and how TWIC fits the OUPV/Master timeline.
Credentials
7 guidesOUPV (Six-Pack) versus Master, and how the 25 / 50 / 100-ton tiers are assigned.
OUPV (Six-Pack) License — Requirements, Exam, and Cost
Everything required to earn the OUPV Six-Pack: 360 days of sea time, the CG-719K physical, the route-specific exam with chart plotting, and the application path.
100-Ton Captain's License (USCG Master 100 GRT)
100-ton captain's license requirements: the sea time on inspected vessels, the broader exam (split Deck General/Safety and a tighter General module alongside the shared Chart Plot), and how the USCG Master 100 GRT credential assigns the 100 / 50 / 25 GRT limit under 46 CFR 11.422.
Master 50 GT — Mid-Tier Captain Credential
Master 50 GT sits between OUPV and Master 100, allowing operation of inspected passenger vessels up to 50 gross tons. Sea time, exam, and upgrade path.
25-Ton Master Captain License Requirements (Master 25 GT)
USCG Master 25 GT / 25-ton captain license requirements: sea time by route, inspected-vessel authority, tonnage evidence, exam modules, and upgrade path.
OUPV vs Master — Which Captain's License Should You Get?
OUPV (Six-Pack) vs Master 25/50/100 — passenger limits, vessel size, sea-time differences, exam differences, and which credential makes sense for your operation.
Near-Coastal vs Great Lakes vs Inland — OUPV Routes
The three OUPV route endorsements under 46 CFR 11.467: near-coastal (100 miles offshore), Great Lakes and inland, and inland — which excludes the Great Lakes. Service months, demarcation lines, and exam differences.
Charter Fishing Captain's License — OUPV for Charter Operators
What charter fishing captains need: OUPV (Six-Pack) Near-Coastal or Inland. Sea time, exam, federal vs state requirements for guides on saltwater and freshwater.
Exam logistics
4 guidesExam format and pass marks, approved courses, where to test, and renewal.
USCG Captain's License Exam — Format, Pass Marks, and Practice Tests
USCG captain's license exam modules, pass marks, practice-test sources, OUPV and Master exam codes, chart-plot rules, allowed materials, and the full 46 CFR 11.217 retest clock if you fail.
Captain's License Courses — USCG-Approved Classes vs the REC Exam
USCG captain's license courses and classes explained: an approved course can replace the Coast Guard exam under 46 CFR 10.402, but self-study plus the free REC exam is a valid path. Course cost, what to verify, and how to choose.
USCG Regional Examination Centers (REC) — Locations, Scheduling, and Exam Day
Address, phone, and exam-room hours for all 19 USCG Regional Exam Centers and Monitoring Units on one page — plus how to book and what to bring.
How to Renew a USCG Captain's License — Forms, Cost & Expired Credentials
Renewing a USCG captain's license (MMC renewal): the five 46 CFR 10.227 competence options, the complete forms checklist (CG-719B/K/S/P), $95–$140 in fees, expired-credential rules, and the Document of Continuity.
The Rules — hardest module
4 guidesThe 90%-pass Rules of the Road. Read the rule, then drill it: every rule page links into the Rules-of-the-Road module.
COLREGs — International Rules of the Road
All 38 navigation Rules (Parts A–E) — the 90%-pass module candidates fail most.
COLREGs Rule 34 — sound & light signals
Maneuvering and warning signals: the classic exam trap.
Inland Navigation Rules (33 CFR Part 83)
The US inland rule set, with the five exam-relevant divergences flagged.
Inland Rules vs COLREGs
Rules 9, 10, 24, 28, and 34 side by side.
Reference
4 guidesSurfaces that span every module.