California Captain's License Requirements (2026)

What a “California captain's license” actually means#

It isn't a state license — it's the same federal USCG Merchant Mariner Credential with an OUPV or Master endorsement, used nationwide.

Credential issuer

USCG National Maritime Center.

Nearest exam route

REC Oakland, CA / Long Beach, CA.

Local route clue

Offshore or coastal charters around San Diego usually start with OUPV Near-Coastal, then compare Master 50/100 for inspected boats.

Which Rules of the Road apply on California water#

California is the most finely divided coast in Part 80 — 25 sections, one per harbour entrance, from San Diego Harbor (33 CFR 80.1104) up to Crescent City (80.1152), with San Francisco Harbor at 80.1142 and Marina del Rey at 80.1118. Inland water in California is therefore a series of small pockets behind jetty-to-jetty lines rather than a continuous belt: clear the harbour mouth at Newport Beach or Monterey and the International Rules apply immediately. Santa Catalina Island is the exception that catches people, because 80.1102 puts the 72 COLREGS on all the island's waters, so an Avalon or Isthmus mooring run never enters Inland water at all. A California candidate should expect to work in both rulebooks on a single day.

COLREGS Demarcation Lines covering California — 33 CFR Part 80

• 33 CFR 80.1102Santa Catalina Island, CA72 COLREGS apply — no inland water here
• 33 CFR 80.1104San Diego Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1106Mission Bay, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1108Oceanside Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1110Dana Point Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1112Newport Bay, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1114San Pedro Bay—Anaheim Bay, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1116Redondo Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1118Marina Del Rey, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1120Port Hueneme, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1122Channel Islands Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1124Ventura Marina, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1126Santa Barbara Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1130San Luis Obispo Bay, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1132Estero-Morro Bay, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1134Monterey Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1136Moss Landing Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1138Santa Cruz Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1140Pillar Point Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1142San Francisco Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1144Bodega and Tomales Bay, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1146Albion River, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1148Noyo River, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1150Arcata-Humboldt Bay, CAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1152Crescent City Harbor, CAline drawn — Inland water inside

Both kinds of section appear above, so "California" is not by itself an answer — the water is. This decides which rulebook you steer by, not where your credential may operate: the route limit is the 46 CFR Part 7 Boundary Line, and the two lines are not drawn in the same place. How the two lines differ · International Rules · Inland Rules

33 CFR Part 80 and the Part 83 definitions above read from eCFR on 12 Aug 2026. Any specific water is a determination for the cognizant Coast Guard Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.

Which credential do California charter captains need?#

Not sure the trip needs a credential at all? The captain's-license trigger guide.

Credentials charter captains pursue in California

• OUPV Inland (Six-Pack) — operates uninspected <=6-passenger charter boats on inland waters other than the Great Lakes — bays, sounds, inland lakes, and rivers.
• OUPV Near-Coastal (Six-Pack) — extends OUPV to 100 nautical miles offshore — the credential for offshore canyon and bluewater six-pack operators.
• Master 50 GT — mid-tier inspected-vessel master — typical for charter sport-fish operations under 50 gross tons.
• Master 100 GT — full inspected-vessel master up to 100 GT — required for larger charter and tour vessels.