South Carolina Captain's License Requirements

Q: How do I get a captain's license in South Carolina?

Getting a captain's license in South Carolina means earning a federal USCG credential, not a state-issued one. The path is: document the required sea service (typically 360 days, with at least 3 months — about 90 days — earned within the last 3 years under 46 CFR 11.201(c)); pass a USCG-approved medical exam (CG-719K) and drug test (CG-719P); obtain a TWIC card and current CPR/First Aid; then pass the written exam at REC Charleston, SC or an approved course provider. Choose OUPV for six-or-fewer-passenger uninspected boats or a Master credential for inspected or larger passenger vessels.

Q: What are the boat captain license requirements in South Carolina?

For passenger-for-hire work in South Carolina, the credential is federal: OUPV for most six-passenger uninspected charter boats, or Master for inspected passenger vessels and larger passenger counts. Applicants still need sea-service evidence, medical, drug-testing, TWIC, CPR/First Aid, and the required USCG exam or approved course.

Q: Does South Carolina issue a separate captain's license?

South Carolina may regulate businesses, fishing guides, permits, or local operations, but the captain credential for passenger-for-hire vessel operation is issued by the USCG National Maritime Center.

Q: Should I choose OUPV or Master?

Choose OUPV when the boat is an uninspected passenger vessel carrying six or fewer passengers for hire. Choose a Master credential when the vessel is inspected, carries more than six passengers, or the business plan needs broader authority.

Q: Where do South Carolina candidates take the USCG exam?

After the NMC approves the application, candidates can test at REC Charleston, SC or through an approved course provider that administers the USCG exam.

OUPV (Six-Pack) and Master credential paths for charter boats, tour boats, and passenger-for-hire operators in South Carolina.

Last verified: 2026-06-02

Primary sources

USCG NMC Charter Boat Captain credential overview (retrieved 2026-05-23)
USCG NMC OUPV checklist (retrieved 2026-05-23)
USCG NMC Master less than 100 GRT checklist (retrieved 2026-05-23)
USCG NMC Regional Exam Centers (retrieved 2026-05-23)
eCFR 46 CFR 11.211 creditable sea service and equivalents (retrieved 2026-06-02)
eCFR 46 CFR 11.201(c) sea-service recency (3 months within last 3 years) (retrieved 2026-06-02)

TL;DR

South Carolina does not issue its own captain's license — the credential is the federal USCG OUPV or Master license. Pick OUPV for six-passenger uninspected charter boats and Master for inspected passenger vessels or larger passenger count. The nearest USCG Regional Examination Center is Charleston, SC. REC Charleston is the East Coast Southern hub. SC inshore operators run OUPV Inland; offshore Mahi/wahoo/marlin trips need OUPV Near-Coastal or Master 100.

Boat captain license requirements in South Carolina

The USCG's charter-boat credential path turns on three practical data points: total days of service, waters served upon, and vessel tonnage. For South Carolinaoperators, the business question is usually whether the boat carries six or fewer passengers for hire, more than six passengers under inspection, or a mix of inland and near-coastal work around Charleston, Hilton Head, Beaufort.

Six or fewer passengers

Use OUPV when the operation is an uninspected passenger vessel limited to six or fewer passengers for hire.

Check OUPV

More than six passengers

Use a Master credential when the vessel needs inspected small-passenger-vessel authority.

Check Master

Application package

Plan sea-service evidence, medical, drug testing, TWIC, CPR/First Aid, and REC Charleston, SC exam timing.

See steps

The credentials charter captains pursue in South Carolina

OUPV Inland (Six-Pack) — operates uninspected <=6-passenger charter boats inside COLREGs demarcation lines (bays, sounds, lakes, 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.

Charter hubs in South Carolina

Charleston
Hilton Head
Beaufort
Murrells Inlet

How to get a captain's license in South Carolina

Document at least 360 days of sea service — see our sea-time requirements guide. 90 of those must be within the last 3 years.
Pass a USCG-approved physical (CG-719K) and drug test (CG-719P).
Submit your application package to the National Maritime Center.
Schedule and pass the written exam at REC Charleston, SC, or at any USCG-approved third-party course that grants exam authority.
Complete the TWIC card application and CPR/First Aid certification before the credential is issued.

Questions about South Carolina captain license requirements

How do I get a captain's license in South Carolina?

Getting a captain's license in South Carolina means earning a federal USCG credential, not a state-issued one. The path is: document the required sea service (typically 360 days, with at least 3 months — about 90 days — earned within the last 3 years under 46 CFR 11.201(c)); pass a USCG-approved medical exam (CG-719K) and drug test (CG-719P); obtain a TWIC card and current CPR/First Aid; then pass the written exam at REC Charleston, SC or an approved course provider. Choose OUPV for six-or-fewer-passenger uninspected boats or a Master credential for inspected or larger passenger vessels.

What are the boat captain license requirements in South Carolina?

For passenger-for-hire work in South Carolina, the credential is federal: OUPV for most six-passenger uninspected charter boats, or Master for inspected passenger vessels and larger passenger counts. Applicants still need sea-service evidence, medical, drug-testing, TWIC, CPR/First Aid, and the required USCG exam or approved course.

Does South Carolina issue a separate captain's license?

South Carolina may regulate businesses, fishing guides, permits, or local operations, but the captain credential for passenger-for-hire vessel operation is issued by the USCG National Maritime Center.

Should I choose OUPV or Master?

Choose OUPV when the boat is an uninspected passenger vessel carrying six or fewer passengers for hire. Choose a Master credential when the vessel is inspected, carries more than six passengers, or the business plan needs broader authority.

Where do South Carolina candidates take the USCG exam?

After the NMC approves the application, candidates can test at REC Charleston, SC or through an approved course provider that administers the USCG exam.

Nearby state guides

Start studying — free during early access

The federal exam is the same nationwide. CaptainsGround drills you against citation-backed questions from 33/46 CFR, COLREGs, and Bowditch.