Virginia Captain's License Requirements (2026)

What a “Virginia 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 Baltimore, MD / Charleston, SC.

Local route clue

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

Which Rules of the Road apply on Virginia water#

Virginia owns the line that makes the whole Chesapeake inland water: 33 CFR 80.510 runs Cape Charles Light to Cape Henry Light, and everything behind it — Reedville, Deltaville, Cape Charles and the Maryland bay above them — is Inland Rules water. Seaward of it, 80.515 covers Cape Henry to Cape Hatteras and 80.505 the Eastern Shore inlets, including Wachapreague at 80.505(d), drawn on the range of Wachapreague Inlet Light 3 and Parramore Beach Lookout Tower. So a Virginia Beach boat crosses the rulebook boundary on the way out of the bay, while a Wachapreague boat crosses it at a much smaller inlet a few miles from the dock. Both are Virginia service and they are not the same route question.

COLREGS Demarcation Lines covering Virginia — 33 CFR Part 80

• 33 CFR 80.505Cape Henlopen, DE to Cape Charles, VAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.510Chesapeake Bay Entrance, VAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.515Cape Henry, VA to Cape Hatteras, NCline drawn — Inland water inside

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 Virginia charter captains need?#

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

Credentials charter captains pursue in Virginia

• 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.