Washington Captain's License Requirements (2026)

What a “Washington 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 Seattle, WA.

Local route clue

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

Which Rules of the Road apply on Washington water#

Washington is the state where the answer most contradicts the chart. 33 CFR 80.1385, 80.1390 and 80.1395 say the 72 COLREGS shall apply on all waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, on Haro Strait and the Strait of Georgia, and on Puget Sound and adjacent waters — so Seattle, the San Juan Islands and Neah Bay are International Rules water despite being landlocked in appearance and hundreds of miles from open ocean. The lines that do exist are on the outer coast: the Columbia entrance at 80.1365 (shared with Oregon), Willapa Bay (80.1370), Grays Harbor (80.1375) and the Quillayute River (80.1380), so a Westport boat inside the bar is on the Inland Rules. A candidate who trains in Puget Sound and assumes the Inland variant has it backwards.

COLREGS Demarcation Lines covering Washington — 33 CFR Part 80

• 33 CFR 80.1365Columbia River Entrance, OR/WAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1370Willapa Bay, WAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1375Grays Harbor, WAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1380Quillayute River, WAline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1385Strait of Juan de Fuca72 COLREGS apply — no inland water here
• 33 CFR 80.1390Haro Strait and Strait of Georgia72 COLREGS apply — no inland water here
• 33 CFR 80.1395Puget Sound and adjacent waters72 COLREGS apply — no inland water here

Both kinds of section appear above, so "Washington" 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 Washington charter captains need?#

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

Credentials charter captains pursue in Washington

• 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.