Cost
CaptainsGround
Free
In-person USCG-approved school
$600–900 typical
TL;DR
In-person: $700–900, 6–8 days, USCG exam authority included. CaptainsGround: free, weeks-long self-paced. Combine: study with CaptainsGround, then take a 1-day exam-only proctored session at a school.
Side by side
Format
CaptainsGround
Self-paced web
In-person USCG-approved school
6–8 days in-person
Exam location
CaptainsGround
REC (free)
In-person USCG-approved school
On-site at school (included)
Schedule flexibility
CaptainsGround
Total — study any time
In-person USCG-approved school
Locked to course dates
Travel required
CaptainsGround
None
In-person USCG-approved school
Often (school may be far)
Study depth
CaptainsGround
Deeper — drill until mastered
In-person USCG-approved school
Tightly curated
Which should you pick?
Pick CaptainsGround if…
- Cost: Free
- Format: Self-paced web
- Exam location: REC (free)
- Schedule flexibility: Total — study any time
- Travel required: None
- Study depth: Deeper — drill until mastered
Pick In-person USCG-approved school if…
- Cost: $600–900 typical
- Format: 6–8 days in-person
- Exam location: On-site at school (included)
- Schedule flexibility: Locked to course dates
- Travel required: Often (school may be far)
- Study depth: Tightly curated
Bottom line
Use CaptainsGround for the actual learning; if you want exam authority bundled, take a single-day proctored exam session at a school instead of paying for the full course.
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