Mariners Learning System
FeaturedOnline USCG captain's license courses (OUPV and Master) completed entirely online, including an at-home proctored exam.
OnlineFrom $695USCG-approved
Course type
Captain's License
A USCG captain's license lets you carry paying passengers. The OUPV (“Six-Pack”) covers up to six passengers, while a Master license scales to larger vessels and crews. These are the highest-value…
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About captain's license courses
A USCG captain's license lets you carry paying passengers. The OUPV (“Six-Pack”) covers up to six passengers, while a Master license scales to larger vessels and crews.
These are the highest-value courses on the site: they take real study time, cost more, and lead to paid work, so choosing an accredited, well-reviewed provider matters.
How do you get a captain's license?
Two paths — OUPV and Master — converge on the same six steps. It starts with an approved course and exam.
- OUPV path
- Master path
- Course & exam
- USCG license
- Admin steps
OUPV vs Master: which captain's license do you need?
Both are U.S. Coast Guard credentials that let you get paid to operate a boat — the difference is scale. An OUPV (“Six-Pack”) lets you carry up to six paying passengers on uninspected vessels, and it's the entry point for most charter fishing, dive, and tour captains. A Master license lets you operate Coast Guard–inspected vessels and carry more than six passengers, up to the limit on that vessel's Certificate of Inspection. Most people start with the OUPV and upgrade to a Master later as they log more sea time.
| OUPV (“Six-Pack”) | Master (up to 100 GT) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it lets you do | Carry up to 6 paying passengers for hire on uninspected vessels | Operate Coast Guard–inspected vessels and carry more than 6 passengers |
| Vessel type | Uninspected, under 100 GRT | Inspected and uninspected, up to the license tonnage |
| Passenger limit | 6 | More than 6 — set by the vessel’s Certificate of Inspection, not the license |
| Sea-time required | 12 months of vessel-operation experience (~360 days) | 2 years total service (~720 days); at least 1 year on ocean/near-coastal waters |
| Recency | At least 3 months of qualifying service within the prior 3 years | Same — at least 3 months within the prior 3 years |
| Minimum age | 18 | 19 (Master of 25–200 GRT) |
| Tonnage | n/a (under 100 GRT) | Issued at 25 / 50 / 100 GT based on the vessels your experience was earned on |
| Typical use | Charter fishing, dive, eco-tour, and delivery captains starting out | Larger charters, tour boats, water taxis, dinner cruises; captains scaling up |
| Course cost (rough) | ~$600–$700 online; ~$850–$1,050 in person | Higher than OUPV; often sold as an upgrade |
Both licenses are issued for Inland, Great Lakes, or Near Coastal waters (Near Coastal = within 100 nautical miles offshore), depending on where your sea time was logged.
How much does a captain's license cost?
Plan on roughly $1,300–$1,600 all-in for an OUPV once you add the course, the Coast Guard fees, and the required documents — not just the course price you see advertised. The course itself varies most: fully online courses run about $600–$700, while in-person classroom courses run about $850–$1,050 (plus a ~$100 exam fee). A Master license costs more, since it requires a longer course.
What drives the cost
- Course format — online self-paced is cheapest; live-online and in-person cost more
- License level — Master courses cost more than OUPV; endorsements (towing, sailing, FCC radio) add cost
- Where you live — in-person tuition varies by school and region
Required fees (separate from the course)
- USCG fees: ~$145 — a $100 evaluation + $45 issuance (the $110 exam fee applies only if you test at a Coast Guard exam center instead of completing an approved course)
- TWIC card: ~$125 (5-year credential)
- Medical certificate / DOT physical: ~$75–$175
- Drug test: ~$75–$150
- CPR / First Aid certification
Ready to start? Get certified with Mariners Learning System
Mariners Learning System offers fully online, self-paced OUPV and Master captain's license courses, including an at-home proctored exam — so you can study on your own schedule.
Start your captain's license with Mariners Learning System
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Not sure you're ready? Find out before it counts.
Take our free readiness check — real NASBLA/USCG questions on navigation rules, lights, and distress signals — and see exactly what you don't know before you enroll.
Best captain's license providers
Our editorial picks — featured and top-rated providers first. Confirm the course is accepted in your state before enrolling.
4.5
Online USCG captain's license courses (OUPV through Master/Mate 200 Ton) with self-paced study and a proctored online exam.
OnlineFrom $595
A long-running maritime school offering USCG captain's license and professional courses online and at Southeast US campuses.
HybridFrom $600
Frequently asked questions
- Is a captain’s license federal or issued by my state?
- It’s federal. A captain’s license is a Merchant Mariner Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center, valid nationwide — not a state-issued card. State boater-education cards are a separate, recreational requirement. Your captain’s license is recognized in every state, regardless of where you take the course.
- What can you do with a captain’s license?
- It lets you legally operate a vessel commercially and carry paying passengers. An OUPV (“Six-Pack”) covers up to six passengers on uninspected boats; a Master license covers inspected vessels and more passengers. It’s required for charter fishing, dive, tour, and delivery work. You must be 18 for an OUPV and 19 for a Master.
- OUPV or Master — which one do I need?
- Choose OUPV if you’ll carry six or fewer paying passengers (most charter fishing and small tours) — it needs less sea time and a shorter course. Choose Master if you’ll run Coast Guard–inspected vessels or carry more than six passengers. Many captains earn the OUPV first and upgrade to a Master as they log more time.
- How much sea time do I need before I can get licensed?
- An OUPV requires 12 months (about 360 days) of documented vessel-operation experience, with at least 3 months of it within the 3 years before you apply; a Master requires 2 years (about 720 days). A “day” of service is generally 8 hours underway — and as little as 4 hours on vessels under 100 GRT at the Coast Guard’s discretion.
- How much does a captain’s license cost?
- Budget roughly $1,300–$1,600 all-in for an OUPV. The course runs about $600–$700 online or $850–$1,050 in person, and the rest is required fees: about $145 in Coast Guard fees ($100 evaluation + $45 issuance), a roughly $125 TWIC card, a medical exam, a drug test, and CPR certification. Use our cost calculator to estimate your own total.
- How do you actually get the license, step by step?
- Complete a USCG-approved course and pass its exam, then gather a TWIC card, a Coast Guard medical certificate, a drug test, and CPR/First Aid. Submit your application and documented sea time to the National Maritime Center, which reviews your file and issues your credential. The step-by-step diagram above walks through all six steps.
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