Provider comparison
Mariners Learning System vs US Captains Training
Two online captain’s license schools, compared on price, course access, exam and application help.
US Captains Training is $100 cheaper on both core courses — $595 for the OUPV and $795 for the 100-Ton Master, against Mariners Learning System’s $695 and $895 — and its course access never expires. Mariners’ extra $100 buys two years of Coast Guard application support and an online exam you can take any day, at any time. Both schools’ OUPV and 100-Ton Master courses are backed by the Coast Guard’s NMC approved course list (September 23, 2026 edition). An approved course replaces the Coast Guard exam only; sea time, a medical exam, a drug test and the NMC application are still required.
Mariners Learning System vs US Captains Training: side by side
| Mariners Learning System | US Captains Training | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Mariners Learning SystemFrom $695OUPV/Six-Pack course; 100-Ton Master ~$895. Prices set by the provider. | US Captains TrainingFrom $595OUPV $595; 100-Ton Master $795; upgrades $295; Premium Bundle with live classes and application submission $1,445. |
| Format | Mariners Learning SystemOnline | US Captains TrainingOnline |
| NASBLA approved | Mariners Learning System— | US Captains Training— |
| USCG approved | Mariners Learning System Yes | US Captains Training Yes |
| Pros | Mariners Learning System
| US Captains Training
|
| Cons | Mariners Learning System
| US Captains Training
|
| See Mariners Learning System 10% off with code BOATINGCLASSESWe earn a commission when it’s used, at no extra cost to you. | See US Captains Training |
“—” means we haven’t independently verified that approval (or it doesn’t apply to this course type) — confirm current approval with NASBLA or the U.S. Coast Guard before enrolling. We may earn a commission if you enroll through a link above, at no cost to you.
An approved course replaces the Coast Guard exam only; sea time, a medical exam, a drug test and the NMC application are still required.
10% off at Mariners with code
About $70 off the $695 OUPV course
BOATINGCLASSESEnter it at Mariners Learning System's checkout. We earn a commission when this code is used, at no extra cost to you — it never changes how we rank or review courses.
Which should you choose?
If price and time matter most, US Captains Training is the better buy: it is $100 cheaper for either license, its course never expires, and three exam attempts are included. It is also the one to pick if you want live teaching — its $1,445 bundle adds instructor-led virtual classes twice a week and application preparation and submission by Diamond Marine Services. Pick Mariners Learning System if you want application help without buying a bundle: two years of its MM-SEAS expert support come with the $695 or $895 course, and its proctored exam runs any day, at any time, where US Captains Training’s exam modules must be finished on consecutive days within one business week. Mariners gives you 12 months to finish, and a $125 extension buys more. Both schools’ OUPV courses are on the Coast Guard’s NMC approved course list, so the choice comes down to price, time and help. Either way, the course replaces only the Coast Guard exam: sea time, a medical exam, a drug test, a TWIC and the NMC application are on you.
With code BOATINGCLASSES (10% off; we earn a commission when it is used), Mariners’ OUPV course is about $625.50, so the gap to US Captains Training’s $595 is about $30.
Read the full breakdowns: Mariners Learning System and US Captains Training.
Last updated:
Safety gear to have aboard
Whichever course you pick, these five are the items first-time boaters are most often missing — and four of them are federal requirements. Confirm what applies to your boat with the U.S. Coast Guard and your state boating agency.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra, and it never affects which courses we recommend — see our affiliate disclosure.
USCG-approved life jackets
One properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket is required for every person aboard.
Shop on AmazonEngine cut-off switch lanyard
On a boat under 26 feet, federal law requires the operator to use the engine cut-off link whenever the boat is on plane or above displacement speed — unless the main helm is inside an enclosed cabin. U.S. Coast Guard
Shop on AmazonThrowable flotation device
A Type IV cushion or ring buoy to toss to someone in the water — required on most boats 16 feet and longer.
Shop on AmazonMarine fire extinguisher
Required on boats with a permanently installed fuel tank or any space that can trap fumes. The label must read "Marine Type — USCG Approved", and since April 2022 a disposable extinguisher more than 12 years past its stamped date is expired. U.S. Coast Guard
Shop on AmazonWhistle or marine air horn
An audible signalling device so you can warn other vessels and signal in reduced visibility.
Shop on Amazon
Building a full kit? Read the complete new boater essentials checklist — ten items, what the law requires, and what is simply worth having.
Mariners Learning System vs US Captains Training — FAQ
- Is Mariners Learning System or US Captains Training cheaper?
- US Captains Training, by $100 on each core course: $595 against $695 for the OUPV (Six-Pack), and $795 against $895 for the 100-Ton Master. Mariners includes two years of application support in that price; US Captains Training’s $1,445 bundle adds live classes and application submission. Federal fees, a TWIC and a medical exam cost the same with either. With code BOATINGCLASSES (10% off; we earn a commission when it is used), Mariners’ OUPV course is about $625.50, so the gap to US Captains Training’s $595 is about $30.
- Are both Coast Guard approved?
- Yes. On the Coast Guard National Maritime Center’s approved course list (September 23, 2026 edition), US Captains Training’s OUPV is USCAPT-340 and its 100-Ton Master is USCAPT-281, and Mariners Learning System’s OUPV is MARSCH-340, with MARSCH-631 and MARSCH-534 backing its 25/50/100-Ton Master course. An approved course replaces the Coast Guard exam only; sea time, a medical exam, a drug test and the NMC application are still required.
- Do I still take a Coast Guard exam?
- Not if you finish an approved course within a year of applying: the National Maritime Center’s approved-course list says that “satisfies the examination requirements.” Both schools sell their courses on that basis, with an online proctored final exam in place of testing at a Coast Guard exam center.
- How long do I have to finish the course?
- US Captains Training’s course never expires. Mariners Learning System gives 12 months of course access, and a $125 extension buys more time. Retakes have their own clocks: Mariners asks for them within three months of the first attempt, and US Captains Training allows 90 days to finish any retesting.
- Which one helps with the Coast Guard application?
- Mariners Learning System includes two years of MM-SEAS Expert Access — licensing specialists who answer questions and check your application — with every captain’s course. US Captains Training offers application preparation and submission by Diamond Marine Services as part of its $1,445 Premium Bundle.
Sources (6)
Every factual claim on this page traces to one of these. The date is when we last checked it against the source.
- Mariners Learning System course pages — checked 2026-09-24
- U.S. Coast Guard — checked 2026-09-22
- U.S. Coast Guard — checked 2026-09-22
- US Captains Training course pages — checked 2026-09-24
- USCG National Maritime Center approved courses (MARSCH-340, -631, -534) — checked 2026-09-23
- USCG NMC Course Approvals (September 23, 2026 edition) — checked 2026-09-24
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