Mariners Learning System

How much does Mariners Learning System cost?

The OUPV (Six-Pack) course costs $695 and the 25/50/100-Ton Master course costs $895, and each price includes the online proctored final exam.

There is no separate fee for taking the exam online. The smaller extras are a set of parallels and dividers for the chart-plotting module, $29.95 for a replacement test packet if the original is opened early, and $125 to extend your course access past its 12 months.

The Coast Guard’s own costs — the application fee, a TWIC, a physical and a drug test — are separate from any course, whichever school you choose.

Sources: Mariners OUPV course page, Mariners Master course page, Mariners test packet policy, Mariners course extension

Is Mariners Learning System legit?

Yes — Mariners’ OUPV course and its upgrade to 100-ton Master are on the Coast Guard’s NMC approved course list.

Finishing the approved course satisfies the Coast Guard’s exam requirement, so you don’t sit a separate Coast Guard exam, provided you apply within a year of completing it.

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 has run captain’s license courses since 2002, publishes its prices on its own course pages, and includes its proctored final exam in the course price.

Sources: USCG National Maritime Center approved courses (MARSCH-340, -631, -534), USCG NMC Course Approvals (September 23, 2026 edition), Mariners About page, Mariners OUPV course page

Can I take the whole Mariners course online?

Yes — the coursework and the proctored final exam are both online, and you can sit the exam any day, at any time, without booking an appointment.

You need a desktop or laptop with a webcam and microphone, and a quiet space for the exam. Once you pass, you send your certificate to the Coast Guard with your application within a year.

Sources: Mariners online testing page, Mariners OUPV course page

What courses does Mariners Learning System offer?

Mariners covers the two main Coast Guard captain’s licenses — the OUPV (Six-Pack) and the 25/50/100-Ton Master — plus upgrades, endorsements, renewals, FCC radio licenses and recreational boating courses.

On its own pages, an OUPV-to-Master upgrade is $375, sailing and towing endorsements are $150 each, a license renewal course is $250, and FCC radio exams start at $85. You don’t need an OUPV first: with enough sea time, you can go straight to the Master course.

Sources: Mariners course catalog, Mariners Master course page

What help do I get with the Coast Guard application?

Every Mariners captain’s course includes two years of MM-SEAS Expert Access: phone or video help from licensing specialists, plus a check of your application for common mistakes.

That support covers the steps after the course — documenting your sea service, the medical and drug-test requirements, and the application itself. Those steps, and their costs, are still yours to complete.

Source: Mariners OUPV course page

Mariners vs Sea School: which should I choose?

Sea School’s online OUPV is $95 cheaper at $600, while Mariners’ $695 includes two years of Coast Guard application support.

Both lead to the same Coast Guard credential. Pick Mariners if you want help with the paperwork after the course; pick Sea School if price matters most, or if you want a classroom, which Mariners does not offer.

Sources: Sea School online OUPV page, Mariners OUPV course page

Compare Mariners Learning System

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