Captain’s License Requirements

Which Captain’s Course is right for you?

Master 25/50/100 Ton

Captain’s License

The US Coast Guard Master 100 Gross Tons License allows its holder to captain any vessel ranging from 25 to 100 Gross Tons, regardless of whether or not it is inspected. Successful completion of our Master 100 GT course and exam satisfies all 100 Ton educational requirements and prepares you to obtain a US Coast Guard-issued master’s license ranging from 25 to 100 GT.

Operate Vessels Including:

High-speed ferries
Whale watching boats
Charter boats carrying over six passengers
Vessels of other sizes and capacities up to 100 tons

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OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels) Captain’s License

The US Coast Guard OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels) License allows boaters to operate an uninspected vessel of up to 100 Gross Tons.

Often referred to as a Six-Pack License, the certification allows captains to operate boats carrying up to six passengers.

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Course Prerequisites

More details about course prerequisites, including Licensing Forms & Checklists can be found here.

Course	Master 25/50/100 Course	USCG OUPV / 6-Pack Online Course
Age Requirement	At least 19 years of age	At least 18 years of age
Required Sea-Time	At least 360 days of sea-time experience: 90 of the 360 days must be within the last three years All experience must be obtained after the age of 16 Master Inland/Mate Near Coastal Prerequisites 360 days of sea-time 90 of the 360 days must be within the last three years All experience must be obtained after the age of 16 180 of the 360 days must be outside the “boundary” line used for licensing purposes Master Near Coastal (to 100NM offshore) Prerequisites 720 days of sea-time 90 of the 720 days must be within the last 3 years All experience must be obtained after the age of 16 360 of the 720 days must be outside the “boundary” line used for licensing purposes	At least 360 days of sea time experience: Each day of experience is defined by a minimum of 4 hours underway Only one day can be logged for every calendar day 90 of the 360 days must be outside the “boundary” line used for licensing purposes. 90 of the 360 days must be within the last 3 years All experience must be obtained after the age of 16 OUPV Inland: 360 days in the operation of vessels OUPV Great Lakes: 360 days of service, OF WHICH 90 days operating vessels on Great Lakes waters OUPV Near Coastal: 360 days in the operation of vessels, OF WHICH 90 days of service on Ocean, Near Coastal or Great Lakes waters
Language Requirement	Firm understanding of the English language	Firm understanding of the English language
US Citizenship	Yes	No
Physical Exam	Yes	Yes
Drug Test	Yes	Yes
First Aid Certification	Yes	Yes
CPR Certification	Yes	Yes
Character References	Yes – 3	No

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