When it comes to getting your captain’s license, bad information is everywhere. We hear it all the time from learners who were told they must take the OUPV Six-Pack course before they can ever get a Master’s license. That’s wrong—plain and simple.
The truth? If you have the required sea time, you can go directly for your Master’s license—even if it’s your very first license.
That’s right. You do not need to start with an OUPV (Six-Pack) license. The U.S. Coast Guard does not require it, and any training provider that tells you otherwise is either misinformed or intentionally misleading you. Here’s why: any legitimate training provider can write and submit a Master’s course for approval. If they don’t offer it as a first-license option, that’s on them, not you.
At Confident Captain, we don’t believe in silly games or half-truths. We believe in straightforward, effective training that respects your time, your intelligence, and your career path. Our goal is to make your journey from deckhand to licensed captain as clear, professional, and effective as possible. Whether it’s your first credential or your fifth, we’re here to help you get it done right.
Too many so-called “Captain’s Schools” are just traveling roadshows—renting conference rooms, cramming people into a weekend crash course, and sending them off with more questions than answers. Worse, they’re often built on outdated, inaccurate information. You deserve better.
And your local buddy down at the marina? He’s a great guy, but unless he’s up to speed on current USCG policy and credentialing processes, he might not be the best source of information either.
At Confident Captain, we’re different. We’re pros. We live and breathe this stuff. We have the experience and the credibility that so many others just do not have. Every course we offer is fully online, asynchronous, and USCG-approved – including your first-time Master’s license course. We’ve trained thousands of mariners who now serve confidently as professional captains around the world.
And we don’t stop when you get your license. Through the Professional Captains Association, we offer career support that lasts the length of your time on the water. From job opportunities and credential renewals to networking and professional development, we’re with you for the long haul.
Confident Captain is not just the place to pass your Captain’s course—it’s the place to build your career.
