Get Your Captain's License

Course Overview

Qualification

A licensed master of 100 tons may operate US registered vessels of up to but not exceeding their licensed tonnage upon either inland (less than 3 miles offshore) or near coastal (less than 100 miles offshore), with no restriction as to the number of passengers carried (this limitation is dependent on the Certificate of Inspection associated with the vessel being captained).

Objectives

This course is intended to provide the candidate with a certificate in lieu of examination at a United States Coast Guard Regional Exam center, demonstrating comprehension of subjects equal to or better than those required of a Master of 100 tons upon Inland or Near Coastal Waters (limitations of lesser tonnage or waters will be based on the candidate’s ability to meet application requirements).

Entry Standards

This course is open to general admission, and there are no prerequisites.

Please note that if this course is being taken for licensing purposes with the United States Coast Guard (not just educational enrichment) then there will be basic requirements for the candidate to successfully use the certificate of completion from this course with their application to the Coast Guard. The most recent requirements, which is subject to change, can be found on the website of the National Maritime Center.  For convenience, the basic application requirements are listed below.

Technical Requirements

Computer access with software compatible with and capability of displaying most forms of web pages, or smart device with an Android or iOS operating system with ability to either a) access the internet or, b) download and store the contents of this lesson on the device locally. If you can read this web page, and if you can complete the Orientation Pro-Seminar, then you meet these requirements.

Application Requirements

• Must be minimum 19 years old.
• Completed Merchant Mariner Credential (MCC) application, form CG-719B.
• Documentation of sea service, letters or form CG-719S (or DD2-14 for military time).
• Pass a Physical Exam and obtain a medical certificate, Form CG-719K, within a year.
• Pass a DOT 5-Panel Drug Screen, or proof of Random Testing Program, within 6 months.
• Proof of US Citizenship (or residency for operators of uninspected passenger vessels).
• TWIC Application with successful subsequent TSA background check.
• USCG approved First Aid & CPR certificates, within a year.
• Completion of Training certificate.
• Payment of MMC and licensing fees.

Sea Service Requirements

• 720 days total, of which
• 360 days seaward of the boundary line, or on the Great Lakes
• 90 days in the past three years (called “recency”)

For Inland / Great Lakes Waters:

• 360 days total, of which
• 90 on the Great Lakes (for Great Lakes endorsement)
• 90 in the last three years

For 100 Tons:

• 90 days on a vessel 51 GRT or above, or
• 190 days on a vessel 34 GRT or above, or
• 180 days on a vessel 5 GRT while holding a master’s license.

For 50 Tons:

•  1 day on a vessel over 5 GRT prior to March 24, 2014, or
• 90 days on a vessel 25 GRT or above, or
• 180 days on a vessel 17 GRT or above.

• If the above cannot be met, the mariner will receive a 25 GRT limitation.

Provided With Enrollment

• Enrollment with all required access to educational materials for completion of this course.
• Instructor support for educational or technical questions concerning this course.
• Access to community forums for support from educational peers.
• Supplementary reference material.

Additional Materials Required

While the great majority of this course can be completed entirely online or using a smart device, there are aspects that will require the use of external resources and will include:

• Navigational plotting instruments (12″ parallel rules, 6″ dividers, mechanical pencils).
• Full sized Long Island Sound Training Chart – 12354TR.

For purposes of quickness and efficiency, additional printed reference material is also recommended, although electronic copies are available free (and access will be provided) and includes:

• Coast Pilots Volumes 1, 4, 6, 7.
• Light List Volume V – Mississippi River System (editions 1998, 2000, or 2002).
• Reprints from the Tide Tables and Tidal Currant Tables.
• Maneuvering Board WOBZP 4090 7642-01-400-9445.
• Radar plotting sheets.

Course Completion Requirements

In order to successfully complete this course, each candidate must obtain a grade percentage of not less than 70% on all quizzes and, upon final examination, 70% on all modules (90% on chart plotting and rules of the road), and successfully complete each lab exercise and practical demonstration. Upon completion of this course, the candidate will receive a Certificate of Training. This will authorize the candidate to schedule a final examination with a Salty Tar examiner at an authorized testing center.

Upon successful final examination, the candidate will be issued a Course Completion Certificate. This may be used to satisfy the US Coast Guard requirements of examination in lieu of testing at their facility.

Re-Test Policy

Students are permitted to re-take a failed test or an unsuccessful lab exercise or practical demonstration no more than twice. A student that fails will, after three unsuccessful attempts, be required to re-take the entire course. If the course must be re-taken, the student will not be charged additional for this, however, if an additional final examination must be scheduled with a Salty Tar Examiner, there will be a fee for that examiner’s time, test materials, and duplicity of documentation.