Getting Your Captain's License?

[gymrat987654321]

I'm thinking about getting my license and have no idea where to get started. How do I go about getting my license?

[Hotrod]

http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/forums/index.php?topic=20370.0  

And tons more in that forum

So there is the Online with Mariners.  you do the work and then go take the test.

and then there is a course with I think sea school.. where you do it all in a class

[gymrat987654321]

Lol that was easy. Thanks

[IrishAyes]

Before you go thru all that, make sure you have your qualifications for sea time. Four or more hours on the water constitutes one day of sea time.

The OUPV Near Coastal License requires at least 360 days of documented experience in the operation of vessels, 90 of which must be gained seaward of the boundary line. Ninety of the 360 days must be in the last three years. Experience gained prior to the age of 15 will not be counted.

The CG does not require you to document your time by logs. You fill out a sheet with the days served per month/year and that is acceptable to them. If you are the owner of the boat you served on you provide the registration of the boat. If you served on someone else's boat the owner of that boat has to sign the sheet for your time. Remember, we are talking a minimum of 360 DAYS, not HOURS.

[gymrat987654321]

  That's a lot of days.

[Mariners]

Gymrat,
When you are ready, click on the Mariners Learning System Banner on the NJ Saltwater Fisherman site and it will bring you to our Captain's License website. Here is some info on the OUPV/SixPack License.

License Requirements

The USCG Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV/SixPack Captain's License) allows the holder to carry up to six paying passengers on uninspected vessels up to 100 gross tons (about 75-90 feet long). These are usually smaller vessels that normally engage in charter fishing, SCUBA diving, or tour cruises. As such, these vessels are limited to six paying passengers plus crew-hence the term "Six-Pack." The OUPV License is issued in three forms: OUPV Inland License, OUPV Great Lakes & Inland and OUPV Near Coastal

OUPV Inland License: The OUPV Inland license is restricted to operation shoreward of the boundary line, excluding the Great Lakes. This license is valid on uninspected vessels to 100 gross tons.

    * This license requires at least 360 days of documented experience in the operation of vessels, with 90 of the 360 days occurring in the last three years. Experience gained prior to 15 years of age may not be counted.
    * The OUPV Inland License can be upgraded to an OUPV Near Coastal License once 90 days experience seaward of the boundary line has been achieved.

OUPV Great Lakes & Inland: 360 total with at least 90 days service on the Great Lakes.

OUPV Near Coastal: This license is valid on vessels up to 100 gross tons and out to 100 nautical miles.

The OUPV Near Coastal License also requires at least 360 days of documented experience in the operation of vessels, 90 of which must be gained seaward of the boundary line. Ninety of the 360 days must be in the last three years. Experience gained prior to the age of 15 will not be counted.

Note: Sea Service experience can be counted on your own vessel. A Sea Service Form and proof of ownership are required. Experience on other people's vessels can also be counted. In this instance, to verify experience claimed and vessel details, a completed Sea Service Form with the owner's signature must accompany the application.

Additional Requirements Include:

    * Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC)
    * Age 18 or over
    * Physical, drug test and eye exam
    * CPR/First Aid training
    * Completion of Mariners Learning System™ USCG-approved OUPV/Six-Pack online course

No testing at the USCG Regional Exam Centers is necessary. All testing is done at our facilities.

Upon successful completion of the Mariners Learning System™ online OUPV course, the student studies the materials and takes a proctored exam at one of our Coast Guard approved testing sites. Once the student passes our multiple choice exam, he or she will receive a Mariners Learning System™ certificate recognized by the United States Coast Guard. Simply submit, within one year, the original certificate along with your application package and applicable fees to the USCG Regional Exam Center. Upon their approval of your package, they will send you your original License.