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F r e q u e n t l y A s k e d Q u e s t i o n s

W h y d o y o u n e e d a l i c e n s e ?
A l i c e n s e i s r e q u i r e d t o l e g a l l y c a r r y p a s s e n g e r s f o r h i r e . T h i s w o u l d i n c l u d e c h a r t e r s f o r f i s h i n g , s i g h t s e e i n g , d i v i n g , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o r a n y o t h e r “ f o r h i r e ” s i t u a t i o n . P e o p l e g e t t h e i r l i c e n s e f o r a v a r i e t y o f r e a s o n s . S o m e p e o p l e c h o o s e t o t u r n t h e i r h o b b y i n t o a c a r e e r w h i l e o t h e r s j u s t w a n t t o b e s a f e r b o a t e r s . H a v i n g y o u r C a p t a i n ’ s l i c e n s e m a y q u a l i f y y o u f o r d i s c o u n t s o n y o u r i n s u r a n c e o r m a y m a k e y o u e l i g i b l e f o r t a x b r e a k s o n d e p r e c i a t i o n a n d v e s s e l e x p e n s e s .

W h a t i s a U . S . C o a s t G u a r d a p p r o v e d c o u r s e ?
O u r c o u r s e s a n d a l l o f o u r m a t e r i a l h a v e b e e n a p p r o v e d b y t h e U S C G a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e t o t h e t e s t i n g p r o c e s s a t t h e U S C G R e g i o n a l E x a m i n a t i o n C e n t e r . T h e U S C G h a s t h o u s a n d s o f q u e s t i o n s i n t h e i r d a t a b a s e . W e u s e o n l y a f e w h u n d r e d q u e s t i o n s f r o m t h a t d a t a b a s e . A l l o f t h e s u b j e c t a r e a s a r e c o v e r e d t h o r o u g h l y i n c l a s s .

B u t I s t i l l h a v e t o t a k e a n e x a m i n a t i o n ?
Y e s . Y o u d o s t i l l t a k e a t e s t . A c t u a l l y , f o r t h e O U P V l i c e n s e t h e t e s t h a s f o u r p a r t s . Y o u r t e s t i n g i n c l u d e s : R u l e s o f t h e R o a d , D e c k G e n e r a l / S a f e t y , N a v i g a t i o n G e n e r a l , P l o t t i n g . A l l m a t e r i a l i s c o v e r e d i n t h e o n l i n e c l a s s . T e s t s a r e d o n e a t o u r a p p r o v e d t e s t i n g f a c i l i t y . F o r a l i s t o f o u r c u r r e n t l y a p p r o v e d s i t e s , p l e a s e c o n t a c t u s .

W h a t i f I d o n ’ t p a s s o n e s e c t i o n ?
I f y o u d o n ’ t m e e t t h e m i n i m u m s c o r e o n o n e s e c t i o n y o u c a n r e t a k e t h a t o n e s e c t i o n w i t h o u t h a v i n g t o r e t a k e t h e o t h e r s e c t i o n s . Y o u c a n r e t e s t t h r e e t i m e s .

W h a t a r e t h e p r e r e q u i s i t e s f o r t a k i n g t h e c o u r s e ?
Y o u m u s t p r o v i d e v a l i d p h o t o i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w h e n y o u c o m e t o c l a s s , b u t t h e r e a r e n o o t h e r p r e r e q u i s i t e s f o r t h e O U P V c o u r s e

I s t h e r e a n y t h i n g e l s e r e q u i r e d t o g e t m y l i c e n s e ?
Y e s . T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l t h i n g s t h a t a r e r e q u i r e d t o g e t y o u r l i c e n s e . Y o u w i l l n e e d a p h y s i c a l e x a m , d r u g t e s t , C P R / F i r s t A i d c e r t i f i c a t i o n , p r o o f o f a g e a n d c i t i z e n s h i p ( O U P V l i c e n s e d o e s n o t r e q u i r e U S C i t i z e n s h i p ) a n d d o c u m e n t a t i o n o f y o u r s e a s e r v i c e t i m e . F o r t h e m o s t c u r r e n t i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s p l e a s e c o n t a c t u s o r y o u c a n g o t o t h e U S C G N a t i o n a l M a r i t i m e C e n t e r W e b S i t e
h t t p : / / w w w . u s c g . m i l

W h a t c a n I e x p e c t w i t h t h e o n l i n e c l a s s ?

W e t a k e a n o -n o n s e n s e a p p r o a c h t o o u r o n l i n e c l a s s . I f y o u a r e l o o k i n g f o r a f a n c y h i g h -t e c h s i t e w i t h l o t s o f c u t e v i d e o s , w e a r e p r o b a b l y n o t t h e c l a s s f o r y o u . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i f y o u a r e l o o k i n g f o r a s i m p l e , n o -n o n s e n s e c l a s s t h a t w i l l h e l p y o u g e t y o u r c a p t a i n s l i c e n s e … . . y o u a r e i n t h e r i g h t p l a c e .

S t i l l h a v e q u e s t i o n s ? G i v e u s a c a l l o r s e n d u s a n e m a i l .
W e w i l l b e g l a d t o a n s w e r y o u r q u e s t i o n s .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why do you need a license?
A license is required to legally carry passengers for hire. This would include charters for fishing, sightseeing, diving, transportation or any other “for hire” situation. People get their license for a variety of reasons. Some people choose to turn their hobby into a career while others just want to be safer boaters. Having your Captain’s license may qualify you for discounts on your insurance or may make you eligible for tax breaks on depreciation and vessel expenses.

What is a U. S. Coast Guard approved course?
Our courses and all of our material have been approved by the USCG as an alternative to the testing process at the USCG Regional Examination Center. The USCG has thousands of questions in their database. We use only a few hundred questions from that database. All of the subject areas are covered thoroughly in class.

But I still have to take an examination?
Yes. You do still take a test. Actually, for the OUPV license the test has four parts. Your testing includes: Rules of the Road, Deck General/Safety, Navigation General, Plotting. All material is covered in the class. Tests are done at our approved testing facility. For a list of our currently approved sites, please contact us.

What if I don’t pass one section?
If you don’t meet the minimum score on one section you can retake that one section without having to retake the other sections. You can retest three times.

What are the prerequisites for taking the course?
You must provide valid photo identification when you come to class, but there are no other prerequisites for the OUPV course

Is there anything else required to get my license?
Yes. There are several things that are required to get your license. You will need a physical exam, drug test, CPR/First Aid certification, TWIC card, proof of age and citizenship (OUPV license does not require US Citizenship) and documentation of your sea service time. For the most current information on the requirements please contact us or you can go to the USCG National Maritime Center Web Site
http://www.uscg.mil

What can I expect with the class?

We take a no-nonsense approach to our class. If you are looking for a fancy high-tech facility with lots of cute videos, we are probably not the class for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a simple, no-nonsense class that will help you get your captains license…..you are in the right place.

Still have questions? Give us a call or send us an email.
We will be glad to answer your questions.

What is a TWIC card?

TWIC stands for Transporation Worker Identification Card. It is an id card that has very stringent requirements for identification before the card will be issued. It also involves a background check.

Why do I need to take a course?

Can't I just use a study guide?

Yes. You could do those things. However, most students find that it is much easier to learn in a classroom setting with a real live instructor and with other students.

If I take the Masters Upgrade class, how do I know what size my license will be – 25, 50 or 100 ton?

When you apply for your license you will be required to document your sea service time. The size of the license is determined by the size of vessel used to accumulate your sea service time.