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Captain's Licenses & Yachtmaster
Why Get a Captain's License?
To work as a paid captain or mate
To use your boat for charter
To learn or refresh your skills in navigation, chart plotting, rules of the road, safety & regulations, buoyage systems, basic weather, basic stability, and much more!
To earn a credential that shows your experience and may even reduce insurance costs
To improve your resume if you want to get a job on a bigger boat
What License Should I Get?
We recommend that you get the best license you qualify for! There are a couple of options depending on your citizenship status and boating experience. The two main captain's licenses issued by the USCG are the Operator (6 pack) and the Master. There is no requirement to start with a 6 pack – you can go straight to Master! There are several basic differences, the Operator (6 pack) license is for uninspected vessels up to 100 gross tons, up to 100 miles offshore, and the Master is for inspected (vessels carrying 7 or more passengers) or uninspected vessels up to 100 gross tons, up to 200 miles offshore or on inland waters. Your boating experience may limit the tonnage to 25, 50 or 100 gross tons. Inland licenses are also available if you are operating primarily on inland waters. If you do not have enough sea time to get your Master Near Coastal (offshore), you should consider the Master Inland, Mate Near Coastal, and Operator (6pk) Combo. Another option worth considering is the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Yachtmaster Program, which is valid on foreign flagged yachts up to 200gt. Successful completion of the Yachtmaster Program also includes an MPT Course Certificate which can be presented to the USCG towards the issuance of a USCG Master or Mate License for vessels up to 200gt (level determined by experience).
Sea Time Requirements
All Coast Guard Licenses are based on documented Gross Tonnage. (volume not weight).
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(Note: Clicking on any certificate will take you directly to that section OR you can scroll down.)
Calculating Gross Tonnage:
A vessel's gross tonnage should be listed on its documentation form. If your vessel is state registered instead of federally documented, you can calculate the gross tonnage using the following empirical formula:
100
Captain's Licenses
USCG Operator's License (6-Pk)
Uninspected vessels <6 passengers) up to 100gt/100 miles offshore
At least 360 days of boating experience including 90 days offshore. 90 within past 3 years. If you do not have coastwise experience, you can get an inland license. Non U.S. Citizens may be restricted to undocumented vessels with a 5 net ton limit.
USCG Master Inland / Mate Near Coastal
Inspected or Uninspected vessels up to 100gt on Inland Waters
At least 360 days of boating experience including 90 within the past 3 years. If you have 180 days of offshore experience, you can also get Mate Near Coastal (200 miles) license. If you only have 90 days of offshore time, you can also get OUPV near coastal. If you do not have any nearcoastal sea service, apply for a Master Inland. If all sea time is under 5gt you will get 25gt, If 90 days is over 5gt, you will get 50gt license, If 180 are over 34gt, you will get 100gt license.
USCG Master Near Coastal
Inspected or Uninspected vessels up to 100gt on up to 200 miles offshore
At least 720 days of boating experience including 360 days offshore and 90 within past 3 years. If all sea time is under 5gt you will get 25gt license. If 180 days is over 5gt, you will get 50gt license. If 360 is over 34gt, you will get 100gt license.
Yachtmaster
Yachtmaster Offshore: Certificate Of Competency
MCA Recognized and Accredited by the RYA
Valid for service as Captain or Mate (OOW) up to 200gt up to 150 miles offshore. Refer to MCA manning scale for YM qualifications.
Commercially Endorsed YM fulfills prerequisite for MCA OOW and MCA STCW Command Certificate for Master 200gt
No Citizenship Requirements for RYA/MCA Yachtmaster
Meets STCW A-VI/1 and section A-VI/1-4
When the four modules of STCW Basic Safety Training are completed.
Meets Prerequisite for MCA STCW CoC A-II/2 (ask for details)
Seatime Experience PREREQUISITES: minimums listed below
50 days sea time and at least 2500 miles traveled
5 days as captain
5 passages over 60 miles, 2 overnight, and 2 as captain
Yachtmaster Offshore: Practical Examination
Please note that the Yachtmaster and Coastal Skipper are considered advanced courses and will require a practical examination at the end of the course conducted by an RYA Examiner. We will teach you the knowledge based subjects during your shore based theory week and also fine tune your boat handling skills during your practical course, but you should be familiar with the following areas when you join the class and proficient by the exam date.
Knowledge of the International and Inland Rules of the Road
Safety. The student will be expected to know what safety equipment should be carried on board a yacht.
Boat Handling, Maneuvering, Docking: Coastal Skipper students will be expected to answer questions & demonstrate ability in simple situations only. Yachtmaster candidates are expected to demonstrate ability in more complex situations and will also be expected to show a higher level of expertise.
General seamanship, including maintenance.
Responsibilities of the skipper
Navigation, Basic Weather
Radio Communication & Signaling
Additional Required Certificates for Yachtmasters:
Radio Certificate (MROP, GMDSS GOC, ROC, or SRC)
First Aid Certificate (part of STCW BST Course)
Recommended Continuing Education Certificates for Yachtmasters:
Diesel Engine Course Certificate or MCA Approved Engine Course
Radar Certificate
Oceans Endorsement
COMMERCIAL ENDORSEMENT
Required for Commercial (Paid) Service Send the following items to the RYA.
Basic Sea Survival Certificate (part of BST - Most flag states require full STCW BST)
RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence
Medical Fitness Certificate – MCA ENG1
Must be done by MCA Approved Doctor
Endorsement Fee of £20
Passport Photograph
Prepaid Self Addressed Envelope for Return. MPT recommends FEDEX or DHL
Yachtmaster Oceans: Certificate Of Competency
Fulfills YM Ocean Prerequisite for MCA (Yacht) C.O.C. Upgrades when Commercially Endorsed Accredited by the RYA
Prerequisite Experience Required
Ocean Passage as Skipper or Mate of the Watch
Hold RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
Course Description
6 day Shorebased Theory Program
Celestial (Astro) Navigation, Ocean Meteorology, and Passage Planning
Note: This course assumes that you are still familiar with the Offshore Navigation Subjects.
RYA Yachtmaster Oceans: Practical Passage
Practical (done either before or after class during a passage on your boat)
Sights taken and passage planning notes during a 600nm voyage at sea for +96 hours, & +50 miles from land
RYA Yachtmaster Oceans: Practical EXAMINATION
Oral exam administered by RYA Examiner (Additional examination fees apply)
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