Whether you underwent formal mariner training to learn how to sail or learned from years of hands-on training from a friend or family member, you still may be wondering how to make money with your boating expertise. Captain’s licenses are a legitimate way to turn your vessel into a business, but many boat owners are unaware of them and how to acquire one. To learn more about captain licenses, consider the helpful guide below.

A Guide to Captain’s Licenses

What Are They?

A captain’s license is a legal document that allows you to carry paying customers on your boat, essentially turning a private sea vessel into a charter. With this license, you can use your boat to transport customers to various locations or use it for marine sightseeing services, such as sunset or dolphin tours. Depending on your boating insurance, you may need a captain’s license to prove to the company that your boat has a qualified person on board.

What Types of Licenses Are Available?

There are two primary types of captain’s licenses available. The first is the Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV). Also known as the six-pack captain’s license, the OUPV is needed to carry six paying customers on an uninspected boat. The Master license is the second type, and it is for inspected vessels that hold more than seven passengers. If you plan to travel up to 200 miles offshore with customers, this is the license you’ll need.

How Do You Get a License?

There are several steps you’ll need to take to get your license, including taking a captain’s license exam. This test covers general knowledge you learn during mariner training, such as deck knowledge, boat terminology, and coastal navigation. You will also need to have at least 360 days of sea service documented on a Small Vessel Sea Service Form or in a detailed letter signed off by the master or owner of the boat you worked from. Additional requirements include a physical exam, drug screening, and a first aid card to prove that you are physically capable of operating the boat and helping passengers who need basic medical attention.

To acquire your captain’s license, you need superior mariner training, which you can get at Training Resources Maritime Institute in San Diego, CA. Since 1976, this leader in boater education provided mariner classes to both skilled boaters and first-time sailors within their 18,000-square-foot training center with 15 classrooms. They offer comprehensive real-world training that covers everything from vessel care to boating safety. To learn more about their mariner training courses, call (619) 263-1638 or visit them online today.