Next session: March 15 – April 3, 2025
Instructors: Captains Tom Trovato & Ken Kozin
Maximum capacity: 12
Please read the Student Policy carefully before you register. For questions contact Molly Voth, Museum Educator at 315.686.4104 ext. 225 or mvoth@abm.org.
Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) (Near Coastal, or Great Lakes & Inland, or Inland Waters):
Thinking of becoming a charter boat guide? Want to take people out on diving or fishing expeditions for pay? Then you need to become a licensed captain. This course prepares you for the US Coast Guard captain’s licensing exam for an uninspected vessel carrying up to 6 passengers. Study areas include: general seamanship, rules of the road, chart navigation, code of federal regulations, and more. Our goal is to have you prepared to submit your licensing application with the Coast Guard when you leave our class.
Dates: March 15-25, 2025
Class: March 15-23, 2025
Classtimes:
- March 15, 16, 19, 22 and 23: 8 am – 5 pm
- March 17, 18, 20, 21: 8 am – 12 pm
Exams: March 24-25, 2025 (There are four total exams)
Exam Times:
- March 24: 9 am
- March 25: 1 pm
Cost: $845 (Includes Exam Fees)
Book online now!*Tuition pricing does not include 6% registration fee charged by FareHarbor.
Upgrade OUPV to Master <100GRT:
To captain boats with more than 6 passengers for hire or an inspected vessel, an upgrade to a Masters license is required. This endorsement is issued in 25, 50, and 100 GRT increments, and most mariners qualified for OUPV credentials can add a 25 GRT upgrade. For a Master license, mariners must be at least 19 years old and have 720 days of sea service over their lifetime. Students who have previously completed the OUPV course with another institution and provide their certificate of completion or valid Merchant Mariners Credential upon registration may take the Masters Upgrade and/or Towing Endorsement classes at ABM without registering for the OUPV class.
Dates: April 1-3, 2025
Class and Exam Time: 8 am – 5 pm (Exam time is built into the course curriculum)
Cost: $350 (Includes Exam Fees)
Book online now!*Tuition pricing does not include 6% registration fee charged by FareHarbor.
Assistance Towing Endorsement:
This endorsement is required to provide any commercial towing assistance to other vessels that may be aground or disabled. Students who have previously completed the OUPV course with another institution and provide their certificate of completion or valid Merchant Mariners Credential upon registration may take the Masters Upgrade and/or Towing Endorsement classes at ABM without registering for the OUPV class.
Dates: March 25, 2025
Class and Exam Time: 8 am – 12 pm (Exam time is built into the course curriculum)
Cost: $100 (Includes Exam Fees)
Book online now!*Tuition pricing does not include 6% registration fee charged by FareHarbor.
**NEW** Auxiliary Sail Endorsement
This endorsement is for those who wish to captain sailboats with more than 6 passengers for hire or an inspected vessel. The Auxiliary Sail Endorsement can be attached to a Masters license. For a Master license, mariners must be at least 19 years old and have 720 days of sea service over their lifetime, and for the Auxiliary Sail Endorsement must have some experience on sailing vessels.
Students who have previously completed the OUPV course with another institution and provide their certificate of completion or valid Merchant Mariners Credential upon registration may take the Masters Upgrade, Auxiliary Sail Endorsement, and/or Towing Endorsement classes at ABM without registering for the OUPV class.
Date: March 20, 2025
Class and Exam Time: 1 pm- 5 pm (Exam time is built into course curriculum)
Course Tuition: $100 (Includes Exam Fees)
Book online now!*Tuition pricing does not include 6% registration fee charged by FareHarbor.
Captain School at ABM Student Policy
For more information on becoming a USCG-licensed captain, please visit the National Maritime Center’s “How to Apply for a Merchant Mariner Credential” page. Instructions for the medical certification process can be found here.
This policy outlines the expectations for students and the testing procedures for the Captain School at the Antique Boat Museum (ABM):
Enrollment and Certification
Registering for the class does not guarantee a certificate of completion. Students’ results, whether passing or failing, are determined by their grades on course-specific, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)-approved examinations. All students must take their first attempt at all exams during the scheduled testing dates.
Payment Policy
The full course fee must be paid by the first day of class. No refunds will be issued for student withdrawals or cancellations after the first day. The course fees cover professional instructor fees, course materials, ABM administration fees, and examination costs.
Students can reserve a spot in a course by paying a 50% deposit at the time of registration. To register with a deposit, please select the deposit option under “amount to pay now” when registering online. The remaining balance is due on the first day of class.
The Antique Boat Museum is committed to offering Captain School students a flexible refund policy and will work with students on a case-by-case basis to rebook or refund tuition. Please note that a 6% registration fee, charged by FareHarbor, is subject to their terms and conditions.
Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory for all classes. Students may miss up to two sessions of the Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) course excused at the instructor’s discretion. However, no sessions of the Towing or Upgrade to Masters courses can be excused.
Examination Passing Criteria
Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels:
- Rules of the Road: 90% to pass
- Chart Plotting: 90% to pass
- Navigation General: 70% to pass
- Deck General: 70% to pass
Upgrade OUPV to Master 100 Tons: 70% to pass
Commercial Assistance Towing: 70% to pass
Auxiliary Sail Endorsement: 70% to pass
Earning a certificate from the Captain School at ABM does not guarantee the issuance of a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) through the U.S. Coast Guard. Once a certificate of passing a licensing exam is issued, it is valid for one year from the class date. Students may submit their licensing application to the US Coast Guard anytime within that year. However, students cannot work as a captain for hire until they receive their actual license from the US Coast Guard.
Retake Policy
Students are allowed to retake failed examinations, unsuccessful lab exercises, or practical demonstrations no more than twice. All retests must be completed within 90 days following the final day of the course. For written examinations, a new test will be provided that does not include any questions from previous examinations, quizzes, or homework. If a student fails any of the four OUPV examinations or cannot successfully complete an exercise or demonstration after three attempts, they must retake the entire course. A minimum of five days’ notice is required to arrange any test attempts to coordinate timing, location, and proctoring.
If a student fails to pass all retests within 90 days of their initial attempt, it will be recorded as a fail. The student must re-register for the course and pay all applicable fees.
Cheating Policy
Any student found engaging in cheating during examinations—such as referring to hidden notes, communicating with or copying from other students, or removing written materials from the examination room—will be dismissed and will be considered to have failed the entire examination. A re-examination will not be permitted for six months. Applicants who already hold a Merchant Mariner Credential may face referral for suspension or revocation.
Behavior Policy
The Antique Boat Museum reserves the right to withdraw a student from the course for inappropriate behavior or conduct. Refund of registration fees will be at the Museum’s discretion. Mariner Credential may be referred for suspension and/or revocation action.
