OUPV License Requirements: How to Get Your 6-Pack Captain's License
The OUPV — Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels — is the entry-level USCG captain's license. Here is everything you need: sea service, exam, physical, and how to assemble the application packet.
Updated May 2026 · 9 min read
What Is an OUPV
The Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) credential, commonly called a "6-pack license," authorizes you to carry up to six paying passengers on vessels under 100 gross tons. "Uninspected" means the vessel is not required to undergo annual USCG inspection (most vessels under 65 feet and carrying six or fewer passengers fall into this category).
OUPV is the credential used by fishing charter captains, whale watch operators, dive boat operators, and most small commercial vessel operators. It is not required to carry non-paying guests — it only applies when you are receiving compensation for passenger transport.
Complete Requirements Checklist
360 days sea service
46 CFR 11.467Must be on vessels under 100 GT. At least 90 of those days must be on near coastal or ocean waters (if you want a near coastal OUPV). Inland-only applicants can use inland waters for all 360 days.
Physical examination (CG-719K)
46 CFR 10.215USCG-authorized physician or National Maritime Center examiner. Vision and hearing standards apply. Valid for 12 months from date of examination.
Drug test (CG-719P)
46 CFR 16.2105-panel DOT urinalysis at a SAMHSA-certified lab. Must be within 185 days of NMC receiving your application. Must be negative. An MRO must sign the form.
TWIC card (valid)
33 CFR 104Transportation Worker Identification Credential, issued by TSA. Must be valid at the time you submit. Takes 3–4 weeks to obtain — apply first.
USCG written examination
46 CFR 11.201Rules of the Road, navigation, seamanship, weather, fire fighting, first aid. Taken at a Regional Exam Center (REC). Pass all modules with 70% or higher. Completed before you submit your application — you need your exam pass slip.
Sea service letters
46 CFR 10.232One letter per vessel, on employer letterhead, signed, with vessel name, official number, GT, route, capacity, dates, and total days. Missing fields = deficiency.
First Aid / CPR (if near coastal)
46 CFR 11.467A current First Aid and CPR certificate is required for near coastal OUPV applicants. Accepted: Red Cross, American Heart Association, or equivalent. Must be valid at submission.
Sea Service in Detail
The 360-day sea service requirement under 46 CFR 11.467 is the foundation of the OUPV application. "Days" means days underway — not calendar days of employment. A day where the vessel did not leave the dock does not count.
What vessels count
Vessels under 100 gross tons on waters appropriate for the endorsement you are seeking. For inland OUPV: any inland waters (rivers, lakes, bays). For near coastal OUPV: at least 90 of the 360 days must be on near coastal or ocean waters.
What counts as a day
Generally, any day where you were aboard and the vessel operated underway. Some operators log shift days; others log calendar days of the voyage. If a voyage spans multiple days at sea, each calendar day aboard counts. One-day trips each count as one day.
Recreational sea service
The USCG accepts recreational sea service for OUPV applications — you do not need to have been a paid crew member. Personal logbook entries or a signed affidavit from the vessel owner can document recreational sea service. Keep receipts, photos, and trip logs as backup.
The USCG Written Exam
The OUPV exam is administered at a Regional Exam Center (REC). You schedule an appointment, show up in person, and take the test on a computer. There is no time limit per question, but you need to pass all required modules.
Modules for OUPV Near Coastal
- Rules of the Road (COLREGS + Inland Rules) — 70% passing score
- Deck General — seamanship, vessel stability, anchoring, lines
- Navigation General — chart work, tides, currents, aids to navigation
- Navigation Problems — plotting, fixes, dead reckoning (plotted on paper charts)
- Meteorology — weather patterns, fog, wind, barometric pressure
- Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
- Lifesaving — SOLAS equipment, MOB procedures
Study resources
Lapware and MarineExam.com are the most widely used question banks — the actual NMC exam draws from the same question pool. Mates and Masters (Chapman's Practical Small Boat Sailing) covers the navigation content. The COLREGS booklet from USCG is essential for Rules of the Road. Most candidates spend 60–120 hours studying before the exam.
Assembling the Application Packet
Once your exam is passed, you assemble the CG-719B packet and mail it to the NMC or submit through a Regional Exam Center. The packet must include:
- CG-719B application form (completed, signed)
- CG-719K physical examination form (completed by physician)
- CG-719P drug test (completed within 185 days of NMC receiving the packet)
- Copy of valid TWIC card (both sides)
- Sea service letters (one per vessel, with all required fields)
- Exam pass slip (issued by REC after passing all modules)
- First Aid/CPR certificate (near coastal applicants)
- Application fee (credit card, money order, or check payable to USCG NMC)
Realistic Timeline
Sea service accumulation
Ongoing — typically 1–3 years for most applicants
TWIC application
3–4 weeks — apply before anything else
Physical exam (CG-719K)
1–2 weeks to schedule + valid 12 months
Drug test (CG-719P)
Same day — but must be within 185 days of NMC receipt
Exam study + test
2–4 months of study, then schedule REC appointment
Packet assembly + mailing
1–2 weeks
NMC processing
45–90 days (varies by REC office)
Log every underway day now. Free sea service tracker — no account required for basics.
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