How to Get a Charter Boat Captain's License
Ranked #332 in Business & Work, #20,763 overall
USCG Captain's License Information
This page has information about obtaining your USCG Captains License. Included are suggested DVDs and books on getting your USCG captain's license as well as links to other important products and services.
In the USA, any operator of a boat for hire is required to be licensed. These licenses are issued by the United States Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers. To obtain the contact information for the Regional Exam Center nearest your location visit: http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/
Also included is information about the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, another mandatory requirement for boat charters and guides.
In the USA, any operator of a boat for hire is required to be licensed. These licenses are issued by the United States Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers. To obtain the contact information for the Regional Exam Center nearest your location visit: http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/
Also included is information about the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, another mandatory requirement for boat charters and guides.
Contents at a Glance
- How to Prepare For Getting a Captains Li...
- Captain's License DVD and CD-ROMs
- Charter Boat Captains Must Obtain a TWIC...
- Captain's License Books
- Essential Charter Boat Links
- Setting up a Charter Boat or Fishing Gui...
- Boating and Fishing Information
- U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Statisti...
- Guestbook
How to Prepare For Getting a Captains License
In order to obtain an entry level captains license from the United States Coast Guard, mariners will need to complete the following steps:
1. Applicants do not have to own a vessel, but must have at least 360 days of "sea service". A "day" at sea is defined as a trip that lasts 4 hours or more. Of the 360 days, 90 of those must have been logged within the last 3 years. You must have supporting logs to document sea service, so boaters should keep accurate records well in advance.
2. Applicants must be 18 years of age or more.
3. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
4. Applicants must have current first aid and CPR certificates.
5. Applicants must be enrolled in a random drug testing program, or have passed a recent drug test.
6. Applicants must get a physical.
7. Applicants must obtain a TWIC card.
8. Applicants must pass an extensive written exam which covers navigation, safety, seamanship and other subjects.
Depending on the class of license applied for, other requirements may be necessary.
1. Applicants do not have to own a vessel, but must have at least 360 days of "sea service". A "day" at sea is defined as a trip that lasts 4 hours or more. Of the 360 days, 90 of those must have been logged within the last 3 years. You must have supporting logs to document sea service, so boaters should keep accurate records well in advance.
2. Applicants must be 18 years of age or more.
3. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
4. Applicants must have current first aid and CPR certificates.
5. Applicants must be enrolled in a random drug testing program, or have passed a recent drug test.
6. Applicants must get a physical.
7. Applicants must obtain a TWIC card.
8. Applicants must pass an extensive written exam which covers navigation, safety, seamanship and other subjects.
Depending on the class of license applied for, other requirements may be necessary.
Captain's License DVD and CD-ROMs
Smart Boating's Aids To Navigation
Smart Boatings Aids to Navigation! Few things can be more...1 point
Smart Boating CD-ROM Boating Certification Course
Smart Boating! Not only our most popular course ever, more...0 points
Smart Boating's Basic Rules of the Road
Smart Boating's Basic Rules of the Road! In this course, more...0 points
Charter Boat Captains Must Obtain a TWIC Card
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program was established in the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the SAFE Port Act to serve as an identification program for all Coast Guard credentialed mariners and personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas within a port. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program.
The TWIC program is progressing steadily and has opened more than 100 fixed enrollment centers and dozens of mobile sites nationwide. Workers can pre-enroll online at www.tsa.gov/twic. Pre-enrollment can accelerate credentialing by allowing workers to provide biographic information and schedule a time to complete the application process in person. This eliminates delays at enrollment centers and reduces total enrollment time for each worker.
Additional information can be found on the U.S. Coast Guard's Homeport site, http://homeport.uscg.mil, and on the Transportation Security Administration's web site at www.tsa.gov/twic.
The TWIC program is progressing steadily and has opened more than 100 fixed enrollment centers and dozens of mobile sites nationwide. Workers can pre-enroll online at www.tsa.gov/twic. Pre-enrollment can accelerate credentialing by allowing workers to provide biographic information and schedule a time to complete the application process in person. This eliminates delays at enrollment centers and reduces total enrollment time for each worker.
Additional information can be found on the U.S. Coast Guard's Homeport site, http://homeport.uscg.mil, and on the Transportation Security Administration's web site at www.tsa.gov/twic.
Captain's License Books
Get Your Captain's License, Third Edition by Charlie Wing
Get Your Captain's License offers the best test-prep more...0 points
Make Money With Your Captain's License by David G. Brown
A practical guide to turning your love for boating more...0 points
Essential Charter Boat Links
- Worldwide Charter Boat Directory
- List your charter business here.
- Charter Boat Website Consulting
- This company specializes in charter boat and outdoor website designs. They offer a wide selection of resources for promoting your charter boat business, including advertising services, search engine optimization, link building, social media services, graphics, t shirts, press releases, web content, article marketing and other services.
- U.S. Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers website
- Visit this site to obtain the contact information for the Regional Exam Center nearest your location
Setting up a Charter Boat or Fishing Guide Website
Setting up a website for your charter boat business is one of the most important decisions of your business. The most important aspect of a charter boat website is its ability to be found by your customers. Before the website is constructed, the business owner should learn the basics of keyword research and create a list of important search terms that relate to their business.
Not all web design companies understand and specialize in search engine optimization, so it is important to review past examples of success when choosing a web design company. Do they have existing clients that rank high in search engine results?
A reputable designer can explain all the factors that influence a website's search engine rankings, suggest which key phrases might be important and offer services to help your site perform well on Google, Bing and other search engines. After all, the most exquisite and artful website in the world cannot put paying customers on your boat unless they can find you.
Not all web design companies understand and specialize in search engine optimization, so it is important to review past examples of success when choosing a web design company. Do they have existing clients that rank high in search engine results?
A reputable designer can explain all the factors that influence a website's search engine rankings, suggest which key phrases might be important and offer services to help your site perform well on Google, Bing and other search engines. After all, the most exquisite and artful website in the world cannot put paying customers on your boat unless they can find you.
Boating and Fishing Information
U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Statistics
90 percent of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets.
The U.S. Coast Guard's 2007 Recreational Boating Statistics show:
685 fatalities, 3,673 injuries, 5,191 accidents and $53 million in property damage.
90 percent of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets.
Alcohol was the leading contributing factor in approximately one-fifth of all boating fatalities.
Only 14 percent of all boating fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instruction.
685 fatalities, 3,673 injuries, 5,191 accidents and $53 million in property damage.
90 percent of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets.
Alcohol was the leading contributing factor in approximately one-fifth of all boating fatalities.
Only 14 percent of all boating fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instruction.
Guestbook
submit
-
Reply
-
CaptainBr
Aug 21, 2011 @ 2:50 pm | delete
- Good lens, lots of valuable information in one place
-
-
Reply
-
UKGhostwriter
Jun 1, 2011 @ 12:01 pm | delete
- Excellent lens! - well done
-
-
Reply
-
thecomputerfans Dec 7, 2010 @ 9:50 pm | delete
- thanks for share! I not sure if just a 5m boat if need a license?
-
-
Reply
-
daybreak
Dec 8, 2010 @ 6:07 am | delete
- According to the USCG, in the USA, any operator of a boat for hire is required to be licensed. Your local Coast Guard station can help you further with questions about boat requirements.
-
by daybreak
daybreak
I maintain several print on demand stores including Fish Art and Outdoors USA online store. more »
- 389 featured lenses
- Top lens » Commercial Fishing
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Tall Ships - graceful Masters of the Seas Tall Ships - graceful Masters of the Seas
- Roman Abramovich's Eclipse: The World's Largest Yacht Roman Abramovich's Eclipse: The World's Largest Yacht
- Commercial Fishing Boats Commercial Fishing Boats
- The NS 50 Let Pobedy Icebreaker The NS 50 Let Pobedy Icebreaker
- Handy gifts for a new boat owner Handy gifts for a new boat owner
- USA Ports, Harbors and Marinas USA Ports, Harbors and Marinas
