When Do You Need a Captain’s License?

The USCG requires a captain’s license when a boater is operating professionally and taking on paying passengers-for-hire! The USCG does NOT require a captain’s license for personal boating.  

Over the last 20 years Mariners Learning System has helped over 100,000 students obtain their captain’s license.

Based on our experience, there are a few other reasons you may want to consider for obtaining a captain's license... 

Turn Your Passion for Boating Into Profit 

A few professional opportunities that exist for a captain are: 

• Charter trips: taking a passenger-for-hire or *consideration, out for a fishing trip
• Sunset cruises: taking a passenger-for-hire or consideration, to watch the sunset
• Operating commercial vessels such as a dive boat, tour boat, dinner cruise, ferry, etc. 
• Be hired to move someone else’s boat

*Consideration: can be a payment or economic benefit (money, fuel, food etc.) for the service using a boat.

Become a Safer More Knowledgeable Boater

If you’ve ever had to make a hasty decision on the water to avoid imminent danger, then you may want to consider these reasons for brushing up on your skills and not leaving room for chance:

• Learn the basics from Chart Plotting, Aids to Navigation (AtoN), Deck General & Safety, Rules of the Road

• Thankfully the president of our company avoided a situation that almost cost him and his crews their lives because he understood the Rules of the Road...READ BLOG
• Have the pride and recognition that comes with being a license USCG captain

Lower Insurance Rates

There are instances where your insurance provider may require you to obtain a captain’s license: 

• Due to the nature of the business or the size of the vessel

• Year/Make/Model can determine whether you need a license according to your provider
• Our students have reported saving 10-30% on their yearly premium. However, everyone’s situation may be different.  

Seeking Tax Advantages/Breaks 

When using your own vessel for business purposes, these items may be recognized as a tax write-off for the IRS: 

• Fuel 

• Monthly payments 
• Dockage fees 

Risks of Not Having a Captain’s License

Lastly, some major fines for charging passengers a fee (consideration) to go out on your boat, without having a captain’s license are: 

• A $10,000 fine per occurrence  

• If not enrolled in an approved random drug testing program the USCG may add $5,000 for each day
• Check out this blog regarding more risks to mindful of...READ BLOG 

Who is considered a passenger? 

A Passenger can be defined as an individual carried on a vessel, EXCEPT: 

• The owner  

• Individual representative of the owner 
• The master 
• A member of the crew engaged in the business of the vessel who has not contributed consideration and who is paid for on-board services 

I hope this blog provided some helpful information that you have not read before. When you are ready to become a part of the 10,000 plus students that are currently enrolled in our course, do not hesitate to check out our Captain’s License online courses. Students utilizing MLS have seen a 98.7% success rate since 2002, this can be attributed to the learning tools at our student's disposal.

We look forward to having you aboard!