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United States · Captain’s license

Captain’s license requirements, from age to TWIC

You need documented sea service, a minimum age, a Coast Guard medical exam, a passed drug test, first-aid and CPR certificates, a TWIC, and a passed exam or approved course. These captain’s license requirements come from federal regulations, 46 CFR Parts 10 and 11, so the Coast Guard applies the same ones in every state. How much sea time you need depends on the endorsement and the waters.

  • 18Minimum age for an OUPV
  • 3 monthsService needed in the last 3 years
  • 20/40Corrected vision needed in one eye
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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

What are the captain license requirements?

ItemWhat the regulations ask
Age18 for OUPV. 19 for Master of near-coastal, Great Lakes and inland, or river vessels of 25 to 200 GRT
Sea serviceSet by the endorsement and route, with at least 3 months in the 3 years before you apply
MedicalA general medical exam and vision test, reported on form CG-719-K
Drug testA passed test for dangerous drugs, or proof you’re exempt
First aid and CPRFirst aid completed within 1 year, and a currently valid CPR certificate
TWICProof that you hold one or have applied for one
ExamThe Coast Guard exam, or an approved course that substitutes for it
CitizenshipU.S. citizen, except an OUPV limited to undocumented vessels
EnglishSpeak and understand English, except a Spanish-speaking OUPV limited to waters near Puerto Rico

Service you gained before age 16 generally doesn’t count, though the Coast Guard looks at unusual cases one by one. Applicants with time on uniformed services vessels have 7 years, not 3, to show their 3 months of recent service.

Sea time for the six-pack →Sea time for a 100 ton Master →

Medical exam and vision

A licensed medical professional examines you and records the results on form CG-719-K. The report has to reach the Coast Guard within 12 months of the date it’s signed. The general exam looks for conditions that could cause sudden incapacity, and for medicines that affect judgment or reaction time.

Deck officers need correctable vision of at least 20/40 in one eye and uncorrected vision of at least 20/200 in the same eye, plus a satisfactory color vision test taken without color-sensing lenses. A hearing test is needed only if the examiner has concerns. If you need glasses or hearing aids to meet the standard, your medical certificate will say you must wear them and carry spares on board.

If you don’t meet a standard, the Coast Guard can still issue a medical certificate with a waiver or limitations. For mariners outside STCW service, a medical certificate lasts up to 5 years.

Drug test and background checks

Your application needs evidence that you passed a chemical test for dangerous drugs, unless you qualify for an exemption in 46 CFR 16.220. No credential is issued if you fail it.

The Coast Guard also runs a criminal record review and a National Driver Register check, and you consent to the NDR check in your application. It gets your fingerprints, photo and any criminal record from your TWIC enrollment with TSA.

First aid, CPR and the TWIC

For an original OUPV or Master endorsement you need two certificates: a first-aid course completed not more than 1 year before you apply, from the American Red Cross or a Coast Guard-approved course, and a currently valid CPR certificate from the Red Cross, the American Heart Association or a Coast Guard-approved course. A limited OUPV or Limited Master needs them only if the Coast Guard decides medical help would be too far away.

The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) comes from TSA, not the Coast Guard, and the Coast Guard won’t issue your credential until it has proof that you hold a valid one. TSA recommends enrolling at least 60 days before you need the card.

TWIC and Coast Guard fees →

Are the requirements different in Florida or Texas?

No, not for the Coast Guard credential. It’s federal, so a captain in Florida, Texas, Hawaii, California or New York meets the same Coast Guard rules. What changes from place to place is the waters you’ve served on, which sets the route on your endorsement, and which approved schools teach near you. This page covers only the Coast Guard credential.

Approved courses compared →OUPV or Master: the overview →Do you need a license at all? →
Sources: eCFR · TSA and 4 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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