ThennaDF
Home
Trips & Rates
Reviews
Gallery
Reports
Meet the Guide
Blog

Learn More

Credentials & Recognition

Captain's license

ThennaDF guides carry verified credentials. Click the certification to view the official document.

Loading PDF...
author

Authored by Instructors Rich Adler

Licensed Guide · Published September 15, 2026

iconfacebookiconCopy

A captain’s license is a credential the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) issues that lets the holder operate a commercial vessel. The two main licenses are the OUPV/Six-Pack and the 25/50/100 Ton Master’s. You can add endorsements for inspected sailing vessels or assistance towing.

A captain’s license is a USCG Merchant Mariner Credential that clears you to run a commercial vessel, and you earn it by passing an exam and meeting a set of requirements. Those requirements include a physical and drug test, a minimum amount of boating experience, and a background check.

trust
trust

This credential has been verified and is on file with ThennaDF. Authenticity is confirmed by the issuing authority.

A USCG captain’s license is a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) for operating a commercial vessel for hire. The two main types are the OUPV/Six-Pack, for up to six paying passengers, and the 25/50/100 Ton Master’s, for inspected vessels carrying seven or more. You need one once a passenger pays.

Most people who land on this page are trying to answer one question: Do I actually need a captain’s license, and if so, which one? The rules can feel murky, but the line is clearer than you’d think.

We’ve helped more than 200,000 students sort this out, and it usually comes down to whether you carry paying passengers and how many. Here’s a plain-language guide to the types, when the law requires one, and how the two licenses differ.

guide
Instructors Rich Adler

Licensed Guide, West Palm Beach, FL, United States, ThennaDF

SDLD

Share this article

iconfacebookiconCopy
ThennaDF

Follow Us

Facebook

Navigate

Home

Trips & Rates

Reviews

Gallery

Reports

Meet the Guide

Blog

FAQ - Fishing

Contact Us

FEATURED

Tennessee's Fin

Thennadff

More about ThennaDF

© Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Powered by Guidesly

Terms of Service

Privacy Policy

Sitemap