What a captain's license costs, all in
Quick answer
How much does a captain's license cost?
All in, an OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels, six-pack) license commonly runs about $700 to $1,500, and a Master license somewhat more, driven mostly by the course. The pieces are the Coast Guard-approved course, government user fees, the TWIC card, the CG-719K medical exam, and a drug test. This is a compiled range; confirm each current figure.
Ask a course seller what a captain’s license costs and you will get the price of their course, which is only one line on the bill. The real all-in number is the course plus the government fees, the TWIC, the medical exam, and the drug test. This guide compiles the whole thing from public sources so you can budget for the total, not just the part someone is selling you. The figures here are ranges compiled from public pricing and the applicable regulations, each dated, not a single vendor’s quote.
This site is independent and is not the Coast Guard, the National Maritime Center (NMC), the TSA, or a course provider.
How much does a captain’s license cost, all in?
For most people earning an entry-level OUPV, the all-in cost lands in the range of roughly $700 to $1,500. A Master license generally costs somewhat more, because the course is longer and the exam is heavier. The single biggest variable is the course: the government fees and the ancillary cards are relatively fixed, while course prices swing widely between providers and formats.
Here is the full stack of components. Treat each as an estimate to confirm at the time you pay, because vendor prices and government fees both change.
| Component | Typical range | Who sets it |
|---|---|---|
| Coast Guard-approved course (OUPV) | about $500 to $1,000 | The course provider (varies by provider and format) |
| Government user fees (evaluation, exam, issuance) | set by 46 CFR 10.219 | The U.S. Coast Guard |
| TWIC card (five years) | about $125 (reduced fee for some) | The TSA |
| CG-719K medical exam | about $75 to $250 | Your medical provider |
| DOT drug test (CG-719P) | about $50 to $100 | The collection site |
| First Aid and CPR certificate (if needed) | about $75 to $150 | The training provider |
The course, the medical exam, the drug test, and the First Aid or CPR certificate are set by private providers and vary by market, so the ranges above are compiled from public pricing rather than a fixed schedule.
The pieces, one at a time
The course. A Coast Guard-approved OUPV course is the largest single cost and the one with the widest spread. In-person, online, and blended formats price differently, and Master courses cost more than OUPV. You can also skip a course and sit the exam directly at a Regional Examination Center, which trades course tuition for self-study, though most applicants find the bundled course worth it. This is a private-provider price, so shop it.
Government user fees. The Coast Guard charges user fees for evaluating, examining, and issuing a credential, and these are set in 46 CFR 10.219, not by any vendor. They are modest relative to the course, but they are real and they apply per credential. Confirm the current amounts against the regulation or the NMC when you file, because they are the figures a course price never includes.
The TWIC. The Transportation Worker Identification Credential is a separate TSA card, currently about $125 for a five-year card, with a reduced fee for applicants who already hold certain comparable credentials. Confirm the current fee on the TSA site.
The medical exam. The CG-719K medical certificate is completed by a medical provider, and their fee is not set by the Coast Guard. It commonly runs $75 to $250. A flagged condition that needs additional testing or a specialist letter can add to this.
The drug test. A negative DOT chemical test (CG-719P) at an approved collection site is a small, fixed cost, commonly $50 to $100.
First Aid and CPR. A current First Aid and CPR certificate is required for the credential and, if you do not already hold one, adds a course fee.
What makes the total swing?
- Course choice is the biggest lever, from a lean online course to a premium in-person one.
- OUPV versus Master: the Master route costs more in course and exam load.
- Renewals and reduced fees: holding a comparable credential can cut the TWIC fee, and renewal is a different, generally lower, cost path than a first issuance.
- Retakes and bounce-backs: failing an exam module or getting a package returned for a paperwork error adds both time and, sometimes, fees.
How to budget honestly
Add up the course, the government fees, the TWIC, the medical exam, and the drug test as one number before you commit, and add a small buffer for a possible retake or a medical follow-up. Then remember that the largest hidden cost is not money at all: it is the wait and the years of sea time behind the application. If you are weighing whether the whole thing pays off, see is a captain’s license worth it.
Sources: 46 CFR 10.219 (Coast Guard user fees) via ecfr.gov, the TSA TWIC fee schedule (tsa.gov/for-industry/twic), and the National Maritime Center application requirements (dco.uscg.mil/nmc), verified 2026-07-22. Course, medical, drug-test, and First Aid or CPR prices are set by private providers and compiled here from public pricing as ranges, not a fixed schedule; confirm each current figure when you pay. This is an original compilation, not a single seller's quote, and is not financial or legal advice.