Studying for your USCG exam is hard!
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You've seen the price tag for "license prep" courses around the country - usually about $3000 for you to sit in a classroom and "have access" to an instructor. You can do better. If you are studying for your exam, you probably have a testing letter from the National Maritime Center. Depending on the level of license you are seeking, it might look something like the picture to the right. You may choose to attend a license prep program that takes 2-3 weeks and covers most of the topics on the testing letter. However you have other options.
Take it one piece at a time - chances are as a mariner you are already proficient in some of the categories. For example, the Deck General test requires a score of 70% and you can easily study the questions and memorize many of the answers. Or maybe you are a deck and rigging expert - you don't need help there! |
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Likewise, you may be weak in certain categories. A majority of mariners that I have worked with struggle with chart plotting, navigation, celestial navigation, and rules of the road. Before you sign up for a pricey license preparation class away from home, check out the resources below and see if they can help you out!
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This online course is designed for anyone interested in improving their chart plotting skills and problem solving abilities. The course has a section on chart plotting basics and the use of plotting tools, and then begins to solve chart plotting problems at various license levels.
We discuss all types of chart plotting problems found on U.S. Coast Guard exams, and we will solve sample exam problems at all levels from 100 Tons to Unlimited Tonnage. New problems are solved and added regularly, and you can keep access to the course forever! Course Cost: $50 |
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This online course will help you master the dreaded maneuvering board whether for USCG license exams or for your advancement purposes as a USCG deck watch officer or USN surface warfare officer. The course teaches you how to solve single contact problems, avoidance and intercept problems, and true/desired wind problems. There is a companion textbook that you can use in the future when reviewing mo-board problems available through the course. Course Cost: Free |
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This online course solves all of the problems on the National Maritime Center sample course for the 200-ton Oceans Navigation Module. The course discusses problems such as azimuths, amplitudes, and time of phenomena problems as part of the sample exam. If you are studying for your celestial navigation module, you can expect a similar distribution of questions on your exam. Course Cost: Free |
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This online course solves all of the problems on the National Maritime Center sample course for the 100-ton Navigation General Module Navigation General is a huge topic. The best way to study for your exam is to practice and review the references. In this course, you'll see explanations of 50 questions, including what references to use and a short theoretical background when appropriate. Course Cost: Free |
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The famous course from YouTube presented in an easy to navigate manner! With over half a million views, this course is highly regarded in the celestial navigation community.
Follow along as you increase your understanding of celestial navigation for maritime navigation from absolute beginner to advanced navigator! This course includes use of sextants, fixes from all celestial bodies, and extra features. And its free! Course Cost: Free |
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Navigation Workbooks
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The Cutterman's Guide to Navigation Problems is a 320-page textbook that solves every type of navigational math problem on USCG license exams from 100 to 1600 tons on Ocean routes. The book includes terrestrial and celestial navigation problems with worked solutions. If you study from this book, you will know what to expect on your "Oceans" and "Near Coastal" Navigation Problems modules.
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These navigation workbooks are provided as a courtesy and are free to download. If you have the means, a small donation goes directly to providing discount courses and licensing resources for young mariners and military members.
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