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. A better strategy is to analyze your strengths and weaknesses and focus your effort accordingly. 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 online resources below and see if they can help you out! |
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Navigation Problems for USCG ExamsThis online license preparation course is designed for anyone studying for a merchant mariner exam at any level above 100 tons.
The course is over 35 hours long and solves all navigational math problems on near coastal and oceans level exams. It includes a 307-page textbook with detailed solutions and tons of practice problems and video solutions to 9 sample examinations at various levels. This course is an absolute beast, and is one of the most challenging celestial navigation courses you can take! Course Cost: $125 |
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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: $125 |
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Rules of the Road (COLREGS) for USCG ExamsThis online course is a comprehensive study of the nautical Rules of the Road, or COLREGS as they are known internationally. With hours of video lessons, a complete question bank of over 1000 Rules of the Road questions, and video explanations for over 300 questions, this course will help you pass your USCG Rules of the Road exam, or simply make you a better boater. Course Cost: $95 |
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This video course will solve every type of stability calculation you can see on USCG exams from 100 ton to Unlimited Master for Oceans, Near Coastal, and Great Lakes & Inland licenses.
Course Cost: $125 |
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Fundamentals of the Maneuvering BoardThis 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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Navigation Problems for USCG Exams is the revised version of the much loved "Cutterman's Guide to Navigation Problems." This 307 page textbook solves all types of problems on Near Coastal and Oceans level Navigation Problems exams, such as azimuths, amplitudes, engine speeds, celestial running fixes and starfinder problems. Check it out!
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The Cutterman's Guide to Maneuvering Boards is the companion text to the video course series "Fundamentals of the Maneuvering Board" featured above. The workbook solves single contact, avoidance, intercept, true wind, and desired wind problems to help those struggling with the dreaded Mo-Board.
The Cutterman's Guide to Passing the Rules of the Road Exam is a 140-page text to accompany the online course "Rules of the Road."
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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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