April 7, 2017

The Truth About Surviving Your Captain’s License Course and Exam: Three Tips


Many boaters and mariners want to earn a Captain's license. Some do it for the knowledge, some do it for the money, and some do it purely for the love of boating.


Many boaters and mariners want to earn a Captain's license. Some do it for the knowledge, some do it for the money, and some do it purely for the love of boating. Wherever you fall, here are three tips to help you be successful in your pursuit:

#1: Pick the right platform

Our Captain's six-pack course takes about 57 hours to complete, and the Master's course about 80. Each can be taken either online or in the classroom.

Each requires a significant time commitment, so make sure you choose the platform that works best for you. For example, if you are tech-savvy, enjoy working at your own pace and have solid study skills, our online course is a good option. On the other hand, if you struggle with studying and memorization, you may opt for the classroom course.

No matter which format you choose, success depends on good study habits (about 25 percent) a good instructor and the right program (75 percent). When you choose Confident Captain, three quarters of the equation is already solved. The rest? That's up to you.

"There is a better way to do it. Find it." - Thomas Edison

#2 Make sure you have an instructor on whom you can rely

Remember that what you learn in our course doesn't just prepare you for your Coast Guard exam, but also for the real world. Your safety, and that of others on the water, depends on knowing what to do when situations arise. Key to this is instruction: As in any other pursuit, good instructors don't just teach; they mentor and apply.

That is where Confident Captain excels. Our instructors know the water. They know the law. They know how to teach and they know how to help apply abstract classroom lessons to real life. Being able to bridge the gap between learning and application is a crucial component of success, no matter your area of pursuit.

"Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction." - John Crosby

#3 Put in the time

Here's a secret: The Captain's course is not hard. While there is a lot of information to cover, we work hard to present it in an easy-to-grasp and relatable way and have been honing our approach for 15 years.

While there is some math, most of it can be done with the aid of a calculator. And while memorization is crucial, it becomes easy with repetition and an effective delivery.

If you question your ability to get the work done, don't - the key is applying yourself. If anyone tells you they struggled through their course or exam, it is most likely because the coursework was not presented properly, the student did not apply him or herself, or the instructor didn't provide the support the student needed. Our instructors are trained to help students via a systematic, easy-to-understand and well-organized method. They are easy to work with and will help you be the best student you can be.

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.- Albert Einstein

The takeaway:

Here at Confident Captain, we have been successfully training mariners for 15 years. Our teaching method takes what can seem like a bottomless sea of material and organizes it into simple, easy to understand sections. Coupled with top-notch instructors, the right format (online or in the classroom) and your own drive, you will have all you need to enter the world of professional boating. Good luck, and see you on the water!

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure." - Colin Powell