- What Is OUPV Certification?
- How the ONC07 Exam Is Structured
- Fees, Registration, and Scheduling Mechanics
- The Four OUPV Exam Domains
- Prerequisites and Eligibility
- Testing Conditions and Allowed References
- Retest Policy and Renewal
- Building a Study Timeline Around the Domains
- Who Hires OUPV Credential Holders
- Frequently Asked Questions
- ONC07 (OUPV Near Coastal) is four modules, 160 questions, all multiple choice.
- Rules of the Road and Chart Plot require a 90 to pass; other modules need only 70.
- Total USCG fee is $240 ($100 evaluation, $95 exam, $45 issuance) via Pay.gov.
- Modules must be finished on consecutive business days, minimum two per day, in one week.
What Is OUPV Certification?
The National Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel Less Than 100 GRT (OUPV) credential is the U.S. Coast Guard endorsement that authorizes a mariner to captain a small passenger vessel - think six-pack charters, fishing guides, or eco-tour boats - without carrying an inspected vessel's full crew requirements. The credential is governed by the USCG National Maritime Center (NMC), with testing conducted at Coast Guard Regional Examination Centers or through NMC-approved course providers that offer testing in lieu of examination.
If you're just getting oriented, our companion pieces on What Is OUPV? and OUPV Meaning cover the terminology in plain language, while What Does OUPV Stand For? and What Does OUPV Mean? unpack the acronym itself. This article focuses on the operational reality of the exam: how it's built, what it costs, and what you need to pass it.
How the ONC07 Exam Is Structured
The ONC07 exam consists of four separately graded modules totaling 160 questions, and every question is multiple choice with four answer options - there is no written response, chart-drawing free response, or oral component. Each module carries its own three-and-a-half hour time limit, and passing is determined module by module, not by an aggregate score.
That module-by-module grading matters strategically: a strong score on Deck General/Safety cannot offset a failing score on Rules of the Road. Each of the four modules stands alone, which is why understanding the individual passing thresholds is essential before you sit for any of them.
| Module | Question Count | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|
| Q100 Rules of the Road: Inland and International | 50 | 90 |
| Q170 Deck General/Safety | 50 | 70 |
| Q171 Navigation General: Near Coastal | 50 | 70 |
| Q172 Navigation Problems: Chart Plot | 10 | 90 |
Do the math on those thresholds and the margin for error becomes clear: a 90 on a 50-question module means you can miss only five Rules of the Road questions, and a 90 on the 10-question Chart Plot module means you can miss just one. For a full breakdown of how these thresholds interact and why they're set where they are, see OUPV Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Because Rules of the Road and Chart Plot both demand 90%, treat them as your highest-risk modules even though Chart Plot is only 6% of total questions - a single careless plotting error can fail the module outright.
Fees, Registration, and Scheduling Mechanics
OUPV fees follow 46 CFR 10.219 Table 1 for an original lower-level officer endorsement: $100 for evaluation, $95 for examination, and $45 for issuance, for a total of $240. Payment runs through Pay.gov and must be completed before you sit for the first module. There is no separate per-module fee structure beyond this total - it's a flat charge covering the entire evaluation-to-issuance pipeline.
Scheduling has real constraints candidates often underestimate. A minimum of two modules must be completed per day, and all four modules must be completed on consecutive business days within the same calendar week. This entire process sits inside a 90-day examination cycle, itself nested within a one-year Approval to Test validity window. Miss that window and you'll need to re-apply for approval before testing again.
For a line-item look at what the $240 actually buys and how it compares to related costs like course tuition, read OUPV Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you're mapping out when to actually sit for modules given the consecutive-day rule, OUPV Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling walks through the logistics in more detail.
The Four OUPV Exam Domains
Each domain corresponds directly to one of the four graded modules. Understanding what each one actually tests - rather than treating them as interchangeable "nautical knowledge" - is the difference between efficient study and wasted hours. Our full domain-by-domain walkthrough lives at OUPV Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas, but here's the shape of each area.
Domain 1: Q100 Rules of the Road: Inland and International (31%)
Covers navigation rules for both Inland and International waters - steering and sailing rules, lights and shapes, sound signals, and traffic separation schemes. This module is closed book, so every rule number and light configuration must be memorized cold.
- Highest passing threshold on the exam at 90%
- No references permitted during testing
- Frequently the module candidates underestimate before their first attempt
Domain 2: Q170 Deck General/Safety (31%)
Covers vessel stability basics, firefighting and damage control, emergency procedures, deck seamanship, and regulatory knowledge relevant to small passenger vessel operation.
- 70% passing threshold - more margin for error than Rules of the Road
- REC-supplied references are permitted for this module
- Draws heavily on practical shipboard safety procedures
Domain 3: Q171 Navigation General: Near Coastal (31%)
Covers piloting, dead reckoning, tides and currents, aids to navigation, and chart interpretation for near-coastal operation.
- 70% passing threshold
- Reference materials like Light List, Coast Pilot reprints, and Tide/Tidal Current Tables are allowed
- Foundational for the plotting work tested separately in Domain 4
Domain 4: Q172 Navigation Problems: Chart Plot (6%)
The smallest module by question count but the least forgiving - only 10 questions, and a 90% passing score means a single wrong answer can sink it.
- Requires accurate use of dividers, triangles, and a nautical slide rule
- Own equipment is permitted; non-programmable calculators allowed
- Precision matters more than speed here
Notice that the three 50-question modules - Rules of the Road, Deck General/Safety, and Navigation General - together account for roughly 94% of all questions on the exam. That weighting should directly shape your study allocation, a topic covered in depth in OUPV Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Prerequisites and Eligibility
Before you can even sit for the exam, 46 CFR 11.467 and 11.201 lay out eligibility requirements that take most candidates months to satisfy:
- Minimum age of 18
- 360 days of sea service accrued since age 16, with at least 90 days within the preceding three years
- 90 days of that sea service on ocean or near-coastal waters, specifically for the near-coastal route
- A valid TWIC card
- A current CG-719K medical certificate
- A DOT drug test documented on CG-719P
- Current CPR and first aid certification
These prerequisites are non-negotiable gatekeepers - the NMC will not issue Approval to Test without them documented. For a full checklist and timeline for assembling this paperwork, see OUPV Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Testing Conditions and Allowed References
Testing conditions vary meaningfully by module, and knowing this in advance changes how you prepare. Rules of the Road is closed book with no references permitted whatsoever - everything must be committed to memory. The other deck modules allow only REC-supplied references, which include:
- Light List and Coast Pilot reprints
- Tide Tables and Tidal Current Tables
- Training charts, maneuvering boards, and plotting sheets
Candidates may also bring their own dividers, triangles, nautical slide rule, and a non-programmable calculator. Because the reference materials are REC-supplied rather than something you bring yourself, familiarize yourself with their exact format ahead of time rather than assuming your own study copies will match what's at the testing center.
Key Takeaway
Practice plotting problems using the same style of training charts and maneuvering boards you'll encounter at the REC - unfamiliar chart layout under a time limit costs more candidates the Chart Plot module than actual navigation error.
Retest Policy and Renewal
Under 46 CFR 11.217, if you fail one or two modules, you're allowed two retests within three months without starting over. However, failing three or more modules triggers a complete re-examination requirement and a new examination fee - effectively resetting the process. This makes it worth over-preparing for your first attempt rather than treating early modules as low-stakes trial runs.
Once earned, the credential is issued as a Merchant Mariner Credential valid for five years. Renewal happens either through qualifying sea service or by completing an open-book renewal exercise - Q173 for the near-coastal route and Q359 for Great Lakes and Inland. Unlike the original exam, the renewal exercise is open book, which reflects its purpose as a competency refresh rather than a full re-test.
Building a Study Timeline Around the Domains
Generic study techniques only matter when mapped to the specific weight and difficulty of each OUPV module. Given that Rules of the Road and Chart Plot both require 90% while the other two modules require 70%, your calendar should front-load the highest-risk, least-forgiving material.
Rules of the Road
- Drill lights, shapes, and sound signals daily until recall is automatic
- Practice under closed-book conditions from day one since no references will be allowed
Navigation General and Deck General/Safety
- Work through piloting, tides, and stability concepts using the same reference materials permitted at the REC
- Target the 70% threshold but aim higher for buffer
Chart Plot
- Run timed plotting problems with your own dividers, triangles, and slide rule
- Review every miss - at 90% required on only 10 questions, one careless error fails the module
For a deeper look at realistic prep timelines and how difficulty varies by domain, see How Hard Is the OUPV Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. If you want data-driven context on outcomes before you commit to a study schedule, OUPV Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows is worth reading alongside your plan. And when you're ready to test your recall under realistic conditions, our practice platform at the main practice test site mirrors the four-module, multiple-choice format you'll face at the REC.
Who Hires OUPV Credential Holders
Because OUPV specifically authorizes command of uninspected passenger vessels under 100 GRT, it opens doors to a specific slice of the maritime job market: charter fishing operations, small eco-tour and whale-watching boats, sailing charter companies, harbor and river tour operators, and dive charter businesses. It's a common entry credential for mariners who want to captain rather than crew, without the scope of a full inspected-vessel license.
If you're weighing whether the time and $240 investment make sense for your career goals, Is the OUPV Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and OUPV Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis lay out the practical considerations. For a look at where these roles are actually posted, see OUPV Jobs, and for training program options that satisfy the prerequisite paperwork, check OUPV Training.
New to the whole credential and want a broader primer before diving into exam mechanics? What Is OUPV Certification? and What Is A OUPV? are good starting points, and our own OUPV Certification overview ties the whole picture together.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ONC07 exam has 160 questions total, split across four modules: Rules of the Road (50), Deck General/Safety (50), Navigation General (50), and Chart Plot (10). All questions are multiple choice with four answer options.
Rules of the Road and Chart Plot each require a 90% passing score, while Deck General/Safety and Navigation General each require 70%. Each module is graded separately.
Total USCG fees are $240, broken into $100 for evaluation, $95 for examination, and $45 for issuance under 46 CFR 10.219 Table 1, paid via Pay.gov before your first module.
Under 46 CFR 11.217, failing one or two modules allows two retests within three months. Failing three or more modules requires a complete re-examination along with a new examination fee.
Rules of the Road is closed book with no references allowed. Other modules permit only REC-supplied references such as Light List, Coast Pilot reprints, Tide and Tidal Current Tables, training charts, and plotting sheets, plus your own dividers, triangles, nautical slide rule, and non-programmable calculator.
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