OUPV Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts

The Basics: Governing Body, Exam Code, Format

The National Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel Less Than 100 GRT credential is governed by the United States Coast Guard's National Maritime Center (NMC). Testing happens at Coast Guard Regional Examination Centers or through USCG-approved course providers that offer testing in lieu of examination. The exam code that this site and cheat sheet is built around is ONC07, the OUPV Near Coastal route, which is the highest-volume path candidates take. If you're pursuing the Great Lakes and Inland version instead, that's exam code GLI07, which adds a separate Q300 Inland Rules module; Limited OUPV is coded GLI08. This sheet focuses on ONC07 specifics.

For a fuller explanation of what this credential actually is and how it differs from similarly named offshore licenses, see What Is OUPV? and OUPV Meaning. If you landed here wondering what the letters even represent, What Does OUPV Stand For? covers that groundwork.

Fee Breakdown and Payment Mechanics

Fees for an original lower-level officer endorsement follow 46 CFR 10.219 Table 1 and break into three line items:

All of this is paid through Pay.gov before your first module begins. For a line-by-line look at how these fees interact with sea-service documentation, medical exams, and TWIC costs, read OUPV Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.

The Four Modules at a Glance

ONC07 splits into four separately graded modules. Three of them carry 50 questions each and together account for roughly 94 percent of everything you'll answer, so weighting your review toward those three is not optional - it's arithmetic.

For a deeper walkthrough of each domain's testable content and how examiners typically phrase questions, see OUPV Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.

Passing Scores and Margin for Error

Passing thresholds are not uniform across modules, and this is one of the most misunderstood parts of the exam:

• Rules of the Road: 90 passing score - you can miss only five questions
• Chart Plot: 90 passing score - you can miss only one question
• Deck General/Safety: 70 passing score
• Navigation General: 70 passing score

For the full context on how these thresholds were set and what "passing" actually means at the module level, read OUPV Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.

Scheduling Rules You Cannot Ignore

Each module carries a three-and-a-half hour time limit. Beyond that, the scheduling structure has specific requirements that trip up unprepared candidates:

• A minimum of two modules must be completed per day
• All four modules must be completed on consecutive business days within the same week
• Everything must fall inside a 90-day examination cycle
• Your Approval to Test carries a one-year validity window

This isn't a "test whenever you feel ready" credential - once your window opens, the clock is running on multiple levels simultaneously. Full testing-window logistics, deadlines, and how to plan around them are covered in OUPV Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.

What References Are Allowed (and Where)

Reference policy varies by module, and mixing this up is a common, avoidable mistake:

• Rules of the Road: closed book, no references of any kind
• Other deck modules: REC-supplied references only, including Light List and Coast Pilot reprints, Tide Tables and Tidal Current Tables, training charts, and maneuvering boards/plotting sheets
• Personal tools allowed: your own dividers, triangles, nautical slide rule, and a non-programmable calculator

Prerequisites Checklist

Under 46 CFR 11.467 and 11.201, before you can sit for ONC07 you need:

• 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 specifically on ocean or near-coastal waters for the near-coastal route
• A valid TWIC
• A CG-719K medical certificate
• A DOT drug test on CG-719P
• Current CPR and first aid certification

For a step-by-step breakdown of how to document each of these and avoid application delays, see OUPV Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.

Retest Policy If You Fail a Module

Under 46 CFR 11.217, if you fail one or two modules, you're allowed two retests within three months. But if you fail three or more modules, that triggers a complete re-examination - meaning you start over and pay a new examination fee. This threshold makes it worth over-preparing for your weakest module rather than gambling on a marginal pass across all four.

Credential Validity and Renewal

Once issued, the credential is a Merchant Mariner Credential valid for five years. Renewal happens either through qualifying sea service or through an open-book renewal exercise - Q173 for the near coastal route, or Q359 for Great Lakes and Inland. Knowing this in advance helps you plan long-term if you're weighing whether the credential fits your career path; see Is the OUPV Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and OUPV Jobs for how the credential gets used after issuance.

A One-Week Review Plan Using This Sheet

Because all four modules must be completed on consecutive business days within a single week, your final review should mirror that same compressed structure rather than a loose multi-month plan. Use the weighting from the domains above to decide where your review hours go.

For structured guidance on pacing this kind of compressed review and avoiding burnout across back-to-back testing days, see OUPV Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you want a candid assessment of where most candidates actually struggle, How Hard Is the OUPV Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks that down module by module, and OUPV Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows puts the difficulty question in broader context.

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