- Overview: Four Modules, One Exam Cycle
- Domain 1: Q100 Rules of the Road
- Domain 2: Q170 Deck General/Safety
- Domain 3: Q171 Navigation General: Near Coastal
- Domain 4: Q172 Navigation Problems: Chart Plot
- Question Weighting and Why It Matters
- Scheduling Study Time Around the 90-Day Cycle
- What References You Can and Can't Use
- Frequently Asked Questions
- ONC07 has four separately graded modules totaling 160 questions, all multiple choice with four options.
- Rules of the Road and Chart Plot require a 90 passing score; Deck General/Safety and Navigation General require 70.
- Rules of the Road, Deck General/Safety, and Navigation General are each 50 questions - about 94% of the exam.
- Rules of the Road is closed book; the other deck modules allow only REC-supplied references.
Overview: Four Modules, One Exam Cycle
The National Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel Less Than 100 GRT (OUPV) credential is tested under exam code ONC07 - the near coastal route, and the highest-volume path candidates take through the Coast Guard's licensing system. Unlike a single-sitting test, ONC07 is broken into four separately graded modules that together add up to 160 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer options. There is no essay component, no simulator, and no oral board for the standard OUPV path - just four discrete blocks of questions, each with its own pass threshold and its own three-and-a-half hour time limit.
If you're building a study plan, the smartest first step is understanding that these four modules are not weighted or graded the same way. Some demand near-perfection; others give you more room to miss questions. That distinction should drive how you allocate your remaining study hours. For a broader walkthrough of the entire testing process, see the OUPV Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and if you're still mapping out eligibility before you even reach the modules, start with OUPV Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Domain 1: Q100 Rules of the Road (31%)
Q100 Rules of the Road: Inland and International
This 50-question module covers both the Inland Navigation Rules and the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. It's the only module on the exam that is entirely closed book - no Light List, no Rules of the Road publication, no notes. You either know the rules cold or you don't.
- Steering and sailing rules for vessels in sight of one another, in restricted visibility, and in narrow channels
- Lights, shapes, and sound signal requirements for various vessel types and situations
- Differences between Inland and International rule sets where they diverge
- Risk of collision, action to avoid collision, and responsibilities between vessel classes
The passing score here is 90 - meaning a candidate can miss only five questions out of 50 and still pass. That is the tightest margin on the entire exam, tighter than every other module by a wide margin, and it's why most candidates treat Rules of the Road as the domain that decides whether the whole attempt succeeds. If you want a sense of how this domain compares in overall exam difficulty, How Hard Is the OUPV Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down where candidates typically lose the most points.
Key Takeaway
Because Rules of the Road allows zero reference materials and demands a 90 passing score, treat memorization of exact rule language as non-negotiable rather than something to review casually near test day.
Domain 2: Q170 Deck General/Safety (31%)
Q170 Deck General/Safety
Also a 50-question module, Deck General/Safety carries a 70 passing score - more forgiving than Rules of the Road, but still substantial given that it's 31% of the total exam. This is the broadest content area in terms of subject matter, drawing on general seamanship, vessel safety equipment, and shipboard operational knowledge.
- Firefighting equipment, procedures, and classes of fire aboard vessels
- Lifesaving equipment requirements and man-overboard response
- General vessel stability, ground tackle, and deck equipment use
- Emergency procedures and basic damage control concepts
Unlike Rules of the Road, this module permits REC-supplied reference materials, but the breadth of topics means you can't rely on flipping through references for every question - you'll run out of time inside the three-and-a-half hour window. Treat the references as a backstop for edge cases, not a primary study crutch.
Domain 3: Q171 Navigation General: Near Coastal (31%)
Q171 Navigation General: Near Coastal
The third 50-question module, also passing at 70, focuses on navigation knowledge outside of pure chart plotting mechanics. Where Domain 4 tests your ability to work a plot, Domain 3 tests your understanding of the tools, publications, and concepts behind near-coastal navigation.
- Aids to navigation - buoys, daymarks, lights, and their characteristics
- Tide and current tables, and how they affect near-coastal transit planning
- Chart symbols, chart datums, and publications like the Coast Pilot and Light List
- Basic piloting and dead reckoning concepts as applied to near coastal waters
Because this module allows REC-supplied references - including Light List and Coast Pilot reprints, and tide/current tables - familiarity with how those publications are organized matters as much as raw memorization. Practicing with the same reference format you'll see at the REC saves time during the actual test.
Domain 4: Q172 Navigation Problems: Chart Plot (6%)
Q172 Navigation Problems: Chart Plot
Chart Plot is the smallest module by question count - far fewer questions than the other three, together accounting for only about 6% of the total 160-question exam - but it carries the second-highest passing score at 90. That combination makes it deceptively high-stakes: a small number of questions, but almost no room for error.
- Plotting courses and positions using training charts, maneuvering boards, and plotting sheets
- Dead reckoning and set-and-drift calculations
- Using dividers, triangles, and a nautical slide rule for precise plotting work
- Time, speed, distance problems applied to a charted course
A 90 passing score on a small question set means missing just one question puts you in danger territory. This is a module where practicing physical plotting technique - not just theory - pays off, since you're allowed your own dividers, triangles, nautical slide rule, and non-programmable calculator during this module.
Question Weighting and Why It Matters
Three of the four modules - Rules of the Road, Deck General/Safety, and Navigation General - are each 50 questions, which together make up roughly 94% of the entire 160-question exam. Chart Plot, despite testing a distinct and demanding skill set, is a small fraction of total volume. That doesn't mean you should neglect it - its 90 passing score leaves almost no margin - but it does mean your overall time budget should weight the three larger modules more heavily.
| Module | Domain Weight | Passing Score | Reference Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q100 Rules of the Road | 31% | 90 | Closed book, none permitted |
| Q170 Deck General/Safety | 31% | 70 | REC-supplied references allowed |
| Q171 Navigation General | 31% | 70 | REC-supplied references allowed |
| Q172 Chart Plot | 6% | 90 | Plotting tools plus REC references |
For a deeper dive into exactly why these thresholds matter and how they're calculated, see OUPV Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. And if you want the full picture on how these modules fit into the broader exam experience, OUPV Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows covers what's publicly known about outcomes.
Scheduling Study Time Around the 90-Day Cycle
Because all four modules must be completed on consecutive business days in the same week, and a minimum of two modules must be completed per day, your study plan should be built backward from your scheduled testing week rather than treated as an open-ended review. The entire testing window falls inside a 90-day examination cycle tied to your Approval to Test, which itself is valid for one year - so plan your prep to peak in the final weeks before your scheduled dates, not months in advance.
Rules of the Road Foundations
- Drill Inland and International rule differences daily since this module allows zero references
- Focus extra repetition here given the 90 passing score and 50-question format
Deck General/Safety and Navigation General
- Work through firefighting, lifesaving, and stability topics for Q170
- Study aids to navigation, tide tables, and chart publications for Q171
Chart Plot Precision and Full Review
- Practice physical plotting with dividers, triangles, and maneuvering boards
- Run timed review across all four modules to simulate the consecutive testing days
This structure mirrors general spaced-repetition principles, but applied specifically to OUPV's module order and reference rules rather than as a generic template - Rules of the Road first because it's closed book, Chart Plot last because it depends on hands-on tool practice you want fresh going into test week.
What References You Can and Can't Use
Reference policy differs sharply by module, and knowing this in advance changes how you study. Rules of the Road is closed book with no references permitted at all. The other three modules allow only REC-supplied materials: Light List and Coast Pilot reprints, Tide Tables and Tidal Current Tables, training charts, maneuvering boards, and plotting sheets. For Chart Plot specifically, you may also bring your own dividers, triangles, nautical slide rule, and a non-programmable calculator.
This means your study materials should mirror the actual REC-supplied formats wherever possible - practicing with unfamiliar chart editions or tide table layouts under time pressure is a common, avoidable mistake. If you're still working out registration logistics, fee payment through Pay.gov, and exact testing locations, review OUPV Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling and OUPV Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown for the administrative side before you focus purely on content.
Key Takeaway
Practice exclusively with the reference formats permitted by your REC - Light List, Coast Pilot, and tide table reprints - so test day isn't the first time you navigate their layout under a clock.
Once you've internalized the domain structure, running full-length practice sessions on our practice test platform is the fastest way to see which of the four modules needs more attention before you commit to a testing week. A quick pass through a condensed reference like the OUPV Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts can also help you confirm you haven't missed a high-frequency topic in any domain.
Frequently Asked Questions
ONC07 totals 160 multiple-choice questions across four separately graded modules: Rules of the Road, Deck General/Safety, and Navigation General each with 50 questions, and Chart Plot with the remainder.
Rules of the Road and Chart Plot both require a 90 passing score, the highest thresholds on the exam. Rules of the Road is also closed book with no references allowed, making it the module most candidates find most demanding to prepare for.
Only on three of the four modules. Rules of the Road is fully closed book. Deck General/Safety, Navigation General, and Chart Plot allow REC-supplied references such as Light List and Coast Pilot reprints, tide tables, training charts, and plotting tools.
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.
Yes. All modules must be completed on consecutive business days within the same week, with a minimum of two modules per day, all inside a 90-day examination cycle tied to your Approval to Test.
Understanding these four domains in detail - not just as a percentage breakdown but as distinct testing conditions with different passing scores and reference rules - is the foundation of an effective OUPV study plan. For related background on the credential itself, see What Is OUPV? or OUPV Certification, and once you've mapped out your prep timeline, OUPV Jobs outlines where this endorsement is put to use on the water.