- What OUPV Actually Stands For
- Who Governs OUPV and Where You Test
- Exam Structure: ONC07 and Its Four Modules
- The Four OUPV Domains Explained
- Passing Scores and Testing Rules
- Who Can Sit for OUPV
- Fees, Scheduling, and the Testing Window
- Retest Policy and What Happens If You Fail
- The Credential Itself and Renewal
- Who Hires OUPV Holders
- How to Actually Prepare
- Frequently Asked Questions
- OUPV is a USCG Merchant Mariner credential tested via exam code ONC07 for the Near Coastal route.
- The exam has four modules totaling 160 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer options.
- Passing requires 90% on Rules of the Road and Chart Plot, 70% on the other two modules.
- Total fees are $240 ($100 evaluation, $95 examination, $45 issuance), paid via Pay.gov before your first module.
What OUPV Actually Stands For
OUPV stands for National Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel Less Than 100 GRT. It is a specific United States Coast Guard officer endorsement that authorizes a mariner to operate uninspected passenger vessels - boats that carry up to six passengers for hire without being subject to full vessel inspection requirements - as long as the vessel is under 100 gross register tons. This is a legal credential built into the Merchant Mariner Credential system, not a private industry badge.
If you've landed here trying to sort out exactly what the letters mean before diving into study material, it's worth reading our companion pieces on OUPV Meaning and What Does OUPV Stand For? for a plain-language breakdown, or What Is A OUPV? if you're wondering what the credential lets you actually do on the water.
Who Governs OUPV and Where You Test
OUPV is governed by the United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC). Examinations happen at Coast Guard Regional Examination Centers, or you can test "in lieu of examination" through a USCG-approved course provider. That second path is common for candidates who complete a structured prep course rather than sitting a proctored exam at a regional center.
Exam Structure: ONC07 and Its Four Modules
This site is built around exam code ONC07, the OUPV Near Coastal endorsement - the highest-volume version of the credential. It's worth knowing there are close cousins: the Great Lakes and Inland version is exam code GLI07, which adds a separate Q300 Inland Rules module, and Limited OUPV is GLI08. If you're not sure which route applies to your waters, check your operating area before you register, since the module lineup differs.
ONC07 consists of four separately graded modules totaling 160 questions, all multiple choice with four answer options each. There's no essay, no short answer, no simulator component - every question is a straight four-option pick. That format matters for how you drill: you're training pattern recognition and elimination skills, not free recall.
| 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% |
Notice that the three 50-item modules - Rules of the Road, Deck General/Safety, and Navigation General - together account for roughly 94% of all questions on the exam. Chart Plot is the smallest module by question count but carries the steepest passing bar. For a full breakdown of what's tested inside each module, see OUPV Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
The Four OUPV Domains Explained
Domain 1: Q100 Rules of the Road: Inland and International (31%)
This module is closed book with no references permitted - you must know the Inland and International Navigation Rules cold. Expect questions on lights, shapes, sound signals, steering and sailing rules, and distinctions between Inland and International requirements.
- You can miss only five questions here and still pass (90% of 50).
Domain 2: Q170 Deck General/Safety (31%)
Covers vessel safety equipment, firefighting, stability basics, emergency procedures, and general deck operations knowledge relevant to small passenger vessels.
- Passing threshold is 70%, giving more margin than Rules of the Road.
Domain 3: Q171 Navigation General: Near Coastal (31%)
Tests chart reading, aids to navigation, tides and currents, weather, and general seamanship knowledge specific to near coastal operations.
- Reference materials like Light List and Coast Pilot reprints are allowed here, unlike Rules of the Road.
Domain 4: Q172 Navigation Problems: Chart Plot (6%)
Only 10 questions, but you can miss just one and still pass. This module requires hands-on plotting using training charts, maneuvering boards, and plotting sheets.
- You'll use your own dividers, triangles, nautical slide rule, and non-programmable calculator.
For a domain-by-domain study sequence, see OUPV Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas, and for a deeper dive into exactly what score you need on each, read OUPV Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Passing Scores and Testing Rules
OUPV uses different passing thresholds by module, which surprises a lot of first-time candidates:
- 90% on Rules of the Road (Q100) and Chart Plot (Q172)
- 70% on Deck General/Safety (Q170) and Navigation General (Q171)
That means on Rules of the Road you can miss only five questions out of 50, and on Chart Plot only one question out of 10. Each module carries a three-and-a-half hour time limit, and testing rules require completing a minimum of two modules per day, with all four modules finished on consecutive business days within the same calendar week.
Key Takeaway
Treat Rules of the Road and Chart Plot as your zero-margin modules. Because they're closed book (Rules) or require precise plotting skill (Chart Plot), cramming the night before rarely works - build these two first in your study plan.
Reference materials are module-specific: Rules of the Road allows nothing, while other deck modules permit REC-supplied references such as Light List and Coast Pilot reprints, Tide Tables, Tidal Current Tables, training charts, maneuvering boards, and plotting sheets, plus your own dividers, triangles, nautical slide rule, and non-programmable calculator. For difficulty context across all four modules, see How Hard Is the OUPV Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Who Can Sit for OUPV
Eligibility is defined under 46 CFR 11.467 and 11.201:
- 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 on ocean or near-coastal waters for the near-coastal route specifically
- A valid TWIC
- A CG-719K medical certificate
- A DOT drug test on CG-719P
- Current CPR and first aid certification
These prerequisites are gatekeepers before you ever sit for a module - none of them are waived by strong exam performance. If you're still assembling sea service documentation or wondering how the age and hours requirements apply to your situation, our detailed walkthrough at OUPV Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify covers each item in depth.
Fees, Scheduling, and the Testing Window
Fees for an original lower-level officer endorsement follow 46 CFR 10.219 Table 1:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Evaluation | $100 |
| Examination | $95 |
| Issuance | $45 |
| Total | $240 |
All fees are paid through Pay.gov before your first module. Once your Approval to Test is issued, it's valid for one year, and your actual examination window operates on a 90-day cycle within that. For the complete cost picture, including how this compares across paths, see OUPV Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. For help mapping your timeline against the consecutive-business-day rule, check OUPV Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Retest Policy and What Happens If You Fail
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, you must undergo a complete re-examination and pay a new examination fee. This structure rewards near-misses on a couple of modules and penalizes broad unpreparedness across the board.
For data-informed expectations on how candidates typically perform module by module, see OUPV Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
The Credential Itself and Renewal
Once issued, OUPV becomes part of your Merchant Mariner Credential and is 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 or Q359 for Great Lakes and Inland. Because renewal doesn't require retesting the full four-module battery, the initial exam is really the one high-stakes hurdle in the credential's lifecycle.
Who Hires OUPV Holders
OUPV holders typically operate small passenger vessels under 100 gross register tons carrying up to six passengers for hire - think charter fishing boats, sightseeing and eco-tour operations, dive charters, and small ferry or water-taxi services. Employers range from independent charter captains building their own six-pack operation to tour companies and marinas that need licensed operators on staff. If you're evaluating whether this credential fits your career goals, our guides on OUPV Jobs and Is the OUPV Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lay out the practical employment landscape, while OUPV Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis walks through earnings considerations.
How to Actually Prepare
Given the module weighting, a sensible study sequence front-loads the modules with the tightest passing margins. Spend early weeks on Rules of the Road, since it's closed-book and allows zero reference material, and dedicate focused blocks to Chart Plot mechanics, since precision plotting skills degrade fastest without practice. Deck General/Safety and Navigation General carry more forgiving 70% thresholds and can be layered in as you build baseline familiarity, using short daily review blocks rather than marathon sessions.
Rules of the Road + Chart Plot fundamentals
- Drill lights, shapes, and sound signals daily
- Practice plotting with training charts and maneuvering boards
Deck General/Safety and Navigation General
- Layer in tides, currents, and aids to navigation
- Review safety equipment and emergency procedures
Full-length module simulation
- Time yourself against the 3.5-hour per-module limit
- Re-test weak spots against passing thresholds, not just overall averages
For a structured week-by-week plan and a condensed reference before test day, see OUPV Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt and OUPV Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts. You can also run realistic timed practice modules on our main practice test platform before you sit for the real thing at a Regional Examination Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
OUPV stands for National Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel Less Than 100 GRT, a USCG endorsement for operating small passenger vessels under 100 gross register tons.
The ONC07 Near Coastal exam has 160 total questions across four modules: Rules of the Road (50), Deck General/Safety (50), Navigation General (50), and Chart Plot (10).
You need 90% on Rules of the Road and Chart Plot, and 70% on Deck General/Safety and Navigation General.
Total fees are $240, broken into a $100 evaluation fee, $95 examination fee, and $45 issuance fee, paid through Pay.gov before your first module.
Failing one or two modules allows two retests within three months. Failing three or more modules requires a complete re-examination and a new examination fee.