The USCG OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels) license — commonly called the 6-pack captain license — is one of the most sought-after credentials for recreational charter captains and small-vessel operators. Our free OUPV practice test PDF gives you printable multiple-choice questions that mirror the topics and difficulty level of the real USCG examination, covering Rules of the Road, navigation, seamanship, and safety.
Download the PDF below, work through the questions offline, and use the included answer key to score yourself. Whether you're preparing for the inland, near coastal, or ocean route endorsement, these practice questions will sharpen your knowledge and build confidence before your testing appointment at a Regional Exam Center (REC).
The OUPV credential authorizes the holder to carry up to six paying passengers for hire aboard an uninspected vessel. The license is route-specific: inland (rivers, lakes, protected bays), near coastal (up to 100 miles offshore), or ocean (unlimited offshore). Each route endorsement requires a corresponding minimum sea service documentation and a written examination at an approved testing facility. The OUPV is often the entry point for professional captains before pursuing the higher-tonnage Master credentials.
To qualify for the OUPV near coastal license, candidates must document at least 360 days of sea service, with 90 of those days occurring within the three years preceding the application. Of the 360 days, at least 90 must be on near coastal or ocean routes. Sea service is recorded in a logbook and submitted on USCG Form CG-719K. Additional requirements include a current physical examination (CG-719K Medical Certificate), a drug screening (CG-719P), and a TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) or criminal background clearance.
A substantial portion of the OUPV written exam is dedicated to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and the U.S. Inland Rules. You must know the applicability of each rule set — COLREGS apply on international waters, Inland Rules apply inside the demarcation lines. Key topics include: the five-second blast sound signal rule, the narrow channel rule (Rule 9), traffic separation schemes (Rule 10), restricted visibility conduct (Rule 19), and the crossing, head-on, and overtaking situations with their respective stand-on and give-way obligations.
Know the required lights and day shapes for all vessel categories: power-driven vessels underway, sailing vessels, vessels not under command, vessels restricted in ability to maneuver, vessels constrained by draft, vessels at anchor, and vessels aground. Understand arc requirements (masthead light: 225°, sternlight: 135°, sidelights: 112.5° each), the range requirements by vessel length, and how to identify approaching vessels by their light patterns at night.
The United States uses the IALA-B lateral buoyage system: red buoys (nun buoys or red lights) mark the right side of the channel when returning from sea ("Red Right Returning"). Green buoys (can buoys or green lights) mark the left side. Know the characteristics of preferred channel buoys (red-and-green horizontally banded), safe water marks (red-and-white vertically striped), and special-purpose buoys (yellow). Chart reading skills include plotting a course, converting true bearings to magnetic using variation and deviation, interpreting depth soundings, and reading tidal current tables.
OUPV candidates are expected to interpret VHF weather broadcasts, understand the Beaufort wind scale, and recognize weather systems that present danger to small vessels. Know the characteristics of frontal systems (cold front: fast-moving, severe weather; warm front: slow-moving, persistent rain and fog), sea breeze and land breeze effects on nearshore operations, and fog formation types (advection fog, radiation fog). Understanding barometric pressure trends and their significance for passage planning is also tested.
Practical seamanship questions cover anchoring techniques (scope calculation for adequate holding), anchor types and bottom characteristics, towing procedures (tow line length, bridle rigging, speed limitations), propeller walk and its effect on close-quarters maneuvering, and operating in restricted visibility. Single-screw vessel handling in wind and current, docking techniques, and managing a disabled vessel are all fair game on the exam.
A basic understanding of vessel stability is required. Know the concepts of center of gravity (G), center of buoyancy (B), and metacenter (M). A vessel is stable when M is above G; as G rises (from added topside weight or free surface effect), stability decreases. Free surface effect — how liquids in partially filled tanks reduce effective stability — is a common exam topic. Know the loading limits and stability booklet requirements for small passenger vessels.
In addition to the written exam, OUPV candidates must complete the TOAR (Tasks on the Assessment of Readiness), a practical skills assessment signed off by a credentialed captain or a USCG-accepted third-party assessor. The TOAR covers 47 tasks across categories including general boating knowledge, navigation, communications, stability, firefighting, and emergency procedures. The signed TOAR form is submitted with your license application as evidence of practical competence.
Reinforce what you've learned from the PDF with unlimited online practice. Our OUPV practice test delivers randomized questions with instant feedback and detailed answer explanations — so you can drill Rules of the Road, navigation lights, and chart reading until every topic feels second nature before your Regional Exam Center appointment.