I would love to change careers and be a boat captain. What steps would I need to take to make this happen?

Question

Looking for info. on attaining my captains license and getting the experience I would need to work towards that goal. I currently live on the east coast at he shore in NJ.

Answer 1

Try the closest Coast Guard Station, maybe they can help point you in the right direction.

Try a local Tugboat company, they may allow apprenticeships along with school.

Try to google Navigational schools in your area

Answer 2

if you want to drive big merchant vessels it's probably too late....

if you want to drive small commercial boats....fishing boats, tour boats charter boats  anything under say 100 feet........then you need a series of licenses  from the Coast Guard......the entry level is the 6 Passenger, known as the six-pack.......after you  have 365 document able days experience you can sit for that test..........

best source of information on all this stuff is Sea School...they teach the course and give the tests....there is other stuff you need for a bigger than six pack ticket and it's at the Sea School site......

if you have little or no experience, start by taking the free Coast Guard Aux or  US Power Squadron courses....it will get you going and get you a lot of names to call for jobs.....

Answer 3

The first step would be to learn as much as possible on what it would mean for you to become a captain. If you visualize it enough, it will become reality.

Answer 4

I don't get a sense of your age from your question. I became an unlimited master mariner by first attending a professional maritime college. There are three near you in NY and Mass. After graduating it can take 8-10 years of experience to reach the master's level.