# 500 ton Captains Prep course **URL:** \ **Category:** Offshore\ **Created:** [January 6, 2014, 11:09am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/500-ton-captains-prep-course/11805 "2014-01-06T11:09:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShawnYoungblood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@ShawnYoungblood](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ShawnYoungblood)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 11:09am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/500-ton-captains-prep-course/11805/1 "2014-01-06T11:09:17Z")
I am looking for recommendations for a prep course for my 500 ton Master. I have finished all of my prerequisite courses and am being told that self study passage for this exam is virtually impossible. I tend to not listen to this type of conversation as I have been able to pass many tests that I was told of supposed impossibilities. I would love to hear any recommended prep material that can be bought on-line or elsewhere. I also would like opinions as to good prep courses. It would also be nice to hear anything positive in the way of someone who has self prepared and passed the exam. Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![Flyer69](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/flyer69/32/6000_2.png) [@Flyer69](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Flyer69)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 11:39am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/500-ton-captains-prep-course/11805/2 "2014-01-06T11:39:21Z")
I self prepared and passed. Marine Education Textbooks, and the Starpath ROR trainer. ---
**Author:** ![PaddyWest2012](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/paddywest2012/32/2405_2.png) [@PaddyWest2012](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/PaddyWest2012)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 12:09pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/500-ton-captains-prep-course/11805/3 "2014-01-06T12:09:39Z")
[QUOTE=ShawnYoungblood;127726]I am looking for recommendations for a prep course for my 500 ton Master. I have finished all of my prerequisite courses and am being told that self study passage for this exam is virtually impossible. I tend to not listen to this type of conversation as I have been able to pass many tests that I was told of supposed impossibilities. I would love to hear any recommended prep material that can be bought on-line or elsewhere. I also would like opinions as to good prep courses. It would also be nice to hear anything positive in the way of someone who has self prepared and passed the exam. Thanks in advance![/QUOTE] I think a lot of people consider Lapware to be a little on the pricy side but there is no denying that that software has been developed as the result of decades of scientific analysis of all of the USCG questions that have ever existed. I don’t know if you can get better data on USCG exams than that. The people who put out Lapware know things about USCG exams that even the USCG doesn’t know themselves. Lapware is not without its flaws however. The software can sometimes tend to focus on “high-miss” questions, especially in rules of the road, so you might get really good at all the difficult questions but end up failing because you missed all the really easy ones. This fault is not ubiquitous however and can be mitigated by good personal management, good studying skills, a healthy familiarity with the CFR’s and the occasional reliance on other sources of USCG questions to balance out minute areas where Lapware is found to be lacking. Best of luck to you! ---
**Author:** ![Bayrunner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/bayrunner/32/966_2.png) [@Bayrunner](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Bayrunner)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/500-ton-captains-prep-course/11805/4 "2014-01-06T15:46:02Z")
I did my 500 ton prep at Mid Atlantic Maritime in Norfolk. They gave me tests they pulled off lapware and the instructor helped me with the parts I needed help on. It was worth it I passed all of my tests the first time. ---
**Author:** ![exdraggerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/51bf81/32.png) [@exdraggerman](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/exdraggerman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/500-ton-captains-prep-course/11805/5 "2014-01-08T19:59:25Z")
MPT in ft Lauderdale did right by me.alot of material to cover but figure a month or so,more or less after the 2 week prep class and you will be done with it. class was 1500 or 1700$ I think.test wherever but do it soon as you can so you can gget on with forgetting all that useless crap… good luck ---
**Author:** ![captjamied](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/captjamied/32/91_2.png) [@captjamied](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/captjamied)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/500-ton-captains-prep-course/11805/6 "2014-01-21T03:27:55Z")
I’m in the same boat you are…I use Lapware but you really need to use the software wisely…ie. you are paying $100/mo. so MAKE the time to use it. I haven’t taken the tests yet…a couple more weeks I think, but if for some reason if I don’t pass the tests on my first try, I’ll try the 500T test prep course at MERTS for $152/wk. you can buy weekly “blocks” of time as you think necessary, I like that . I’ll keep you posted and Good Luck! ---
**Author:** ![ShawnYoungblood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@ShawnYoungblood](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ShawnYoungblood)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/500-ton-captains-prep-course/11805/7 "2014-01-23T21:49:05Z")
[QUOTE=captjamied;128749]I’m in the same boat you are…I use Lapware but you really need to use the software wisely…ie. you are paying $100/mo. so MAKE the time to use it. I haven’t taken the tests yet…a couple more weeks I think, but if for some reason if I don’t pass the tests on my first try, I’ll try the 500T test prep course at MERTS for $152/wk. you can buy weekly “blocks” of time as you think necessary, I like that . I’ll keep you posted and Good Luck![/QUOTE] What is MERTS? Tried googling it, no help! ---
**Author:** ![Bloodyshitcakes](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/bloodyshitcakes/32/181_2.png) [@Bloodyshitcakes](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Bloodyshitcakes)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/500-ton-captains-prep-course/11805/8 "2014-01-23T22:27:38Z")
> [@"ShawnYoungblood"](#): > > What is MERTS? Tried googling it, no help! Clatsop community college in Astoria, OR has a marine sciences department they call MERTS. ---
**Author:** ![water](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/water/32/131_2.png) [@water](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/water)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 11:15am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/500-ton-captains-prep-course/11805/9 "2014-01-24T11:15:52Z")
Have you looked at the “Upgrading to Master 500” section? > **[gCaptain Forum](http://forum.gcaptain.com)** > > A forum for the maritime and offshore industries.