Is there any school that teaches just chart plot for like 5 days or so? I’m in Pasadena Texas but would fly.
All I see are bundle courses that just have a few days on plot.
To substitute for the Coast Guard exam? No. There may be non-approved prep courses, but you would still have to take the Coast Guard exam.
The Coast Guard does not approve courses for one module, they approve for the full exam (all modules) for less than 1,6000 GRT, and for “increase in scope” to go from a near coastal license less than 1,600 GRT to oceans. The Coast Guard does not approve any courses for 1,600 GRT or more, including 3rd Mate.
I’m not a deckie but whenever I have a problem in life, from relationships, health, mechanical to general education, I go straight to YouTube. If you want to save money & study at your own pace to pass the uscg test see if you can find it there. Another option that I seen hawspipers do a long time ago was to get a recent grad or smart mate teach you on board on your off watch time. In those instances the comradery was good & I don’t think money exchanged hands but paying a tutor is a bad idea? Pasadena is real close to Galveston. You might be able get some smart kid from Texas Maritime to tutor you $25-$30 bucks an hour for a few hours a day for 5 days to help you pass the test. Good luck.
Before considering finding and flying to a local or remote tutor: I recommend looking at Practical Navigator.org Chart Plotting Problems course.
The videos and instruction for this maybe worth your time and within a reasonable budget. The course identifies chart plot requirements for the various license endorsement modules.
The way I recall the course, there is a chance you can download the videos and work on specific problem types.
Using a structured format for plotting tools, charts and navigational publications (e.g. Chart 1 & Chart Symbols, Light Lists, Coast Pilots, Tide Currents etc.), visual two - three LOP fixes, use of RADAR arcs in determining electronic fixes, the ability to establish R. fixes, dead reckoning requirements, set/drift, visibility of lights etc.
Each task element allow you to practice your skills and utilize you plotting equipment and navigation skills while at sea.
Is there a sample test someplace? I would love to see if I can pass it now.
NMC web site.
Go to the NMC website Sample Examination
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Look for the Deck License you are testing for. E.g. 500-1600 ton Ocean/Near Coastal Mate
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Then open the sample exams for your license. The first display will provide you with the proposed subjects and
topics on each exam module. -
As a 500 - 1600 Mate O/NC your license modules would be Q-100 to Q142.
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The 2024 sample chart plot for this sample exam is Q140-Chart Plot 12221 Chesapeake Bay
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Get familiar with the three charts that the USCG uses (12221, 12354, 13205) .
Hope this helps.
I remember many years ago when I was getting my OUTV license the CG had a booklet that had the sample exam questions. Do they still have that? It was a big help to study for the exam.
Some of these were pretty easy because this is my backyard and I know what the bottom and terrain are like anyway. Some not so much, especially the gyro issues. I am not really experienced with marine gyro compasses and the ones in airplanes I just turn the knob and set them to match the mag compass if they aren’t matching.
Given your comments it maybe worth taking the chart plotting course to fill in the gaps.
Continuing education never hurt anyone 
Practical Navigator is the best at home option to study at your own pace and avoid the costly add ups of traveling somewhere to take a class and that instructors methods may still not be taught in a way that works for you. I’d pay the 100$ and try that first much easier than dropping 3k on class.
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Master Unlimited here. I just finished my exams and went 9/9 in April. I live down the road in Friendswood. I will come to you or we can meet somewhere in the middle.
$450 and I’ll walk you through every chart plot available.
What exam are you going for?
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I might take you up on your offer. I go back to work in a few days for 6 weeks but you being so close to have someone to at least get me started and ask genuine questions I might do that. I am going for 3rd mate.
Lapware is another good source. There are something like 60 practice tests out there and lapware has solutions to all of them to help you study.
The new tests are harder than the old tests but it’s still a good resource.
Does that exist? A full exam course for 500 or 1,600? I thought they were just “exam prep”?
Honestly man best thing you can do is get the three practice charts, take the Practical Navigator course, then get sub for Lapware, then dedicate a couple hours per day on it.
Print out a Lapware test or two every day and repeat until passing consistently.
I highly recommend having a yard stick, very fine mechanical pencil, divider, highlighter, two triangles, (the two triangle method always more accurate for me versus parallel ruler for finding course lines, really was a game changer for me)
Highlight every point on the chart while going through your exam each time so on test day you remember where the relevant points of interest are and aren’t wasting time looking for a light or a point.
Good luck!
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It doesn’t exist. That was what I was getting at. When it comes to using courses to substitute for exams, it’s all or nothing. You need a course that substitutes for all of the modules, not just one of several. And since there are no courses for the full exam for licenses above 200 GRT, you can’t do a “raise of grade” (e.g. Master 200 to Mate 500) and use courses to substitute for one but not all of the exam modules. The celestial courses are approved only for an “increase in scope” from near coastal to oceans (e.g. Mate 500 N/C to Mate 500 Oceans). You should not be able to apply for the raise of grade to Mate 500 Oceans and use the celestial course to get out of just the ocean problems modules and take the rest at the REC.
Got it. Makes sense. It was long ago, but I took my 500 test in Miami and it took two days.