USCG OUPV License: Got the books, is the class needed?

[theBigKahuna]

I picked up the Mariners Learning Center books for the OUPV license and in working thru part of the first book and quizes... I'm doing much better than I'd worried.

Granted topics will get harder as I go and I haven't manually charted in a couple years, but I'm wondering if it's (1) possible to take the test w/out a review class (2) is it the smart thing to do?

I've sailed / powered for over 30 years, spending significant time travelling on our sailcat the past 4 years. I've also got ASA 101-3, 114 under my belt. That doesn't mean I wouldn't learn anything from the actual classes (we can always and should always get learning more).

Input appreciated!

jBrad
sv Fuzzy Logic

[wholybee]

No, you don't need the class. It might be worth mentioning that at my test, almost everyone failed, some for the second time. I passed quite easily. A lot of that will be your ability to study on your own and learn the material. I happen to be very good at reading a book and then being tested on it.

The "Class" isn't anything more than reading the books and doing the exercises. If you have the books, you won't gain any education from the class.

ASA105 has a lot of chart work, and I think was helpful. It had been a while since I had taken 105, but it mostly all came back as I was trying to work the problems. I would suggest working though the charting exercises a few times as they were a significant part of the test.

I enrolled in Mariners Learning System classes for a different reason. It allowed me to take the test locally. Normally USCG tests need to take place at a USCG testing facility, and there were none near me. But, the school is allowed to proctor a test, and they happened to do that near me. So I enrolled in the class to avoid needing to travel to take the test.

[mvweebles]

It's been over 25 years since I first got my USCG ticket (100-ton). I took a class. I found many of the exam questions covered esoteric topics such as best fire extinguishers for particular types of fires. The charting sections, which included set and drift calculations, were also a bit outside my experience.

I was rock solid on the rules of road sections. But I found the rigor of 80 hours of class with daily quizzes and teaming with other students to be very helpful. I easily passed the first time. Class was also helpful on explaining and urging scheduling of other requirements such as CPR, etc.

[murofsresiurc]

I took a class at Chapman's School of Seamanship. I feel it was worthwhile.

Yes, you can learn rules of the road on your own and take plenty of practice tests online to verify you know it. I learned some helpful mnemonics in class that did make it easier.

Charting was very helpful to learn with others, both the instructor and other students working through the problems together.

Nav and Deck General only require 70% to pass so you have leeway. The trickiest part was learning to use the tide and current tables, where instructor help was useful.

Finally, I made lots of new friends, heard some good sea stories and enjoyed great comraderie for 10 days!!!

Passed all 4 tests on the last day of class.

[capt jgw]

I taught a Master course for about 20 years and in my experience the class does help. You get comradery and completion among the students and of course help from the instructor. Would they have done as well on thier own? No way of knowing. I also proctored exams for Mariners Learning System before the CG let them go totally online. The average scores were higher in that program than I got in my classroom, but the students had 6 months to study and I have no idea how many started but gave up before finishing. I think it's more up to how you learn, some people need the classroom help while others will do as well on thier own. BTW I self studied using Charlie Wing's book about 25 years ago and did the exams with the CG in Toledo. Passed all on my first try. My boss at the training school said I was the only person he'd met who had done that. Most people use up thier three tries and many have to start over again.