What Degree Do You Need to Be a Ship's Captain?
Ship captains guide and monitor a vessel's course, oversee the crew and ensure goods they're carrying comply with regulations. The U.S. Coast Guard regulates entry, training and licensing for water transportation occupations, including ship captains. Captains, mates and pilots together earned an average of $61,960 in 2008, with the top 10 percent earning $108,120. A degree can help in finding jobs, although other training criteria can be equally important.
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Academy Training
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Studying at one of the seven merchant marine academy schools in the U. S. is a wise career move for prospective captains. Earning good grades is essential, as you'll be facing dedicated competition among your fellow students. You'll earn a bachelor of science degree when you graduate. In the four-year program at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York, students gain knowledge in the classroom followed by experience at sea. The program leads to a bachelor of science degree as well as licensure as a merchant marine officer. Graduates also receive a commissioned post as an officer in the military reserves.
Experience
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You could also become a ship captain by working your way up through the ranks and passing exams that increase your status along the way. In this path, you begin as a deckhand, gaining basic training through a union and on the job. You'll accumulate thousands of hours of experience as you move through the ranks of third, second and first mate after working as a deckhand. Still, you must have a high school diploma or GED to embark on this career path.
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Military Training
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Consider joining the military with the goal of becoming a ship captain. In a branch such as the Navy, you can progress to the rank of ship captain if you succeed at your work and communicate with your superiors about your goals. Becoming a submarine captain is another option. Training frequently lasts 22 weeks, followed by a military service period.
Exams and Credentials
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Regardless of which path you choose, you must gain a Transport Worker Identification Credential and a Merchant Mariner Credential to begin working. Many employers also require you to pass the U. S. Coast Guard's examination to work as a ship captain.
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References
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