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Author
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Topic: USCG cel nav endorsement
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David Burch
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posted March 18, 2009 11:13 AM
We have had several questions on this, so here are some notes on the USCG cel nav test:
First and foremost, please check with your local USCG test center REC = regional exam center. The information i have is old, as we have not directly taken part in this for some years now, though we have in fact trained hundreds of candidates for this endorsement in the past.
So i will describe this as it was a few years ago, and this has to be checked.
1) you can indeed get a cel nav endorsement to a 100T license, which i stress because many RECs in the past would say you cannot. we have done this numerous times.
2) the key is, however, that you must meet the requirements for a 200T license, even if you do not have it.
3) the main restrictions for this are usually having a full year of sea time on your 100T license, which normally takes 2 or 3 years.
4) another restriction is you must meet the requirement for having an AB ticket, but you do not have to have it. Usually the easiest way to show this is to show over 90 days on vessels over 65 feet long.
5) you must have passed the Rules test within the past year, or must take it again
6) you must first get a fire fighting endorsement which is typically 10 days and about $1,000 at selected approved facilities around the country.
7) you must first get a radar endorsement which is typically 5 days and some $750 or so at approved radar schools around the country. Note that if your timing allows for cel nav training before the radar, some of the private schools will do the cel nav parts for you first, then you are just on hold till you pass the radar (and the fire fighting)
8) the test is 10 questions, covering 25 different types of questions. You have 3.5 hr to work it if done at an REC. There is no time to figure out the questions at the exam. You must be well prepared to pass it.
9) these days the best bet by far is to go to a school who is authorized to give you the test, so you do not take the test at the USCG. They will "teach to the test" so there is overall less stress in the process. it is typically 2 to 3 weeks and costs about $800 - $2000.
10) Most (not all) of the questions are of a type and format you would never use underway, so they are not part of our regular training. Nevertheless, you will be a better celestial navigator after passing their test as you must plot carefully and you learn to interpolate the tables.
10) for those who cannot meet a school's schedule, we offer a package that explains how to work the 25 questions. This has a prerequisite of our regular cel nav course.
11) I think the newer USCG STCW cel nav tests are much better in that they include a practical test as well, and the training course is part of the requirement. This, however, is different from the oceans endorsement described above.
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Again, all this is old info that needs to be checked.
From: Starpath, Seattle, WA
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David Burch
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posted March 18, 2009 11:26 AM
If you would like to train for this endorsement with us, the first step is purchase and work through our online cel nav course.
If you have to prepare when underway without Internet, then you could buy just the books and work from them till you are back on shore. However, eventually it would be best to take part in our online resources, in which case the most economical package is just buy the full course now and use the internet parts when you can. They do not time out.
For those who are studying for the USCG test, we have the entire database of all questions online so you can practice with these if you like.
You can see these questions at Starpath USCG Random Question Generator.
Choose Navigation problems, and then filter on say "amplitude" or "polaris" or "azimuth" etc and you will see the typical problems.
You will need a 1981 Nautical Almanac and Pub 229 vol 2.
You could do these with the pdf copy of Pub 229, but if you are going to take the test, you should start with the paper version so you get used to using it.
You will also need a 2102-D star finder as there are questions using it.
From: Starpath, Seattle, WA
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David Burch
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posted April 12, 2009 06:00 PM
There are several classes of licenses that can apply an oceans endorsement obtained by a 10-question test, requiring 90% score. they include:
• 100 and 200T masters
• 500 and 1600 ton mate
• uninspected fishing vessels
and
• 500 and 1600 ton master
You can read the topics on the test from this link to the CFR 46, part 10.910.
The tests are the same for all, except the bottom one has 3 extra topics.
From: Starpath, Seattle, WA
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tflood1967
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posted November 25, 2009 06:10 PM
I just got my acceptance letter from the CG and it says I only need an 80% to pass for the oceans endorsement celestial test. Also regarding the celestial class. I looked into the class with a school in FL. The cost was $1995 and was 3 weeks long. I know other schools are only 2 weeks or 80 hours.
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David Burch
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posted November 25, 2009 08:20 PM
Well... 80% is better than 90, so they must have changed this. Very good.
Note that schools that teach this subject in 2 weeks must be the ones that are giving the tests themselves. This way they can expedite the training by teaching specifically the questions they will be then asking on the tests. Keep in mind too, that these schools are not promising to teach you celestial navigation, they are training you for the USCG endorsement test.
If the main goal is the endorsement, then these schools are the best bet. There are a number of good ones and the USCG has a list of them. License preparation is their specialty and they are good at it.
Then with the endorsement in hand, you can choose to go on and learn the practical details of celestial navigation later on at a more relaxed pace.
From: Starpath, Seattle, WA
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David Burch
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posted December 24, 2009 05:45 PM
In retrospect, it seems the above refers to a different USCG test. The standard cel nav ocean's endorsement test is still 10 questions requiring a 90% passing score.
From: Starpath, Seattle, WA
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