The River School offers a variety of courses, both those required by Coast Guard regulations and others for individual professional development. Our courses are all transportable making them convenient and cost effective. Our instructors are professionals with service in the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Merchant Marine and the river industry. All are highly qualified in their field and are experienced, proven training professionals.
Dealing with Coast Guard Paperwork
The requirements for merchant mariner licenses are found in 46 CFR Part 10. All applicants for a license must complete an application package and submit it—along with the appropriate fees—to a Coast Guard Regional Exam Center for approval. Candidates for a license must be approved before taking the licensing exams (there are exceptions for those attending an approved course).
We can help!
We’ve helped thousands of rivermen and inland mariners navigate the rocks, bends, and bars of the application process. Would you make a trip on a river without being posted? You might, and you might be successful. But why take the chance when expert advice and assistance is available?
Consultation Services
Application Assistance – We help you understand and complete your own application package for the license you’re seeking. We’ll walk you through which forms are required, answer your questions via our toll-free phone number or email, and point out anything that looks incomplete—but you fill out and submit your forms yourself. Our job is to guide you so you can confidently get your paperwork right.
FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator License
The Coast Guard requires all applicants for an initial deck officer license (including Steersman) to hold an FCC Radiotelephone Operator license. We’ll show you how to complete the application and where to pay your license fee, but you’ll submit it yourself.
License Renewal Application Assistance
The Coast Guard National Maritime Center demands that your application paperwork for your license renewal be in order. Recent performance reports indicate that as many as 1 out of 5 applications for renewal are not acceptable and get returned to the applicant.
Sometimes it’s just a matter of incomplete forms. Other times it’s a bigger problem with medical qualification or a law enforcement records check. These problems can add weeks or months to the time it takes to get your license transaction completed. Sure, the Coast Guard will answer your questions, but do you speak their language? Do you know which questions to ask?
At The River School, we have a solid track record for helping applicants for an original license meet all of the qualifications and Coast Guard standards. We’re willing to pitch in and help rivermen renewing a license too.
WHAT'S IT WORTH?
No Charge — Just Guidance
We used to charge for handling paperwork, but that’s not what we do anymore. We’ll help you learn how to get your own license renewal paperwork in order and troubleshoot problems that come up—at no cost. The paperwork is yours to complete, but we’ll be here to guide you.