What Are the CPR and First Aid Rules for Getting My USCG OUPV?

You are required to have valid Adult CPR certification and basic first aid course completed within a year of submitting your application.

The USCG will accept an American Red Cross First Aid and CPR card or a USCG approved course certificate for First Aid and CPR when you are getting your first USCG License as an officer.

You can take a course at the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, ASHI or a USCG course provider all offer classroom courses that will meet both these requirements. No matter which provider you choose you need to make sure some portion of your First Aid and CPR course is done is person. If your First Aid | CPR card from Red Cross says ONLINE anywhere on it the card will not be accepted. ‍

Emergency University is the only USCG Approved CPR/FA fully online course.

If you already hold a valid STCW Basic Training, it covers this requirement.

Read our Guide to Getting Your OUPV / Six-Pack License

We hope this made your life a little easier and if you have other questions the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!

MM-SEAS is free to use on your own and if you need some more personalized help you can upgrade to MM-SEAS Pro inside of the site.

No matter what, when you are ready to submit your application, you can choose to have the MM-SEAS staff create a perfect application, handle the USCG application fees and work with the USCG on your behalf to resolve any issues for a flat fee of $349 or you can choose to submit on your own.

Pro MM-SEAS members get access to unlimited live 1 on 1 calls with one of our USCG Licensing Specialists. We've found that answering questions live with screen sharing in a video call makes both of our lives easier. Pro MM-SEAS members can access these features inside of MM-SEAS under License Guidance.