Merchant marine education programs - workboat academy, SUNY AS program etc.

[tank3355]

I am 28 trying to get a fast start in the industry, currently slowly working up seatime etc. something like work boat academy sounds great, but I the 32k pricetag is a little steep. SUNY maritime Associates program is more affordable and seems similar. What else is out there that i'm missing, looking for the same end result

[Capt. Phoenix]

Go to a regular academy and get your third mate unlimited, it is a far better license to have. If I could go back and do that instead I would.

[tank3355]

four years and the money isn't an option

[tugsailor]

If you can do two years, you can do four. Four years will go by a lot faster than you think. Many people have stopped going to sea to go back to school for four years when they were a lot older than you are.

Money is not a problem --- unless you already have a financially unproductive wife, kids, mortgage, etc. to support. If you have that, you probably cannot go to school for four months much less four years. If you can get into Kings Point, its FREE. At most schools you can qualify for in-state tuition after the first year. With federal student loans and other financial aid (most people do not pay the full asking priced at any college) anyone can afford to go to college. You might want to speak with a financial aid specialist, or the financial aid offices at the academies.

The extra earning power that a third mate's license and a four year college degree will command will pay for the extra two years pretty quickly. And then pay for itself again many times over during the next 30 years of a typical career.

I think most of the academies have some kind of shorter small vessel license program. I know someone who did a small vessel license program at MMA.

I suspect that no matter which program you start with ( two year or four year) its probably possible to transfer into the other program at most schools. I imagine that it would also be possible to go to school for two years, take a year or two "off" to work, and then go back to school. But it would really make a lot more sense to just do the four years straight and then move right into a higher paying job.

[tank3355]

oh, i've looked at a lot of programs and talked ot people at suny, they said I will be able to transfer all credits, from all programs they know of into a four year program towards graduating, they said it's basically the first two years of any four year program. I'd just rather commit to two years now (they seem to offer more flexible programs also meaning night courses etc) and finish that program than start a four year program and not finish it. Sorry, four years just seems so far off, heck even two years seems pretty far off.

[Kennebec Captain]

oh, i've looked at a lot of programs and talked ot people at suny, they said I will be able to transfer all credits, from all programs they know of into a four year program towards graduating, they said it's basically the first two years of any four year program. I'd just rather commit to two years now (they seem to offer more flexible programs also meaning night courses etc) and finish that program than start a four year program and not finish it. Sorry, four years just seems so far off, heck even two years seems pretty far off.

This is a little off topic but it irks me a little to see posts (not that this is one) of the "I have decided to be a ship captain in the shortest time possible, can anyone tell me what I need to do" type. One advantage of getting a license the hawsepipe route is at least it makes you understand what you've got when you finally get it.

K.C.

[cappy208]

oh, i've looked at a lot of programs and talked ot people at suny, they said I will be able to transfer all credits,

Sorry, four years just seems so far off, heck even two years seems pretty far off.

KC s comment is pretty appropriate.

You want to drive the damned thing, and don't even have a glimmer of understanding IF you want or cam handle the responsibity, or even what the job entails! Let me give you something to ponder.... Maybe you should just ship out for a month and even SEE if you like being gone from land that long before you start 'reinventing the wheel' to take my job from me! There is Nothing 'transferable' in education that is pertinent to this career. May make you graduate sooner, but the skillset is not found on a blackboard

[ChiefRob]

This is a little off topic but it irks me a little to see posts (not that this is one) of the "I have decided to be a ship captain in the shortest time possible, can anyone tell me what I need to do" type. One advantage of getting a license the hawsepipe route is at least it makes you understand what you've got when you finally get it.

K.C.

Tank 3355 you might be the best sailor that ever walked on the deck, I don't know you so I can not make that judgement. However I do agree with K.C. and cappy 208 comments, after my 20 plus years in the business, I see to many times the young people now that are not willing to put the hard work, years of service and everything else that is required to earn the position of Captian, they only want a piece of paper that says they are certified and the fat paycheck, that comes with it as quickly as posible. There are some very good young people out there but this trend seems to be getting worse every year to me.

[tugsailor]

REPLY We could offer more informed opinions if we knew what you have for experience, education, and qualifications now. Are you a good student? Can you study independently? Do you have any seagoing experience? Just because someone elects to start a four year program does not mean that he has "committed" to anything. The academies all have quite a lot of dropouts, and people often transfer out of the regimental programs to other academic programs. If the regimental aspect of academy life does not appeal to you, you might be best off at at CMA (not much regimental BS) and worst off at Texas (sounds like they've recently gone overboard with the regiment). Based upon what you've said so far, I think that most people starting out where you appear to be starting from would be much better off doing a four year program.

oh, i've looked at a lot of programs and talked ot people at suny, they said I will be able to transfer all credits, from all programs they know of into a four year program towards graduating, they said it's basically the first two years of any four year program. I'd just rather commit to two years now (they seem to offer more flexible programs also meaning night courses etc) and finish that program than start a four year program and not finish it. Sorry, four years just seems so far off, heck even two years seems pretty far off.

[cmakin]

If you can do two years, you can do four. Four years will go by a lot faster than you think. Many people have stopped going to sea to go back to school for four years when they were a lot older than you are.

Money is not a problem --- unless you already have a financially unproductive wife, kids, mortgage, etc. to support. If you have that, you probably cannot go to school for four months much less four years. If you can get into Kings Point, its FREE. At most schools you can qualify for in-state tuition after the first year. With federal student loans and other financial aid (most people do not pay the full asking priced at any college) anyone can afford to go to college. You might want to speak with a financial aid specialist, or the financial aid offices at the academies.

The extra earning power that a third mate's license and a four year college degree will command will pay for the extra two years pretty quickly. And then pay for itself again many times over during the next 30 years of a typical career.

I think most of the academies have some kind of shorter small vessel license program. I know someone who did a small vessel license program at MMA.

I suspect that no matter which program you start with ( two year or four year) its probably possible to transfer into the other program at most schools. I imagine that it would also be possible to go to school for two years, take a year or two "off" to work, and then go back to school. But it would really make a lot more sense to just do the four years straight and then move right into a higher paying job.

I believe that he may be too old for the KP program. As I recall when I was applying all those decades ago, the max age was 28.

[Kennebec Captain]

Tank 3355 you might be the best sailor that ever walked on the deck, I don't know you so I can not make that judgement. However I do agree with K.C. and cappy 208 comments, after my 20 plus years in the business, I see to many times the young people now that are not willing to put the hard work, years of service and everything else that is required to earn the position of Captian, they only want a piece of paper that says they are certified and the fat paycheck, that comes with it as quickly as posible. There are some very good young people out there but this trend seems to be getting worse every year to me.

I agree, in tank3355's defense he hasn't posted anything objectionable, my comment was just meant in general. The point is that there is no easy path to becoming a licensed officer, some have an easier time then others but everyone had to work and sacrifice to some degree. You have to pay your dues one way or the other.

K.C.

[cmakin]

I agree, in tank3355's defense he hasn't posted anything objectionable, my comment was just meant in general. The point is that there is no easy path to becoming a licensed officer, some have an easier time then others but everyone had to work and sacrifice to some degree. You have to pay your dues one way or the other.

K.C.

Pretty much the same goes for anything worthwhile in life.

[cappy208]

I believe that he may be too old for the KP program. As I recall when I was applying all those decades ago, the max age was 28.

Not true for the 2 yr limited license program.

[cmakin]

Not true for the 2 yr limited license program.

I wasn't aware that KP offered anything but the 3rd licenses as part of the 4 (and sometimes 5) year program.

[cappy208]

I wasn't aware that KP offered anything but the 3rd licenses as part of the 4 (and sometimes 5) year program.

Ur correct. I was thinking of the OP commment about SUNY

[cmakin]

Ur correct. I was thinking of the OP commment about SUNY

Which, of course, can be taken as not being relevant to the current US maritime industry.