How to be the Best Darn VE Possible!
And Then Become a Program Visitor Too!

The key to becoming a great VE is all in the training. Becoming a Vessel Examiner can be done by classroom instruction along with hands on training, or by self study along with some hands on training.

It is very important that you understand that questions on the Open Book Vessel Examiner's Examination come from the Vessel Safety Check Manual (M16796.8), the USCG Auxiliary Facilities Guide, and the forms associated with the VE Department: ANSC 7003, 7008, 7012, 7038, and 7045. All of these items are linked below.

On this page you will find links to training tools and the open book on-line Vessel Examiner examination. These tools can be used by your FSO-MT (Member Training Officer) or your FSO-VE (Vessel Examiner Officer) as well as by you to self study the course.

The first and most important tool is the VSC Manual M16796.8 which can be obtained through your FSO-MA (Materials Officer) or by downloading an Adobe Acrobat version from this link which is 1.59 MB in size. You should become totally familiar with this manual as it will be your "Bible" to guide you in becoming a great vessel examiner.

There have been some changes to the manual since it was printed and they can be found at this link in the form of an Adobe Acrobat file which is 49 Kb in size.

You should also download the Forms ANSC-7003, ANSC-7008, ANSC-7012, ANSC-7038 and ANSC-7045 from the forms page at http://forms.cgaux.org/forms.html and become familiar with them. There are questions on the exam taken from some of these forms.

The best tool to prepare you for the examination is the Microsoft PowerPoint VSC Training Presentation which your instructor should use to teach the course. You can use this as a self study tool as well and we strongly encourage you to do so. This is a very large file at 16.28 MB in size but explains everything you need to know and quizzes you in preparation for passing the VE Exam. You can download the PowerPoint from this link.

We also have a PowerPoint presentation for performing VSC's on PWC's and you should download that PowerPoint from this link which is 7.27 MB in size.

Another good compilation of study materials is the Annual Workshops from this link.

To become better prepared to inspect Coast Guard Auxiliary Operational Facilities (OPFAC), download and become familiar with this document which is designed for Auxiliary Vessel Examiners only. This download is a PowerPoint presentation 7.38 MB in size to be used for OPFAC training.

Once you have used the above tools and feel you are ready to take the exam, go to http://ntc.cgaux.org/ and take the on-line Vessel Examiner Course Exam. This is an open book exam and you will get your results as soon as you complete the exam. You can retake this exam as many times as you need if you don't pass it the first time around. The great thing about the results you get is that it tells you what pages to study when you get questions wrong.

That's not all... As we said above, you must have some hands on training. You need to go out with a qualified Vessel Examiner and perform 5 exams under the supervision of that qualified examiner. After this is completed, the examiner must notify your Flotilla Commander who will in turn notify your DIRAUX (Director of Auxiliary Office) that the task has been completed. Your DIRAUX will then certify you as a qualified VE and you can start performing exams on your own.

Your Local and State Regulations... Each state and many localities have their own rules to compliment the Federal regulations. This information you should get from the qualified VE (your mentor) that you work with. You can also generally find the state rules on the Internet of your state's website. It's good to print that information out and have it with you when you perform VSC's.

Once you have become qualified, go to http://safetyseal.net/index3.asp and scroll down to the link that says ""I Want a VSC" Volunteer Examiners Sign-Up Here!" and sign up to be a member of our on-line "I Want a VSC" volunteer force where the public can locate examiners near their ZIP code.

But don't stop here... Did you know that to become a Program Visitor many of the questions on the PV Exam come from the VSC Manual that you just mastered? So why not take that additional step and become a Program Visitor too?

This is the time to take that step since you are already half way there with the knowledge you just gained in the above steps. Download the RBSVP Manual - M16796.3C from this link. Along with what you learned from the VSC Manual, study the RBSVP Manual and take the RBSVP Exam linked on this web page http://ntc.cgaux.org/. Once you've passed the exam, get together with a qualified Program Visitor to perform two visits under his or her supervision. Once that is done, the qualified program visitor must notify your Flotilla Commander who in turn must notify your DIRAUX Office that you've completed your visits. Your DIRAUX will then qualify you as a Program Visitor.