Sefl study for the upgrade from Master 100 to Master 200 is always an option. The USCG charges $100 for administering the exams and you will spend from $100 to $200 on study materials plus one to two months of study time depending on your level of experience and knowledge. Since the cost of the four day course is $600 this could save you from $300 to $400 plus the cost of travel to Portland. There are three exam modules required to upgrade a Master 100 ton near coastal license to Master 200 ton near coastal.
Exam module 011X3 Deck General, Safety and Environmental Protection (20 questions, 70% passing). This exam is generally heavy with inspected vessel regulations and stability, including several questions requiring stability calculations.
Exam module 054XX Rules of the Road (50 questions, 90% passing). This is a standard Rules of the Road exam.
Exam module 073XX Navigation General and Chart Navigation (20 questions, 90% passing) This exam takes all the elements from the 100 ton chart exam, adds a couple of new concepts, and puts it into a progressive format. They are generally always heavy in compass corrections (both magnetic and gyro), DR plotting, application of set and drift, and use of supporting publications. In addition they almost always include a tide and tidal current problem and a range and visibility of light problem in every exam.
