- What NM1N Means on This Site
- Who Issues the Credential and How Testing Works
- The Five Exam Modules at a Glance
- Q100: Rules of the Road
- Q160: Deck General
- Q161: Deck Safety
- Q162 and Q163: Navigation Knowledge and Chart Plot
- Other Pathways: Raise of Grade and Increase in Scope
- Who Hires Near Coastal Masters
- Sequencing Your Preparation by Module
- Where to Go From Here
- Frequently Asked Questions
- NM1N here means National Master 100 NC: a Master Near Coastal, less than 100 GRT credential from the U.S. Coast Guard.
- The original full exam draws on five modules: Q100, Q160, Q161, Q162 and Q163.
- Q163 is a chart plot module, so you need working plotting skills, not just memorized facts.
- Q165 is a separate raise-of-grade module and is not part of the original five.
What NM1N Means on This Site
On this site, NM1N refers to National Master 100 NC, the U.S. Coast Guard credential for a Master of vessels of less than 100 gross register tons (GRT) operating on Near Coastal routes. It is a mariner license, not an IT, healthcare, or project management certification, even though other unrelated credentials happen to share a similar acronym. Everything below applies only to the mariner credential.
If you are comparing terminology across the site, our related explainers cover the naming in more detail: What Does NM1N Stand For? and NM1N Meaning break down the shorthand, while NM1N Certification looks at the credential as a whole.
Who Issues the Credential and How Testing Works
The governing body is the United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC). The NMC publishes examination guides and a module-topic catalog that describe what each exam module covers. The guide referenced for this article reflects regulations effective March 24, 2014, and should be used alongside the current published NMC module-topic index and your individual approval to test.
Two points deserve emphasis for anyone planning their path:
- Official percentage weights are not published in the sources used here. Any preparation plan that claims precise domain percentages for this credential is guessing. The groupings in this article are unweighted, route-aware preparation groups.
- There is no single universal exam. The modules you must pass depend on the route you are on, such as a full original exam, a raise of grade, or an increase in scope. Fees, timers, and eligibility are tied to your individual situation, so we do not quote universal figures for them. For the broader cost picture, see our NM1N certification cost breakdown, and for eligibility see NM1N requirements and prerequisites.
The Five Exam Modules at a Glance
The original Master Near Coastal less than 100 GRT full exam uses five modules. Think of them as five distinct bodies of knowledge, each with its own skills.
| Module | Published Title | Core Character |
|---|---|---|
| Q100 | Rules of the Road: International and Inland | Regulations, watchkeeping, COLREGS and Inland Rules |
| Q160 | Deck General | Seamanship, maneuvering, firefighting, lifesaving, communications |
| Q161 | Deck Safety | Stability, construction, damage control, emergencies |
| Q162 | Navigation General: Near Coastal | Piloting, compass, aids to navigation, weather, tides |
| Q163 | Navigation Problems: Chart Plot | Chart plotting: fixes, bearings, dead reckoning, distance off |
For a deeper domain-by-domain treatment, see our complete guide to all five content areas.
Q100: Rules of the Road
Q100 covers Watchkeeping, COLREGS, and the Inland Navigational Rules. A Master operating near the coast has to know both rule sets and understand where each applies, since vessels transit between inland and international waters.
Domain 1: Rules of the Road: International and Inland (Q100)
This module tests whether you can apply the regulations on the water, not just recite them.
- Proper watchkeeping practice and lookout responsibilities
- International rules (COLREGS) for conduct between vessels
- Inland Navigational Rules and how they differ in application
- Interpreting situations involving vessels meeting, crossing, and overtaking
Q100 also has a role in some upgrade routes: for an increase in scope from Great Lakes or Inland to Near Coastal, the published guide pairs Q160 and Q162 and adds Q100 where a COLREGS limitation applies.
Q160: Deck General
Deck General is the broadest seamanship module in the set. The published topic catalog spans practical boatmanship, emergency response, and shipboard administration.
Domain 2: Deck General (Q160)
Expect topics from across the working life of a small commercial vessel.
- Maneuvering: vessel maneuvering and handling, turn circle, pivot point, advance and transfer, wake reduction
- Seamanship: marlinspike seamanship, purchases, blocks and tackle, temporary repairs, collision response
- Fire: classes and chemistry of fire, basic firefighting and prevention, fire prevention and firefighting appliances
- Lifesaving: abandon ship procedures, survival at sea, lifesaving appliance operation, rescuing survivors from ship or aircraft in distress
- Communications: radiotelephone procedures and distress, storm, wreck and special signals
- Ship's business: certificates and documents required, vessel power plants, small engine operations and maintenance
Many candidates underestimate this module because the topics feel familiar from daily boat work. The challenge is the breadth: you must be comfortable moving from a question about pivot point behavior to one about the chemistry of fire to one about required documents. Our NM1N cheat sheet is a handy quick-review tool for this kind of wide-ranging material.
Q161: Deck Safety
Deck Safety concentrates on keeping the vessel and the people aboard safe when something goes wrong. Its published topics include stability, construction, and damage control, and the stability-related material belongs here within Q161 rather than in a separate stand-alone stability module.
Domain 3: Deck Safety (Q161)
Focused on vessel integrity, stability behavior, and emergency response.
- Trim and stability, including how loading and weight changes affect the vessel
- Principles of vessel construction
- Stability, construction, and damage control
- Passenger and crew safety in emergencies
- Man overboard procedures and emergency towing
- Fire or explosion response and firefighting appliances
- Abandon ship procedures and rescuing survivors
Q162 and Q163: Navigation Knowledge and Chart Plot
Two modules handle navigation, and they test different skills. Q162 is conceptual and knowledge-based; Q163 is applied plotting.
Q162: Navigation General: Near Coastal
Domain 4: Navigation General: Near Coastal (Q162)
The theory and reference knowledge behind safe coastal navigation.
- Navigation and position determination, piloting, distance off, bearing problems, fix or running fix
- Dead reckoning and chart navigation
- Instruments and accessories, aids to navigation, charts, navigation publications, and Notices to Mariners
- Compass: magnetic and gyro, principles of the magnetic compass, compass error, correction, and determination of error
- Terrestrial observation
- Meteorology and oceanography: weather systems, ocean currents, weather charts and reports
- Tides and tidal currents
Q163: Navigation Problems: Chart Plot
Domain 5: Navigation Problems: Chart Plot (Q163)
This is where you demonstrate that you can actually work a chart.
- Piloting, distance off, and bearing problems
- Fix or running fix
- Dead reckoning and chart navigation
- Electronic navigation
- Instruments and accessories, aids to navigation, and charts, publications, and notices
Because Q163 is a plotting module, time spent with real or practice charts matters more than reading alone. You are building a physical skill with dividers, parallel rulers, and a plotting pencil. Candidates often find this part the most demanding, which we discuss in our difficulty guide.
Key Takeaway
Treat Q162 and Q163 as a pair but practice them differently: read and review for Q162, and plot repeatedly on a chart for Q163 until the steps become automatic.
Other Pathways: Raise of Grade and Increase in Scope
Not every candidate takes the full five-module exam. The published NMC materials describe other routes, and it is important not to combine them.
| Route | Modules Referenced | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original full exam (Master Near Coastal less than 100 GRT) | Q100, Q160, Q161, Q162, Q163 | The five-module structure used throughout this article |
| OUPV to Master Near Coastal less than 100 (raise of grade) | Q162 and Q165 | Q165 is Navigation and Deck General/Safety, a separate module not part of the original five |
| Increase in scope from Great Lakes/Inland to Near Coastal | Q160 and Q162, plus Q100 where a COLREGS limitation applies | Published guide pathway; confirm with the NMC for your case |
Do not add these pathways together. Each is a distinct route, and your required modules are determined by your own application and approval to test. The right starting point is the NMC itself and our overview of NM1N requirements.
Who Hires Near Coastal Masters
A Master license for vessels under 100 GRT on Near Coastal routes opens work on smaller commercial vessels operating beyond the protected inland waters. Typical employers and settings include:
- Charter and passenger operations such as sightseeing, ferry, and excursion vessels
- Towing and harbor-support operators running smaller tugs and assist boats
- Offshore and coastal support, crew transfer, and survey work on smaller vessels
- Commercial fishing and workboat operations that require a licensed Master
- Marine services, training, and vessel delivery companies
Specific pay and demand vary by region, vessel type, and operator, and we do not quote figures here. For a look at the career angle, see NM1N jobs, the NM1N salary guide, and our ROI analysis.
Sequencing Your Preparation by Module
A sensible order reflects how the modules build on each other. Here is one way to schedule your effort, tied to this exam's structure rather than generic habits.
Q100 Rules of the Road
- Learn both COLREGS and Inland Rules, and where each applies
- Rules knowledge supports navigation and seamanship, so do it first
Q162 and Q163 Navigation
- Build compass, aids, weather, and tide knowledge for Q162
- Begin plotting early and repeat; Q163 rewards practice volume
Q160 and Q161
- Cover Deck General breadth: maneuvering, fire, lifesaving, communications, documents
- Work through stability, construction, and damage control for Q161
Mixed review
- Rotate across all five modules and revisit weak topics
Adjust this to your own experience. A working deckhand may need more time on plotting and rules and less on line handling, while a newer mariner may need the opposite. Our full NM1N study guide expands on planning and approach.
Where to Go From Here
Once you understand what the credential is and how its modules fit together, the next step is to confirm your route with the National Maritime Center and begin targeted practice. Our practice test platform lets you drill the five module areas, and you can start a practice session to see where your knowledge is strongest and where you need more work. For questions about score expectations and testing logistics, review passing score and exam dates, and for outcomes data see what the data shows on pass rates. Explore additional training context in NM1N training.
Frequently Asked Questions
NM1N refers to National Master 100 NC, a U.S. Coast Guard Master Near Coastal credential for vessels of less than 100 GRT. See What Does NM1N Stand For? for more.
The original Master Near Coastal less than 100 GRT exam uses Q100, Q160, Q161, Q162, and Q163. Q165 is a separate raise-of-grade module and is not part of that original set.
Official percentage weights are not published in the sources used for this article. The five modules are best treated as unweighted preparation groups, and you should prepare for all of them.
No. Required modules depend on your route, such as the original full exam, a raise of grade from OUPV, or an increase in scope. Confirm your individual approval to test with the National Maritime Center.
Stability topics, including trim and stability and damage control, fall within Q161 Deck Safety. For this credential they are not a separate stand-alone stability module.
Many candidates find it the most skill-intensive because it requires hands-on plotting practice rather than memorization. Repeated work on charts is the best preparation.