Education · 1 of 5

The path

Almost everyone goes to a maritime academy. The degree and the license are earned together, and you cannot graduate without the license.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Physics, math through pre-calculus, chemistry and any shop or auto class. Academies look at grades and at whether you can handle structure.

2. 2

   Maritime academy

   4 years

   Four years for a marine engineering degree. Massachusetts Maritime, for example, requires 152.5 credits, well above a standard engineering degree, because the license training sits on top.

3. 3

   Sea terms and cadet shipping

   Each summer

   Around 50 days a year of shipboard training, on a training ship or aboard working commercial vessels.

4. 4

   Coast Guard license exam

   Final year

   Pass it and you hold a third assistant engineer license, steam, motor and gas turbine, unlimited horsepower. Senior students have to earn it before the degree is issued.

5. 5

   Sail and upgrade

   5 to 15 years

   Log sea service, sit the next exam, move up through second and first assistant toward chief engineer.