- What "Passing Score" Means for This Credential
- What the Coast Guard Publishes and What It Does Not
- Your Five Near Coastal Modules
- Why Your Approval Letter Beats Any Blog Post
- Passing Each Module: What to Master
- Reduced Module Sets for Upgrades and Raises
- Planning Around a Failed Module
- Sequencing Your Preparation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The full Near Coastal route under ONC05 consists of five modules: Q100, Q150, Q151, Q152 and Q153.
- The U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center publishes the modules and topic matrices, but this article cites no verified percentage cutoff.
- Your approval to test lists your assigned modules; trust it over any generic summary, including this one.
- Q154 Navigation Problems: Oceans belongs to the Oceans option and does not apply to Near Coastal.
What "Passing Score" Means for This Credential
Candidates searching for a passing score usually want one number: a percentage they must hit to earn the credential. National Master 200 NC (NM2N) does not work like a single-sitting exam with one cut score. It is a route made up of separate examination modules administered under the U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC), within the ONC05 scope. Passing means clearing each module assigned to you, not hitting one blended number.
This distinction changes how you prepare. A strong showing in navigation does not compensate for a weak showing in Rules of the Road, because each module stands on its own. If you are still orienting yourself to the credential, start with What Is NM2N? and NM2N Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before worrying about scoring.
What the Coast Guard Publishes and What It Does Not
The NMC publicly publishes its examination modules and topic matrices. Candidates are not studying blind. The published materials describe what each module covers, and the deck and engineering examination guide references the Near Coastal requirements (guide reference 2.1.1.3, printed page 17).
Be precise about the age of that guidance. The deck and engineering guide reviewed is the published regulations-effective-March 24, 2014 document, not a newly issued 2026 blueprint. Current indexed NMC module matrices corroborate the module headings, which is why this article organizes preparation by those headings. Treat the module list as stable and the fine print as something to verify against current NMC pages when you receive your approval to test.
| Item | Status in the reviewed sources |
|---|---|
| Module list for the Near Coastal route | Published: Q100, Q150, Q151, Q152, Q153 |
| Topic matrices per module | Publicly published by the NMC |
| Percentage cutoff per module | Not established here |
| Single overall question count or duration | Not established here |
| Current fees | Not established here |
| Population pass rate | Not established here |
For cost context, see NM2N Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and for pass-rate context see NM2N Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Your Five Near Coastal Modules
The full ONC05 route for Near Coastal has exactly five modules. Here is how they map to the exam domains this site uses:
| Domain | Module | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1 | Q100 | Rules of the Road: Inland and International |
| Domain 2 | Q150 | Deck General |
| Domain 3 | Q151 | Deck Safety |
| Domain 4 | Q152 | Navigation General: Oceans or Near Coastal, applied to the Near Coastal route |
| Domain 5 | Q153 | Navigation Problems: Chart Plot |
Three clarifications prevent common mistakes:
- Q154 is not yours. Q154 Navigation Problems: Oceans belongs to the Oceans option. Do not add it to a Near Coastal study plan.
- Q152 is one module. Its official title spans Oceans or Near Coastal, but that does not make it two navigation-general modules. For this route it is a single module.
- Q153 is specifically Chart Plot. It is not a generic stand-in for every kind of navigation problem. Study it as the chart plotting module it is.
The domains are unweighted in the published structure, so no module is "worth more" on paper. For a deeper walkthrough of each area, read NM2N Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
Why Your Approval Letter Beats Any Blog Post
The five-module count describes the full Near Coastal route. It is not a universal count of examinations for every applicant. The NMC determines the individual's assigned modules, and the authoritative record is your approval to test.
That matters because applicants arrive from different starting points. Some are earning the credential from scratch, while others are raising scope or grade from a credential they already hold. Alternative Rules or Navigation General modules must never be counted together as simultaneous requirements, so if you see two options listed in some reference, you are generally looking at alternatives that apply to different situations, not a stack you must all complete.
Key Takeaway
Before you buy a single study resource, read your approval to test line by line and write down the exact module codes you were assigned. Build your plan from that list, not from a general article, including this one.
Passing Each Module: What to Master
Because each module is assessed separately, the practical way to protect your result is to know what each one rewards. The topic matrices published by the NMC are the definitive outline; the notes below translate the module headings into preparation priorities.
Q100: Rules of the Road, Inland and International
This module tests the two rule sets that govern vessel behavior on the water. The challenge is not memorizing one set but keeping both straight and recognizing which applies in a given scenario.
- Know where the Inland and International rules diverge, since scenario questions often hinge on that difference.
- Practice identifying vessel status, lights, shapes and sound signals under each rule set.
- If your route includes a COLREGS limitation, note that Q100 may be added in certain raise scenarios.
Q150: Deck General
Deck General is a broad module covering general deck knowledge. Breadth is the difficulty, so build a systematic review of every topic on the published matrix rather than relying on sea time alone.
- Work through the NMC topic matrix and mark each heading as strong, shaky or unfamiliar.
- Close gaps in areas where daily practice never exposed you to the formal terminology.
Q151: Deck Safety
Safety content rewards precise recall of procedures and equipment knowledge. Treat it as a module where specific, correct answers matter more than general familiarity.
- Review safety topics against the published matrix, not against what your vessel happens to carry.
- Practice with realistic scenario wording so you can pick the best answer rather than a merely plausible one.
Q152: Navigation General, applied to Near Coastal
This is the conceptual navigation module. It covers the principles and knowledge behind navigation rather than working a plot. Study it as the Near Coastal application of a module whose official title also covers Oceans.
- Focus on the topics the matrix lists for this module and ignore Oceans-only material.
- Pair it mentally with Q153, since concepts here support the plotting you do there.
Q153: Navigation Problems, Chart Plot
This is the hands-on module. Chart plotting is a skill, and skills degrade without repetition. Candidates who understand the theory but rarely plot by hand often struggle here.
- Practice plotting repeatedly until the procedure is automatic and accurate.
- Work carefully and check each step, because small errors compound in a plot.
For a candid look at where candidates tend to struggle, see How Hard Is the NM2N Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Reduced Module Sets for Upgrades and Raises
Not every applicant sits all five modules. The published structure includes separate increases in scope or grade that use reduced module sets. Two examples from the source material:
- A raise from Great Lakes/Inland to Near Coastal uses Q150 plus Q152, with Q100 added if a COLREGS limitation applies.
- A raise from Master Near Coastal under 100 to Near Coastal under 200 uses Q156.
These are not extra domains layered onto the full original exam. They are shorter paths for applicants who already hold related credentials. If you are on one of these paths, your "passing" requirement is simply clearing the smaller set the NMC assigned you. Again, your approval to test is the document that settles it.
Planning Around a Failed Module
Because the credential is built from separate modules, a miss in one area is a targeted problem rather than an all-or-nothing verdict. That framing helps with both preparation and morale. Specific retake rules, waiting periods and fees are not established in the reviewed material, so confirm those details with the NMC rather than relying on secondhand claims.
What you can do now is reduce the odds of needing a retake:
- Identify your weakest module honestly before you test, using the topic matrix as a checklist.
- Run timed, scenario-style practice on that module specifically.
- Keep your strong modules warm so a long gap does not erode them.
You can build that kind of module-by-module practice with the NM2N practice tests on the main site.
Sequencing Your Preparation
Generic scheduling advice matters less than ordering the five modules sensibly. A reasonable sequence for the full Near Coastal route follows how the content builds on itself:
Rules and safety foundations
- Start with Q100 because the rule sets underpin judgment in later navigation questions.
- Cover Q151 Deck Safety while the procedural mindset is fresh.
Breadth review
- Work through Q150 Deck General against the published matrix.
- Flag unfamiliar topics early so they get repeated exposure.
Navigation concepts and plotting
- Study Q152 first, then move to Q153 Chart Plot.
- Give plotting the most repetition, since it is a performed skill.
Integrated practice
- Mix modules in practice sessions to simulate switching between topics.
- Revisit whichever module scored lowest.
For a fuller plan, see the NM2N Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and for a compact review aid try the NM2N Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts. When you are ready to line up your testing, NM2N Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling covers the logistics side.
Key Takeaway
Treat "passing" as five separate targets, not one. Confirm your assigned modules, study from the NMC topic matrices, and give extra repetition to Chart Plot, where practiced skill matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions
The credential is built from separate examination modules assigned by the NMC, so you clear each assigned module rather than meeting one blended score. This article does not cite a percentage cutoff because the reviewed sources do not establish one.
The full ONC05 route for Near Coastal has five modules: Q100, Q150, Q151, Q152 and Q153. Your own assignment may differ, especially if you are raising scope or grade, so check your approval to test.
No. Q154 belongs to the Oceans option and is not part of the Near Coastal route. Near Coastal uses Q153 Chart Plot for the navigation problems component.
No. The NMC publicly publishes its modules and topic matrices. The guide referenced here is the March 24, 2014 effective document, and current indexed NMC matrices corroborate the module headings, so verify specifics against current NMC pages.
Those details are not established in the material this article draws on. Check the NMC and your approval to test for current fees and format, and see our certification cost guide for broader cost context.