The first step to becoming a pilot is to first be a professional mariner with drive and determination. Pilots and their selection for Florida ports are highly regulated by the State of Florida. The procedure is all determined by state law and board rule. The State, through the Department of Professional Regulation (DBPR) and its Board of Pilot Commissioners (Board), regulates who will be a pilot. There is no direct path. There are no pilot schools or any training system that takes a totally unfamiliar person off the street and turns them into a marine pilot. The Pilot associations do not hire pilots and have no input into who will become a newly appointed deputy pilot. There is a formal procedure that determines the need for a new pilot and who is appointed to a port. Once a port requests a deputy pilot, the Department and its Board determines from the list of applicants those with the minimum qualifications for the examination. The Secretary of the Department then appoints the new "Deputy Pilot" from the candidates with the highest test score and qualifications. After the Deputy Pilots are appointed they are sent to the port to be trained by the local Pilot Association. The DBPR and the Board oversee and approve port specific training programs, monitor the Deputy's minimum two-year training, and when fully qualified and trained, they re-examine the Deputy pilot. All of this is done before issuing them a State Pilot's license. Who is qualified to sit for the exam? Virtually all Marine Pilots come from the marine industry. Each pilot is a highly specialized professional mariner, usually ship captains or senior deck officers. Qualifications are specifically seen in Florida Statute 310 and Rule Chapter 61G14-11.002 of the Florida Administrative Code. In general one must: Be a U.S. citizen; · Be 21 years old; Have a high school diploma; Be physically and mentally fit, drug and alcohol dependency free; Have at least 2 years sea service as an officer under your license; Hold a minimum 2nd Mates or Master 1600 ton license, a USCG licensed First Class Pilot in U.S. ports or the Great Lakes, or certain service on certain specific type of military vessels; Pass the exam with the highest score of the qualified candidates. A person that attempts to become a marine pilot has before them a very long road of study. The profession is one that requires a highly trained and professionally educated individual with a strong dedicated work ethic. Recent successful candidates state that they studied at least 1000 hours to prepare for the exam. Few are appointed on their first attempt and most sit for the exam more than once. For more information contact the DBPR at 850-921-7867 or go to http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/pro/pilotc/pilot_index.shtml for Deputy Pilot exam info.