OAR 856-015-0023
Applicant Examination & Ranking – Columbia & Willamette River Pilotage Ground

(1) Initial Application. Applications may be submitted at any time, but no application will be considered for the upcoming examination cycle unless it is submitted by August 1 of that examination year. Individuals applying for admission to the examination process for licensure as a trainee on the Columbia and Willamette River pilotage ground must submit:
(a) The following documents:
(A) A completed application form prescribed by the Board. Applications submitted without a completed application form are incomplete and will be automatically rejected; and
(B) All documentation required by OAR 856-015-0005 (Trainee & Apprentice - General Application Requirements). Applications submitted without all documentation required by OAR 856-015-0005 (Trainee & Apprentice - General Application Requirements) are incomplete and will be automatically rejected.
(b) Evidence satisfactory to the Board of the following minimum qualifications:
(A) At least 730 active working days as captain of towing vessels on the Columbia River and its tributaries, acquired over a minimum of three years;
(B) A current, valid license as master of inland or near coastal vessels of 500 Registered Gross Tons or more;
(C) Graduation from high school or successful passage of high school equivalency examination. A copy of the applicant’s high school diploma or high school equivalency certification (such as a General Educational Development certificate) constitutes documentation satisfactory to the Board; and
(D) A current, valid First-Class Pilot License from Tansey Point, Oregon to Ryan Point, Washington on the Columbia River, and from Kelley Point, Oregon to the Ross Island Bridge on the Willamette River.
(2) Only applicants who provide all the required documentation and meet all qualifications under section (1) of this rule are eligible to continue in the trainee license application process. Applicants who apply without meeting the qualifications required under subsections(1)(b) of this rule shall receive formal notice of disqualification and denial.
(3) Examination. An applicant who has submitted a complete and qualifying initial application under subsection (1) of this rule must take the Fundamentals of State Pilotage Examination – Columbia and Willamette Rivers, administered by the Board.
(a) The Fundamentals of State Pilotage Examination – Columbia and Willamette Rivers, is an oral examination, administered by the Board every two years, commencing on a date between October 1 and December 31 as determined by Board staff. The examination may take place over the course of one or more days, depending upon the number of examinees.
(b) In every case, at least one pilot from the Board’s licensed training organization for the Columbia and Willamette River pilotage ground who has held an unlimited pilot’s license for at least 5 years shall be included as an examiner.
(c) Each applicant examined shall be assigned a score from 0 to 35 points based upon the following guidelines: knowledge of the fundamentals of state piloting; knowledge of trade and commerce on the Columbia River; poise and confidence; and other factors as may be deemed relevant by the Board.
(4) Optional Points. Documentation for optional, additional points may be submitted at any time up to 18 months after the Board establishes the Roll of Candidates for which the applicant has most recently tested. An applicant may add up to 55points to the applicant’s oral examination score as follows:
(a) Education. An applicant must submit official documentation of graduation from the graduating institution to the Board in order to be awarded points under this subsection. The maximum number of points available from education is 20:
(A) Four-year degree from an accredited Maritime Academy: 15 points
(B) Two years (90 semester credit hours) of course work, a two-year degree, or a four-year degree, from an accredited college or university program: 5 points. An applicant who receives points for a four-year Maritime Academy degree is not eligible for points under this paragraph.
(C) A Master’s degree or PhD in a maritime or business curriculum: 5 points
(b) Experience and Certification. An applicant must submit to the Board a copy of any licensure, endorsement, or certification claimed, and documentation of any experience claimed, to be awarded points under this paragraph. The maximum number of points from certification and additional experience is 35:
(A) Federal pilotage endorsement on the Columbia River from Ryan Point, Washington to East Pasco, Washington: 15 points
(B) Federal pilotage endorsement on the Columbia River from East Pasco, Washington to Hanford, Washington: 1 point
(C) 1,460 active working days as master of towing vessels on the Columbia River and tributaries, obtained over a minimum of 6 years: 10 points
(D) 2,190 or more active working days as master of towing vessels on the Columbia River and its tributaries, obtained over a minimum of 9 years: 3 points
(E) Automatic Radar Plotting Aid Certification: 1 point
(F) Bridge Resource Management Certification: 1 point
(G) Emergency Medical Training Certification: 1 point
(H) Hazardous Materials Certification: 1 point
(I) Marine Firefighting Certification: 1 point
(J) Oil Spill Control Certification: 1 point
(5) All applicants who complete the Fundamentals of State Pilotage – Columbia and Willamette River oral examination shall be placed on the Board’s Roll of Candidates for the Columbia and Willamette River pilotage ground.
(a) Candidates shall be ranked in order from the highest scoring candidates to the lowest scoring candidates, based on the results of the examination, plus any additional points earned under section four (4) of this rule.
(b) Subject to Board approval, the rankings on every Roll of Candidates shall be recalculated three times, at approximately six-month intervals. The rankings shall be recalculated to account for any new, optional points candidates may acquire. The rankings shall be recalculated on the following schedule: at the first January Board meeting held after a Roll of Candidates is established; at the subsequent July Board meeting; and at the last January Board meeting held before a Roll of Candidates expires.
(6) In accordance with ORS 776.115 (Powers and duties of board)(2) and ORS 243.305 (Policy of affirmative action and fair and equal employment opportunities and advancement), at such times as vacancies may be forecast or occur within the register of pilots when no certified apprentice is available, the Board shall issue trainee licensure to the highest ranked individual or individuals on the Roll of Candidates for the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, and assign the trainee or trainees to the Columbia River Pilots training organization.
(7) A Roll of Candidates expires after approximately two years, as soon as the Board approves applicant rankings for a subsequent Roll of Candidates.

Source: Rule 856-015-0023 — Applicant Examination & Ranking – Columbia & Willamette River Pilotage Ground, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=856-015-0023.

Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 856-015-0023’s source at or​.us