Actually the license you need now is the OUPV license and no you do not have to go to school to take the test....but try passing the test without going to school and you will not be happy when you get the results..things have changed since the days you could take the state safe boaters course test from the KDFWR and the Coast Guard would accept that as your test. I went to school to prepare for the test myself and I can tell you, there is no way I would have passed that test without some classroom time in preparing for it. Just do a Google search on OUPV license and you will find out what you really need to do.