Certified Marine Investigator (CMI): free practice test
IAMI's CMI certifies members who investigate boat theft, marine insurance claims, boating accidents and related fraud. Candidates must be active IAMI members with a high school diploma or GED, at least 3 years of marine, law enforcement or insurance experience and 250 eligibility points, including at least 48 from IAMI training. The exam is closed book with up to 150 true/false and multiple-choice questions and an 80% pass mark.
Watch the free 4:24 video lesson: the key IAMI CMI concepts →
Premium: 3,000 practice questions, 6 full mock exams, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes, topic by topic. See the study path ·
Or open the free IAMI CMI study dashboard: flashcards, notes and your Readiness Score, no signup →
- Lesson 2: Decoding the Hull Identification NumberMIC lookup, serial rules, certification month and model year, spotting altered characters.
- Lesson 3: HIN Placement, Duplicates and Tamper SignsPrimary and hidden duplicate locations, plates, scarring and how thieves try to disguise hulls.
- Lesson 4: State Numbering, Titling and Coast Guard DocumentationRegistration display rules, title histories, documented vessels, official numbers and hailing ports.
- Lesson 5: Engine, Outdrive and Trailer Serial NumbersWhere component serials live and how they confirm or break a vessel's identity.
- Lesson 6: Owner Give-Ups and Staged TheftsHow fake theft claims are built, motive indicators and what investigators verify first.
- Lesson 7: Staged Sinkings and Phantom Equipment ClaimsPhysical and documentary signs of deliberate sinking and inflated equipment schedules.
- Lesson 8: Outboard and Trailer Theft PatternsWhy motors and trailers are targeted, recovery methods and NCIC and NICB support.
- Lesson 9: Marine Fire Origin and Arson IndicatorsMultiple origins, removed valuables, misplaced fuel and the limits of red flags.
- Lesson 10: Yacht Policy Structure: Hull and P&IWhat hull cover pays, what liability cover pays and how they interact.
- Lesson 11: Agreed Value versus Actual Cash ValueValuation bases, total losses, depreciation and how each affects a settlement.
- Lesson 12: Exclusions, Sue and Labor, and Insured DutiesGradual-loss exclusions, mitigation duty, proof of loss and examination under oath.
- Lesson 13: Utmost Good Faith, Misrepresentation and SubrogationUberrimae fidei after Wilburn Boat, concealment defenses and insurer recovery rights.
- Lesson 14: Admiralty Jurisdiction for Recreational BoatsNavigable waters, maritime nexus and Foremost Insurance v.
- Lesson 15: Limitation of Liability Act in PracticePrivity or knowledge, the limitation fund, the six-month deadline and concursus.
- Lesson 16: Salvage, Maritime Liens and General AverageElements of pure salvage, in rem enforcement, barratry and shared sacrifice.
- Lesson 17: Accident Reporting Rules and DeadlinesFederal thresholds, 48-hour and 10-day reports, reporting authorities and state variations.
- Lesson 18: Collision Reconstruction and Navigation RulesDamage profiles, transfer evidence, electronics data, lighting and operator responsibility.
- Lesson 19: Propeller Strikes, Carbon Monoxide and Falls OverboardInjury patterns, CO accumulation zones and scene evidence for each accident type.
- Lesson 20: Hull Construction and Survey TechniquesFRP and cored hulls, percussion sounding, moisture meter limits and delamination.
- Lesson 21: Engine and Drive Failure AnalysisWater in gearcases, impeller failures, overheating damage and sudden versus gradual causes.
- Lesson 22: Scene Documentation, Evidence and Chain of CustodyPhoto sequences, sampling fire debris, custody logs and avoiding spoliation.
- Lesson 23: Interviews, Reports and Expert TestimonyStatement technique, fact versus opinion in reports, Rule 702 and Daubert.
Keep going after the free lesson. Every topic gets its own lesson, plus the full question bank, timed simulations and study tools.
About the IAMI CMI exam
IAMI's CMI certifies members who investigate boat theft, marine insurance claims, boating accidents and related fraud. Candidates must be active IAMI members with a high school diploma or GED, at least 3 years of marine, law enforcement or insurance experience and 250 eligibility points, including at least 48 from IAMI training. The exam is closed book with up to 150 true/false and multiple-choice questions and an 80% pass mark.
What's on the exam
Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →
How to pass the IAMI CMI exam
- IAMI does not publish topic weights. Its CMI page lists theft, insurance claims, surveying, admiralty law, fire origin and cause, policy interpretation, accident reconstruction, hull construction and engines, so spread your study across all of them.
- HIN questions are easy marks if you know 33 CFR 181: 12 characters, the MIC first, the month letter A to L in position 9, and the model year running August 1 to July 31.
- Approved applications are valid for one year, so plan to sit at the next Annual Training Seminar. IAMI's events page lists the 37th ATS for 20 to 24 February 2027 in New Orleans; confirm exam scheduling with IAMI HQ.
- With up to 150 questions in 3 hours you have more than a minute each. True/false items punish absolute words such as always and never, so read every qualifier.
Save your results and get your Readiness Score
Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the ABYC Numbers & Formulas Sheet.
What's in the premium IAMI CMI prep
Premium IAMI CMI prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1Vessel Identification, Registration and Documentation9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 450 practice questions in 18 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2Marine Theft, Fraud and Arson Indicators9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 3Marine Insurance and Claims9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 4Admiralty and Maritime Law9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 5Boating Accident Investigation8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 6Hull Construction, Engines and Marine Surveying8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 7Evidence, Interviews, Reports and Testimony8 key notes, 110 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams150 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.Premium
Read the complete IAMI CMI study notes for “Vessel Identification, Registration and Documentation”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 14 minutes of reading: HIN format (33 CFR 181.25) · HIN location and marking (33 CFR 181.27 and 181.29) · State numbering and titling · Coast Guard documentation, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
Study tools included
3,000 practice questions
3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organized topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.
6 full mock exams
6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.
Exam Readiness Score
One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready to book. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.
800 flashcards + spaced repetition
800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.
60 comprehensive key notes
60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.
Mind maps
See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.
Sample questions with answers
These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.
1. A boat's HIN reads ABC34567I526. Under the current federal format, when was the boat certified and what is its model year?
2. A recovered 22-foot runabout has a transom. Where should the investigator expect to find the primary HIN on a boat built to the federal rule?
3. An insured 34-foot cruiser is reported stolen from a marina. Which combination is the strongest indicator that the claim may be an owner give-up?
4. Investigators recover a personal watercraft whose transom HIN plate looks freshly riveted. What should be checked first to establish its true identity?
5. A yacht policy is written on an agreed value basis of $180,000. After a covered total loss the market value is found to be $150,000. Absent fraud or misrepresentation, what does the insurer generally pay?
6. A boat sinks at its slip after a cooling hose fails, and the owner does nothing for three days while rain fills the hull. Which policy duty is most directly in issue?
7. A salvor tows a drifting, disabled yacht off a lee shore without any prior contract. Which elements must be shown for a pure salvage award?
8. Two pleasure boats collide on a navigable river used by commercial traffic, and one owner wants to file a federal limitation action. Within what period must it be filed?
9. A recreational boat strikes a dock at night. No one is hurt, but repair estimates for the boat and dock total $2,400. Under federal rules, what reporting duty applies?
10. Two people swimming off the stern of a houseboat with the generator running become unconscious. What should the investigator suspect and document first?
11. A swimmer has a series of parallel, evenly spaced curved cuts on the back of the thigh. Which mechanism do these injuries most suggest?
12. A surveyor taps a fiberglass hull with a phenolic hammer and hears a dull thud over an area of the bottom. What does this most likely indicate?
13. A claim says an outboard 'seized from a manufacturing defect'. The lower unit oil is milky and the drain screw magnet carries heavy metal debris. What does this most suggest?
14. At a burned boat on a trailer, the investigator finds a fuel can in the cockpit. What should be done before the can is moved?
15. When interviewing the owner of a vessel reported stolen, which questioning approach is most likely to produce reliable detail?
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- One ABYC exam of your choice: any of the 10 certifications, from Marine Electrical to USCG Regulations
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
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- Content updates during your access
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Premium Yearly
- One ABYC exam of your choice: any of the 10 certifications, from Marine Electrical to USCG Regulations
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
- Video lessons as they release
- Content updates during your access
- 5 bonuses: numbers and formulas sheet, standards map, study planner and more
- Pass Guarantee: complete the prep, pass or 100% back
Renews once a year until you cancel. We email you before each renewal. Cancel any time from your account; you keep access until the end of the year you've paid for.
IAMI CMI exam FAQ
How many questions are on the IAMI CMI exam?
No more than 150 true/false and multiple-choice questions, with a time limit of no longer than 3 hours. Format: closed book, proctored. the real exam mixes true/false and multiple-choice items; practice here uses 4-option single-best-answer questions. iami states the cmi exam is graded through testing software.
What is the passing score for IAMI CMI?
80%; results are reported only as pass or fail, and individual scores are not released.
How much does the IAMI CMI exam cost?
US$95 application fee plus US$200 examination fee (fees non-refundable, payable in US funds). A retest fee is waived for one year or until the next Annual Training Seminar. Recertification every 5 years: US$95. IAMI membership dues are separate. ABYC charges members less than nonmembers, so confirm current fees with ABYC before you book.
Which languages is the IAMI CMI exam offered in?
English (no other languages are published by IAMI).
Where do I take the IAMI CMI exam?
Proctored by the CMI Committee at IAMI Annual Training Seminars and other locations set by the IAMI Board; photo ID required.
Is this IAMI CMI practice test free?
Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full IAMI CMI prep is Premium at $147 a month for this exam.
What's in the premium IAMI CMI prep?
3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (Vessel Identification, Registration and Documentation: 450; Marine Theft, Fraud and Arson Indicators: 425; Marine Insurance and Claims: 425; Admiralty and Maritime Law: 425; Boating Accident Investigation: 425; Hull Construction, Engines and Marine Surveying: 425; Evidence, Interviews, Reports and Testimony: 425), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 150 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 7 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.
Related practice tests
Exam details are summarized from the official candidate information available in November 2026. ABYC changes formats and fees, so confirm with International Association of Marine Investigators (IAMI), CMI Committee before you book. ABYCExamPrep is not affiliated with the American Boat & Yacht Council.