Yes it’s true! I went to the True Course Captains School at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY in November 2021. I then assembled my application package and submitted it to the Regional Exam Center in Boston, MA. After a few corrections to my application the evaluators determined my suitability to be sufficient to become a merchant mariner and they issued my license!
Captain Rusty Rosenberger at your service!
Master, 25 Ton, Near Coastal w/Assistance Tow Endorsement