The courses are good, but I suggest you see how much the course is then figure that into a charter on a boat around the size you'll get or have.
Pick the captains brain while your out there, nothing compares to time on the water (OJT).
Plus you'll learn some spots, what to use and catch fish.
IMHO 99% of the jamokes on the water have a wallet big enough to get them out there and thats it, so like everything common sense is most important.
Get a chart of the area you want to boat/fish and read it in and out.
ask locals where low water or danger spots are (off green harbor, like day turns to night someone will hit farnham rock every year).
Good luck and if you haven't got one, buy a boat 3 feet longer than you want
red right return
don't swamp small boats
law of tonnage always prevails
ferry boats can't see other boats or can but don't care
if you see a sailboats motor running they're not sailing.
add 10kts to most wind reports
learn to tie the bowline knot
always have a 5 gallon bucket aboard.
when learning to dock go slow, no matter what, the slower you go the less damage you do.