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CG-719B pdf How to Complete the CG-719B Application Video Guide
CG-719k pdf
CG-719K/E pdf
CG-719C pdf
CG-719S pdf
CG-719P pdf
CG-718a pdf
Merchant Mariner Credential Verification: To verify the authenticity of a merchant mariner credential, please e-mail IASKNMC@uscg.mil . To aid in providing a faster response, please indicate ‘Credential Verification’ in the subject line of your e-mail along with mariner name(s) and mariner reference number(s) in the body of the e-mail. Note, processing times at the NMC will vary based on e-mail volume.
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DUE TO A LAPSE IN FEDERAL FUNDING, THIS WEBSITE WILL NOT BE ACTIVELY MANAGED.
For more information, please visit our CURRENT STATUS page.
Please refer to the master or mate Great Lakes and inland checklists, as appropriate (per 46 CFR 11.459).
To meet USCG certification standards, color vision must be supported by objective, verifiable documentation – without color-sensing lenses.
Acceptable documentation:
NOT Acceptable:
Generic wording without identification of the testing method
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The Examination Team develops the questions and illustrations for the examinations required for a national endorsement. The team supports the Regional Examination Centers (RECs) in the administration of the examinations, reviews and issues determinations on Challenges, answers questions submitted by the public concerning the examination process, and are the authors of the “Nautical Queries” feature in CG Proceedings magazine.
Our goal is to ensure credentialed applicants have the necessary knowledge and quality training to safely operate under the authority of their credential in support of the safety of the Marine Transportation System both domestically and internationally.
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Examinations FAQ
Renewal Examinations are administered in accordance with 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 10.227 and are open book examinations issued from the National Maritime Center.
As of May 1, 2020, the NMC will be issuing renewal examinations electronically by email. Paper renewal examinations may still be requested.
In order to receive your open book renewal examination you must:
1. Have received an Approval To Test (ATT) letter from the NMC, detailing the required renewal modules. The ATT letter will have instruction on how to obtain your renewal examination. See a Sample Renewal ATT Letter here.
2. Have paid your examination fee, using Pay.Gov.. Click here for instructions on paying your examination fee. A receipt of payment is needed by the NMC at the time of your renewal examination request.
3. Once Steps 1 and 2 are completed, you can request your renewal examination by:
(1) Emailing your request to the NMC Renewal Exam Team at NMCRenewalExams@uscg.mil or
(2) Contacting the Customer Service Center at 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662) or by chat.
Helpful Tools:
Sample Renewal ATT Letter
Sample Electronic Answer Sheet
Deck Officers
Deck Ratings
Engine Officers
Engine Ratings
Please select the corresponding hyperlink to view the sample examinations for each module.
Refreshed: August 2024
46 USC 7510, originally published as section 315 of the 2015 Coast Guard Authorization Act (CGAA), requires the United States Coast Guard to commission a working group to review existing and new examination questions for accuracy and availability of examination references. To address the tasks to be performed and in keeping with the membership structure of the group as specified in the CGAA, the working group is to include:
Examination working groups may be convened as long as any non-Coast Guard representative is present. Examination review will take place at the National Maritime Center and possibly at some regional locations.
The Coast Guard is continuously seeking applications from interested parties to participate in the Examination Working Group. To be considered, please *email all of the following documents to NMCExamWorkingGroup@uscg.mil:
1. Résumé - Click here for what your resume should include.
2. Non-Disclosure Agreement.
*Email is the preferred method of submission and should not exceed 8MB. If so, they should be sent in separate emails (please put the order of attachments in the Subject line of each email). The system will not accept any compressed (ZIP) files. For other submission methods, please call (206) 815-6893.
For a full legal disclosure, please click here.
2025 Schedule
Date
Type
Location
Sep 17-19, 2024
Deck
NMC (Martinsburg, WV)
Oct 22-24, 2024
Engine
Feb 4-6, 2025
Mar 18-20, 2025
May 6-8, 2025
Jun 24-26, 2025
Sep 16-18, 2025
Oct 21-23, 2025
2026 Schedule
Feb 3-5, 2026
Mar 17-19, 2026
May 5-7, 2026
Jun 23-25, 2026
Sep 15-17, 2026
Oct 20-22, 2026
Note: Date and location are subject to change based on the number of attendees.
The Coast Guard does not currently have appropriations available to support travel expenses for working group members. Participation in the review is voluntary but will provide much needed data to assist in improving the merchant mariner credential examination system.
Refreshed: March 2025
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