USCG License Requirements



USCG License Requirements

Certificate and Documents

Able Seaman – Lifeboatman – QMED

Licenses

Master/Mate Unlimited – Master/Mate Limited

 

Able Seamen

Able Seaman unlimited – Able Seaman Limited – Able Seaman Special – Able Seaman OSV

General Requirements

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Pass Examination and Drug Test.
  • Service or Training Requirements
Able Seaman – Any Waters Unlimited.

Three years service (1080 8hr Days or 720 12hr Days) on deck in vessels operating on the oceans or the Great Lakes.

Able Seaman – Limited

Eighteen months service (540 12hr Day or 360 8hr Days) on deck in vessels of 100 gross tons or over which operate in a service not exclusively confined to the rivers and smaller inland lakes of the United States.


Able Seaman – Special.

Twelve months service (360 8hr Days or 240 12hr Days) on deck on vessels operating on the oceans, or the navigable waters of the United States including the Great Lakes.

Able Seaman – Special (OSV)

Six months service (90 8hr Days or 60 12 hr Days) on deck on vessels operating on the oceans, or the navigable waters of the United States including the Great Lakes.

Lifeboatman

  • One year sea service in the deck department, or 2 year’s sea service in the other departments of ocean, coastwise, Great Lakes, and other lakes, bays or sounds vessels.
  • Graduation from a schoolship approved by and conducted under rules prescribed by the commandant.
  • Satisfactory completion of basic training by a Cadet of the United States Merchant Marine Cadet Corps.
  • Satisfactory completion of 3 years’ training at the U.S. Naval Academy or U.S. Coast Guard Academy including two courses.
  • Satisfactory completion of training approved by the Commandant, and served aboard a training vessel.
  • Successful completion of a training course approved by the Commandant, such course to include a minimum of 30 hours’ actual lifeboat training: Providing, That the applicant produces evidence of having served a minimum of 3 months at sea aboard ocean or coastwise vessels.

Qualified Member of the Engine Room (QMED)

  • Six months’ sea service (180 8hr Days or 120 12hr Days) in a rating at least equal to that of wiper or coal passer, who holds a certificate of service as such qualified member of the engine department to the engine department issued by the Coast Guard or predecessor authority.
  • For the purposes of administering this part the rating of assistant electrician is considered a rating not above that of coal passer or wiper, but equal there of.

  

Limited Licenses

OUPV – Uninspected Fishing – Uninspected Towing

Master 100 GT – Master/Mate 200 GT – Master/Mate 500 GT – Master/Mate 1600 GT

Uninspected Licenses

Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels

Twelve months service (360 8hr Days or 240 12hr Days) on deck on vessels operating on the oceans, or the navigable waters of the United States including the Great Lakes.

Master/Mate of Uninspected Fishing Vessels

Master:

  • Four years of total service on ocean or near coastal routes. Service on Great Lakes of inland waters may substitute for up to two years of the required service. One year of the required service must have been as licensed master, as unlicensed master, or as licensed mate or equivalent supervisory position while holding a license as master, mate, operator of uninspected towing vessels, or operator of uninspected passenger vessels.
  • To qualify for a license of not more than 500 gross tons, at least two more years of the required service, including the one-year as master, mate or the equivalent, must have been on vessels of over 50 tons.
  • To qualify for a license of not more than 1600 gross tons, at least two years of the required service, including the one-year as master, mate or equivalent, must have been on vessels of over 100 gross tons.
  • To qualify for a license of over 1600 gross tons, but not more than 500 gross tons, the vessels tonnage upon which the four years of required service was obtained will be used to compute the tonnage. The license is limited to the maximum tonnage on which at least 25 percent of the required service was obtained, or 150 percent of the maximum tonnage on which at least 50 percent of the service was obtained, whichever is higher. Limitations are in multiples of 1000 gross tons, using the next higher figure when an intermediate tonnage is calculated. A license as master of authorizing service on vessels of over 1600 gross tons also requires one year as master, mate or equivalent on vessels over 100 gross tons.
  • The tonnage limitation on this license may be raised using one of the following methods, but can not exceed 5000 gross tons, using the multiples of 100 gross tons, using the next higher figure when an intermediate tonnage is calculated.

Tonnage Limitations for Master of Uninspected Fishing Industry Vessels

  • Three months service as master on a vessel results in a limitation in that capacity equal to the tonnage of that vessel rounded up to the next multiple of 100 gross tons;
  • Six months service as master on a vessel results in a limitation in that capacity equal to 150% of the tonnage of that vessel;
  • Six months service as master on vessels over 1600 gross tons results in raiding the limitation to 5000 gross tons;
  • Six months service as mate on vessels over 1600 gross tons results in raising the limitation for master to the tonnage on which at least 50 percent of the service is obtained;
  • Two years as a deck hand on a vessel while holding a license as master results in a limitation on the master’s license equal to 150% of the tonnage of that vessel up to 5000 gross tons; or,
  • One year of service as deck hand on a vessel while holding a license as master results in a limitation on the master’s license equal to the tonnage of that vessel.

Mate:

  • An applicant for a license as mate of uninspected fishing industry vessels must have three years of total service on ocean or near coastal routes. Service on Great Lakes or inland waters may substitute for up to 18 months of the required service.
  • To qualify for a license of not more than 500 gross tons, at least one year of the required service must have been on vessels of over 50 gross tons.
  • To qualify for a license of not more than 1600 gross tons, at least one year of the required service must have been on vessels of over 100 gross tons.
  • To qualify for a license of over 1600 gross tons, but not more than 5000 gross tons, the vessel tonnage upon which the three years of required service was obtained will be used to compute the tonnage. The license is limited to the maximum tonnage on which at least 25 percent of the required service was obtained, or 150 percent of the maximum tonnage on which at least 50 percent of the service was obtained, whichever is higher. Limitations are in multiples of 100 gross tons, using the next higher figure when an intermediate tonnage is calculated.
  • The tonnage limitation on this license may be raised using the following methods, but cannot exceed 500 gross tons. Limitations are in next higher figure when an intermediate tonnage is calculated.

Tonnage limitations for mate of uninspected fishing industry vessels

  • Three months service as mate on a vessel results in a limitation in that capacity equal to the tonnage of that vessel rounded up to the next multiple of 1000 gross tons;
  • Six months service as master or mate on a vessel results in a limitation in that capacity equal to 150% of the tonnage of that vessel;
  • Six months service as mate on vessels over 1600 gross tons results in raising the limitation to 5000 gross tons;
  • One year of service as deckhand on vessels over 1600 gross tons while holding a license as mate, or equivalent, results in raising the limitation to 5000 gross tons.
  • Two years service as a deckhand on a vessel while holding a license a mate results in a limitation on the mate’s license equal to 150% of the tonnage of that vessel up to 5000 gross tons; or,
  • One year of service as deckhand on a vessel while holding a license as mate results in a limitation on the mate’s license equal to the tonnage of that vessel.

Master/Mate of Uninspected Towing Vessels

Licenses are issued as operator or second-class operator of uninspected towing vessels. These licenses do not authorize service aboard uninspected towing vessels on a foreign voyage nor on those of more than 200 gross tons in oceans or near coastal service.

  • Oceans: Three years of service including the following:
  • Two years on deck of a vessel of 26 feet or over in length;
  • One year on deck on a towing vessel; and,
  • Three months of service in the of service in each particular geographic area for which application is make; or,
  • Near Coastal: Three years of service on towing vessels including the following:
  • One Year on deck, with at least six months of training or duty in the wheelhouse of the towing vessel; and,
  • Three months of service in each particular geographic area for which application is made;
  • Local or Inland:
  • For a license endorsed for a limited local area, 18 months service on deck on a towing vessel with in the local area, including at least three months of training or duty in the Wheelhouse of the towing vessel

 

Inspected Licenses

Master/Mate of not more of 100 GT Master:

  • Two years total service in the deck department of steam or motor, sail or auxiliary sail vessels on ocean or near coastal waters. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to one year of the required service.
  • In order to obtain an endorsement on this license for sail or auxiliary sail vessels, the applicant must submit evidence of 12 months of service on sail or auxiliary sail vessels. The required 12 months of service may have been obtained prior to issuance of the license.

 

Master/Mate of not more of 200 GT Master:

  • Two years total service on ocean or near coastal waters. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up one year of the required service. One year of the required service must have been as a master, mate or equivalent supervisory position while holding a license a master, as mate or as operator of uninspected passenger vessels; or,
  • One year of total service as a licensed operator or second-class operator of ocean or near coastal uninspected towing vessels. Completion of a limited examination is also required.

Mate:

  • Twelve months total service in the deck department of ocean or near coastal steam or motor, ail or auxiliary sail vessels. Service on the Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to six months of the required service; or,
  • Three months total service in the deck department of steam or motor vessels operating on ocean, near coastal, great lakes or inland waters while holding a license as master of inland steam or motor, sail or auxiliary sail vessels of not more than 200 gross tons.
  • The holder of a license as operator of uninspected passenger vessels may obtain this license by successfully completing an examination on rules and regulations for small passenger vessels.
  • In order to obtain an endorsement on this license for sail or auxiliary sail vessels, the applicant must submit evidence of six months of deck services on sail or auxiliary sail vessels.
  • A License as master of near coastal steam or motor vessels may be endorsed as mate of sail or auxiliary sail vessels upon presentation of three months or service on sail or auxiliary sail vessels.
  • In order to obtain a tonnage endorsement of over 100 gross tons, the applicant must complete the additional examination topics indicated in subpart I of this part.

 

Master/Mate of not more of 1600 GT

Master:

  • Four Years total service on ocean or near coastal waters. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to two years required service. Two years of the required service must be on vessels of over 100 gross tons. Two years as a master, mate, or equivalent supervisory position while holding a license as master, mate operator of uninspected towing vessels, or operator of uninspected passenger vessels. One equivalent supervisory position must have been on vessels of over 100 gross tons; or,
  • An applicant holding a license as chief mate or second mate of oceans or near coastal steam or motor vessels of over 1600 gross tons is eligible for this license upon completion of a limited examination.

Mate upon oceans:

  • Three years total service in the deck department of oceans or near coastal steam or motor, sail, or auxiliary sail vessels. Service on Great Lakes up to 18 months of the required service. One Year of the required service must have been on vessels of over 100 gross tons. One year of the required service must have been as a master, mate or equivalent supervisory position while holding a license as master, mate, operator of uninspected towing vessels, or operator of uninspected passenger vessels. Six months of the required service as master, mate, or equivalent supervisory position must have been on vessels of over 100 gross tons; or,
  • Three years total service in the deck department on ocean or near coastal steam or motor, sail or auxiliary sail vessels of over 200 gross tons. Six months of the required service must have been as able seaman.

Mate Near Coastal:

  • The minimum service required to qualify an applicant for a license as mate of near coastal steam or motor vessels of not more than 1600 gross tons is two years total service in the deck department of ocean or near coastal steam or motor, sail, or auxiliary sail vessels. Service on the great Lakes and inland waters my substitute for up to one year of the required services must have been on vessels of over 100 gross tons. Six months of the required service must have been as able seaman, boatswain, quartermaster, or equivalent position on vessels over 100 gross tons while holding a certificate as able seaman.

Master/Mate of not more of 500 GT Master:

  • Three years total service on ocean or near coastal water. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 18 months of the required service must have been as a master, mate, or equivalent supervisory position while holding a license as master, mate or operator of uninspected passenger vessels. One year of the required service as master, mate, or equivalent supervisory position must have been on vessels of over 50 gross tons.

Mate Upon Oceans:

  • An applicant holding a license as operator of uninspected towing vessels authorizing service on ocean or near coastal waters is eligible for this license after six months of service as operator of uninspected towing vessels on ocean or near coastal waters and completion of a limited examination. This requires three and one-half years of service. Two years of this service must have been served while holding a license as operator, second-class operator, or mate.

Mate Near Coastal

  • Two years total service in the deck department of ocean or near coastal steam or motor, sail, or auxiliary sail vessels, Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to one year of the required service. One year of the required service must have been on vessels of over 500 gross tons. Three months of the required service must have been as able seaman, boatswain, quartermaster, or equivalent position on vessels of over 50 gross tons while holding a certificate as able seaman.

  

Master/Mate Unlimited

Master Unlimited

  • One year of service as chief mate on ocean steam or motor vessels; or,
  • One year of service on ocean steam or motor vessels while holding a license as chief mate of ocean steam or motor while holding a license as chief mate of ocean steam of motor vessels as follows:
    • A minimum of six months of service as chief mate; and,
    • Service as officer in charge of a navigational watch accepted on a tow-for-one basis (12 months as second or third mate equals six months of creditable service).

Chief Mate Unlimited

  • One year of service as officer in charge of a navigational watch on ocean steam or motor vessels while holding a license as second mate.

Second Mate Unlimited

  • One year of service as officer in charge of a navigational watch on ocean steam or motor vessels while holding a license as third mate; or,
  • While holding a license as third mate of ocean steam or motor vessels of any gross tons, 12 months of service on deck as follows:
    • A minimum of six months service as officer in charge of a deck watch on ocean steam or motor vessels; in combination with,
    • Service on ocean steam or motor vessels as boatswain, able seaman, or quartermaster while holding a certificate as able seaman, which may be accepted on a two-for-one basis to a maximum allowable substitution of six months (12 months of service equals 6 months of creditable service).

Third Mate Unlimited

  • Three years of service in the deck department on ocean steam or motor vessels, six months of which shall have been as able seaman, boatswain, or quartermaster, while holding a certificate as able seaman. Experience gained in the engine department on vessels of appropriate tonnage my be creditable for up to three months of the service requirements for this license; or,
  • Graduation from the US Merchant Marine Academy (deck curriculum), or
  • Graduation from the US Coast Guard Academy as underway officer in charge of a navigational watch; or,
  • Graduation from US Naval Academy and qualification as an underway officer in charge of a navigational watch; or,
  • Graduation from the deck class of a maritime academy approved by and conducted under rules prescribed by the Maritime Administrator and listed in part 310 CRF 46, except the deck class of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy; or,
  • Satisfactory completion of three-year apprentice mate training program approved by the Commandant.
  • Graduation from the deck class of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy will qualify the graduate to be examined for a license as third mate of any gross tons.
  • While holding a as master of ocean or near coastal steam or motor vessels of not more than 1,600 gross tons, one year of service as master on vessels of over 200 gross tons operating on ocean or near coastal waters will qualify the applicant for a license as third mate of ocean or near coastal steam or motor vessels of any gross tons.

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