Coast Guard statistics indicate that most delays in the licensing process are due to mistakes and oversights in preparing the application paperwork. A USCG captain's license application package will vary depending on the license you're applying for, but the necessary requirements are covered in the video and the following paragraphs.
Most applicants begin the licensing process by reading and accurately completing Form CG-719B. This form is used for all Coast Guard credentials, both for original first-time applications and license renewals.
Included with your application package, you must provide evidence that you either hold or have applied for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card. To obtain a TWIC card, an individual must provide biographic and biometric information such as fingerprints, sit for a digital photograph, and successfully pass a security threat assessment, which is conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The Coast Guard requires that you document the time you've spent on the water. Sea service requirements will vary considerably depending on which license you’re applying for. This information is recorded using the Small Vessel Sea Service Form CG-719S or with sea service letters provided by your employer or employers. If you’re submitting sea service forms to claim time on your own vessel or vessels, you’ll be required to demonstrate that you did, in fact, own the boat you wish to claim time on. This can be accomplished simply by providing records of your boat registration, vessel documentation, insurance card, or a sales receipt.
You’re required to take and pass a physical exam within one year of applying for your USCG captain’s license. A physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner can fill out and record their findings on Form CG-719K. Certain medical conditions that may disqualify you for a license or require a waiver, such as:
You must have taken and passed an approved Department of Transportation or DOT drug test within six months of applying for your captain's license or provide proof of your active participation in a DOT-approved random drug testing program.
If you're applying for a 25, 50, or 100-Ton Master's license, you must provide proof of your US citizenship. A certified copy of your birth certificate or passport will meet this requirement.
You can find the required captain's license application forms here.
You are required to have valid Adult CPR certification.
You are required to have a Basic First Aid course completed within a year of submitting your application.
The American Red Cross, Heart Association, and PADI all offer classroom courses that will meet these requirements.
Once the application packet is compiled and the application fee is paid, mariners may mail their applications directly to their local Coast Guard Regional Examination Center (REC). Remember to include a return address on the envelope just in case there's a problem with the mail. If you’re sending original or certified copies of documents, it's highly recommended that you use certified mail or another mail service that provides tracking capabilities. Originals will be returned to you after verification. In-person visits to the RECs are no longer required.
We suggest you electronically submit to them instead of by mail.
The following items are what you need to include when you are renewing a current captain's license with the National Maritime Center:
The Coast Guard's National Maritime Center website has a Merchant Mariner Application Status form on their website, which you can use to check the status of your captain’s license application.
To learn more about obtaining a captain's license, check out these resources: