Exam Room Rules

[mike50]

How is it possible that Houston REC says that retakes on missed test modules must be taken min. 1 per day on consecutive days (rule#6 exam room rules) and REC in Mandeville allows retakes at your leisure and own pace? I thought the rules would be the same for all REC's.

[stevefoster]

How is it possible that Houston REC says that retakes on missed test modules must be taken min. 1 per day on consecutive days (rule#6 exam room rules) and REC in Mandeville allows retakes at your leisure and own pace? I thought the rules would be the same for all REC's.

Test in Mandeville and don't tell Houston that the examiner in Mandeville (Randy) sees the big picture and they don't.

[mike50]

Hey Steve,weren't you in Houma at Fletcher, in Capt Bruces class in January? I sat in the back by the door doing 500 prep.

[ollie]

How is it possible that Houston REC says that retakes on missed test modules must be taken min. 1 per day on consecutive days (rule#6 exam room rules) and REC in Mandeville allows retakes at your leisure and own pace? I thought the rules would be the same for all REC's.

This is from the Deck Exam Guide and seems to be pretty clear to me, but the crappy thing appears to be the wording in paragraph f that mentions discretion of OCMI. That's coastie speak for 'we no longer honor the mariner'.

Retest Policy:
a. If an applicant for an unlimited license fails three or more sections, a complete re-examination must
be administered. On the subsequent exam, if the applicant again fails three or more sections, at least 3
months must lapse before another complete examination is attempted, and a new examination fee is
required.
b. If an applicant fails only one or two sections during their second attempt refer to (c) & (d).
c. If an applicant fails one or two sections of an examination, the applicant may be retested twice as
is necessary on each failed section during the next three (3) months.
d. If the applicant does not successfully complete each failed section within the three (3) month period, a
complete examination must be administered after a lapse of at least three (3) months from the date of
the last retest, and a new examination fee is required.
e. The three (3) month retest period may be extended by the OCMI if the applicant presents discharges
documenting sea time which prevented the taking of a retest during the 3 month period. The retest
period may not be extended beyond seven (7) months from the initial examination.
f. The scheduling of all other deck examinations will be at the discretion of the OCMI. In the event of a
failure, the applicant may be retested twice whenever the examination can be rescheduled with the
OCMI. The applicant must be examined in all of the unsatisfactory sections of the preceding
examination. If the applicant does not successfully complete all parts of the examination during a three
(3) month period from the initial test date, a complete reexamination must be taken after a lapse of at
least 2 months from the date of the last retest, and a new examination fee is required.
g. Applicants failing several portions of an examination or those failing one module with an extremely
low score should be encouraged to study before attempting a re-examination.

[Azimuth]

This must be relatively new. I have tested at Houston several times and have never heard this. Several people I have spoken with that have tested in Houston reaffirm the fact that their SOP has been to allow retakes at your leisure, as long as they were completed in 90 days from the initial test date.

[TxKingfisher]

I Tested in Feb. and the procedure was just as the OP stated............

[jdcavo]

The rules are not new. They are largely the same as when I started working at NMC in 1997. What is new is that there is central managemnent of the RECs and the rules are being enforced and applied.

[stevefoster]

Hey Steve,weren't you in Houma at Fletcher, in Capt Bruces class in January? I sat in the back by the door doing 500 prep.

Hey Mike,
That was me. I had passed my 3rd Mate AGT and was back to bone up on the Celestial. Got that jewel out of the way too. Captain Bruce is an excellent instructor and I would recommend him to anyone though he told me not to...........he wants to quit teaching celestial.
Stay safe............

[anchorman]

I tested for 1600 ton mate in 1996 - failed plotting the first time, and they let me retake it the same day after convincing them that I was going to work the next day, and was sure on passing after realizing the stupid mistakes that I made. I think they should still have the latitude to make these decisions, regardless of the rules in the deck guide, at the REC.

There are also contradictory rules in the deck guide to CG's own policy....such as testing requirements between tonnage groups.

[ollie]

I think they should still have the latitude to make these decisions, regardless of the rules in the deck guide, at the REC.

There are also contradictory rules in the deck guide to CG's own policy....such as testing requirements between tonnage groups.

Hear hear! I think some of the poor RECs are feeling a bit emasculated lately, and might be afraid to deviate even slightly from what the bureaucratic dolts in WV say. Can't really blame them.