Question for maritime academy grads

[PMC]

What is your procedure for applying to test for a license? Do you have to have every STCW certificate in hand before you sbumit your application? What is your wait time between submitting your application and being approved to test?<br><br>Thanks

[New3M]

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt]<font face="Times New Roman" size=3>I can’t speak for any other academies, but at Schuyler the only certificate you have before you sit for your license is the GMDSS Radio Operator’s License. All the rest of the certificates, being Advanced Firefighting, Bridge Watchstanding, ARPA/Radar, etc. are given out at graduation, and aren’t printed until the weeks prior to graduation. <br><br></font></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt]<font face="Times New Roman" size=3>I don’t know anything about the wait time, because there is a person designated as the “license coordinator” that collects all the applications, pictures, checks, and whatever else they need. He handles all of that stuff, and it all goes to the Coast Guard in one big bunch. I do know that the school keeps track of all the STCW OICNW sign offs, and there’s some computer program that they go into, and I believe the Coast Guard sees that before the cadets are allowed to sit.<br><br></font><font face="Times New Roman" size=3>Hope this helps.</font></P>

[PMC]

<P>Thanks for the response. I imagine it is similar at the other schools.<br><br>How long before you were able to sit for your exams? I'm curious if the Coast Guard is as slow with the maritime academies as it is with the hawsepipers.<br><br>I submitted everything is April, was approved to test in about 10 weeks. All-in about 14 weeks to get the license.</P>

[jdcavo]

The National Maritime Center now only keeps pending applications for 90 days in an "awaiting info" status. That means you'll only have 90 days to turn in any missing courses, drug tests, physicals, etc. So your application should be complete or nearly complete when you send it in.<br><br>The state academies are the only group of mariners al;lowed to test for their licenses before their applications are complete. They typically take the license exam in the winter or early spring of their last year. Since the last semester is still underway when they test, some of the required training and sea tiome is not finished. USMMA tests after the last semester is complete but before graduation.<br><br>Even though the academies may issue individual course certificates, they're generally not needed. The entire program is approved as a whole, so individual certificates aren't needed. The only ones that are needed are the one that is needed is Tankerman-PIC as most cadets won't have the tanker time and transfers at graduation. Also, Radar Observer will soon be needed once the Coast Guard stops putting expiration dates for radar on the license (in the next few months).<br><br>James D. Cavo<br>Chief, Mariner Training &amp; Assessment Division<br>USCG National Maritime Center<br><font color="#3354aa]James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil</font>