How Long Is It Taking for My USCG License After Submitting All of the Paperwork? May 2023

We are seeing license applications starting to get processed faster again! Our  mmseas.com customers who submitted applications in April 2023 received approvals within an average of 6.7 weeks - way better than the large slow down for applications we saw last year at this time, which took an average of 9.7 weeks.

‍This is for mmseas.com customers with a perfect application that is flawless with everything in the order the USCG REC and National Maritime Center evaluators prefer.

The fastest processing time at the USCG we saw for applications submitted in April and May was pretty incredible at 3.9 weeks! That is not the norm, but we are really impressed with the increased efficiency at the USCG National Maritime Center.

MM-SEAS recommends planning for 90 days to get your new USCG license - and then to be pleasantly surprised when it comes faster!

There is absolutely no way to speed up the process other than ensuring your application is perfect.

First USCG License

If this is your first USCG License we recommend following the USCG National Maritime Center Guidance and not planning on getting your MMC until 90 days after you submit your application. If you submit a perfect application with MM-SEAS, it will probably be closer to 5 - 7 weeks - but as a mariner you should get ready to plan for the worst and be pleasantly surprised!

Renewing your USCG License

We always recommend applying for your renewal 8 months before it expires to get it out of the way. Your new MMC becomes valid the day your old one expires.

You need a valid USCG license to work so make sure it is always valid. You are allowed to start the renewal process WAY in advance so make sure you do!

What about Expedited Shipping?

We still believe this is a waste of your time and money. We have found that the USPS has been really fast at delivering MMCs and Medical Certificates. You can do this on your own but the mmseas.com team never wants to be part of wasting any of your time or money.

Do you think the process will get faster?

Yes, we are expecting this 5 -7 week time frame to continue to shrink over the summer. The issues at the printers are resolved and the new procedures that the USCG National Maritime Center has implemented are helping, and we are hopeful that processing times will speed up in the next couple of months.

Specifically: average wait times for Regional Exam Center reviews appear steady, with average wait times for Background Checks increasing, but USCG license package reviews by Professional Evaluators going down. With applications that were submitted in the month of March and April up to today we have seen the wait time for a Background Check to be up to 3.5 weeks which is almost three times what it was in early 2023.

How do I get my application through the fastest?

The best way to get your new USCG License in your hand the fastest is to have a perfect application that is flawless, with everything in the order the REC and NMC prefers.

This is exactly what MM-SEAS does! MM-SEAS software looks for all of the common errors such as missing both signatures and providing proper proof of ownership on the CG-719S and making sure you provide verification of identity for your original application.

We pay your federal fees for you (second most common mistake we see), a USCG licensing specialist double checks everything on your application, and then we create a perfect USCG MMC application in the order the REC and NMC prefers, which makes their lives easier as well.

After submission, we are also constantly keeping tabs on your application as it goes through the process, and we reach out to the USCG on your behalf to find out if the application is progressing more slowly than our other ones in the system.

The end result is the most stress free USCG licensing experience you will ever have.  

Should I use MM-SEAS?

That is totally up to you! If you think everything is GTG and you don't need us then we encourage you to submit it to the REC and not use us.

If you want to make sure your application is perfect and want us to have your back through the process then we are a perfect fit!

We hope this made your life a little easier and if you have other questions the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!

MM-SEAS is free to use on your own and if you need some more personalized help you can upgrade to MM-SEAS Pro inside of the site.

No matter what, when you are ready to submit your application, you can choose to have the MM-SEAS staff create a perfect application, handle the USCG application fees and work with the USCG on your behalf to resolve any issues for a flat fee of $349 or you can choose to submit on your own.

Pro MM-SEAS members get access to unlimited live 1 on 1 calls with one of our USCG Licensing Specialists. We've found that answering questions live with screen sharing in a video call makes both of our lives easier. Pro MM-SEAS members can access these features inside of MM-SEAS under License Guidance.