Turning Your Navy Sea Time Into a USCG license

Your time in the United States Navy counts towards civilian USCG licenses depending on what your rate was and if you can document watch standing.

What does the USCG National Maritime Center need for documentation?

Right now documenting your time in the Navy is fairly cumbersome for both you and the evaluators at the USCG. You will need to provide your History of Assignments, all of your FITREP’s/EVAL’s and any OOD/EOOW Designation Letters if you have earned them.

If you are still in the Navy you can get your History of Assignments (HOA) out of NSIPS, and then you can print a pdf. If you are already separated, it is typically included in your retirement/separation package. If you highlight your sea service assignments on your History of Assignments pdf it will help the evaluators at the USCG know what to look at.

How much credit do I get towards a USCG license?

For time serving on ships in the United States Navy you earn 60% of the time you are assigned to the vessel as a member of the ship's crew. As an example, if you reported 01JAN2023 and detached on 31DEC2023 you would earn 216 days towards a USCG license for the 365 days you were permanently assigned to the ship.

Who gets sea time towards Able Seaman and USCG Captains Licenses?

Starting out your time serving as a seaman apprentice (SA) or seaman (SN) is equivalent to working as a deckhand in the civilian world. Serving in the Deck Department of a ship or a maritime unit as a Boatswain's Mate, Operations Specialist or Quartermaster is the most common rate to obtain sea service towards captains licenses. Officers who are serving in the deck department assisting in the safe navigation of the vessel are also earning sea time towards deck licenses.

What US Navy deck ratings get credit for USCG licenses?

If you are a Boatswain's Mate, Operations Specialist or a Quartermaster and you are a petty officer (E-4 and above) it will be counted as Able Seaman time.

If you are a Boatswain's Mate, Operations Specialist or a Quartermaster, you are a petty officer (E-4 and above) and you hold an OOD Designation Letter or a Coxswain Designation Letter it will be counted as licensed mate time.

What time as an Officer counts towards Able Seaman and USCG Captains Licenses?

If you are serving as a member of the deck department as a JOOD all of that time is counted as Able Seaman time towards both Captains Licenses and an Able Seaman Rating. Time holding an OOD Designation Letter for each vessel is counted as licensed deck officer time towards USCG Licenses.

Who gets sea time towards QMED and USCG Engineering Licenses?

Starting out your time serving as a fireman apprentice (FA) or fireman (FN) is equivalent to working as a wiper or coal passer in the civilian world. Serving in the Engine Department of a ship or a maritime unit will help get you credit towards a USCG engineering license such as QMED. Officers who are serving in the engine department assisting in the safe navigation of the vessel are also earning sea time towards engineering licenses.

What US Navy Engine ratings get time towards QMED and USCG Engineering Licenses?

If you are a Engineman (EN), a Gas Turbine Systems Tech (GS, GSE or GSM), Machinery Technician (MK), Machinery Repairman (MR) or a Machinist Mate (MM) and you are a petty officer (E-4 and above) it will be counted as Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) time.

If you are a Engineman (EN), a Gas Turbine Systems Tech (GS, GSE or GSM), Machinery Technician (MK), Machinery Repairman (MR) or a Machinist Mate (MM), you are a petty officer (E-4 and above) and you hold an EOOW Designation Letter it will be counted as licensed assistant engineer (AE) time.

You can also get credit as a QMED towards a USCG engineering license if you are a Damage Controlman (DC), an Electrician's Mate (EM), a Hull Maintenance Technician (HT) or an Interior Communications Electrician (IC) and you can demonstrate that you were standing regular engine room watches as part of your service to the ship. You can also get this time counted as licensed assistant engineer (AE) time if you hold an EOOW Designation Letter.

What time as an Officer counts towards QMED and USCG Engineering Licenses?

If you are serving as a member of the engine department all of that time is counted as a wiper until you obtain your EOOW Designation Letter. Once you've obtained your EOOW Designation Letter and you are working as the EOOW your time is counted as an licensed assistant engineer (AE).