Checked against 46 CFR 10.301–10.305 and NMC guidance · September 2026
The 60-second field brief
Step 1: Submit your medical on its own
Many mariners bundle the CG-719B application, sea-service letters, drug test, fees, and CG-719K into one packet. If the medical part needs more information, the whole application waits.
You can apply for the medical certificate on its own, ahead of your MMC application:
Submit the medical application through Navita
Since September 14, 2026, medical certificate and MMC applications are submitted online through Navita, the Coast Guard's credentialing system. Older instructions to email the medical application or send it through a Regional Exam Center may be out of date. Confirm the current address on the NMC website before you send.
Get your medical certificate
It's valid for up to 5 years for national service, or 2 years for STCW service. 46 CFR 10.301
File your license application
Note that you already hold a valid medical certificate, so the medical review is already done.
Timing: give yourself a comfortable lead, a few months ahead of your renewal or upgrade, especially if you have a condition the NMC is likely to ask about.
The color vision trap
Standards depend on the endorsement 46 CFR 10.305:
| Who | Standard | Accepted tests (without color-correcting lenses) |
|---|---|---|
| Deck | Satisfactory color sense | Pseudoisochromatic plates (Ishihara 14-, 24-, or 38-plate; Dvorine 2nd edition; AOC or AOC-HRR), the Farnsworth Lantern, other tests listed in 10.305, or an alternative test acceptable to the Coast Guard |
| Engineering, radio, tank vessel, MODU | Only need to distinguish red, green, blue, and yellow | Any of the deck tests, or the Farnsworth D-15 |
Don't stop at “failed”
Many clinics only have Ishihara plates. If you miss plates, ask whether they can give another accepted test, or where you can take one, before the form goes in.
Know what happens if you can't pass
A deck applicant who can't meet the standard may still be considered, but the certificate can carry a limitation, such as daylight operations only. Engineering endorsements only require the four basic colors.
Documenting a condition before the NMC asks
When the examiner notes a medical condition or medication on the CG-719K, the NMC's medical staff review it. The single best way to avoid an Awaiting Information (AI) letter is to send the supporting records up front, not after they ask.
| If you have | Consider attaching |
|---|---|
| Sleep apnea | Recent treatment compliance data (for example, a CPAP usage report) and a letter from your sleep physician on how well it is controlled and whether you have daytime sleepiness. |
| High blood pressure | Recent readings and a note from your physician on treatment and control. If you run high in the exam room, a documented series of readings from your own doctor can help. |
| Regular prescription medications | A note from the prescribing doctor listing each medication and dose, how long you have been stable on it, and whether it has any side effects affecting alertness or judgment. |
| Any significant history | Specialist reports and recent test results. Ask your examiner what the NMC typically wants for your condition. |
Medication checklist before you submit
- Download the current CG-719K directly from the National Maritime Center.
- List every medication, nonprescription product, supplement and vitamin the form requires: anything filled, refilled or taken within 30 days of signing, or used for 30 days or more in the last 90 CG-719K.
- Give the name, dose, frequency and condition treated accurately.
- Bring an up-to-date medication list to the exam.
- Tell the examiner about your duties: watchstanding, physical demands, emergency response and other safety-sensitive work.
- Ask your treating clinician for records or a supporting statement if a condition or medication is likely to need explanation.
- Never stop or alter prescribed medication just to get a medical certificate or avoid a testing issue.
- Send requested follow-up material promptly and keep copies of everything you send the NMC.
Medication disclosure belongs on the CG-719K, not as extra narrative on the CG-719B MMC application. Complete each form exactly as written.
Medical information notice: Mariners Online does not provide medical advice and cannot determine whether a medication or medical condition is compatible with a Coast Guard medical certificate, safety-sensitive vessel duties, or a specific employer's policy. Do not discontinue or change prescribed medication without advice from the prescribing clinician. Use the current CG-719K instructions and seek individualized medical, occupational-health, or maritime-credential guidance when needed.
CG-719K submission checklist
Check these before you hit send
- Examiner's details: the examining physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner has completed their section, including license number and state.
- Every box answered: blank checkboxes are a common reason for a request for more information.
- Your signature and date are on the form.
- Current form: use the current edition from the NMC website.
- Clean scan: one legible multi-page PDF. Phone photos of pages are often hard to read.
- Subject line: your full name and mariner reference number.
Treat the medical as its own application, on its own schedule. A clean medical certificate already in hand is the easiest way to keep a renewal or upgrade out of the backlog.
Your record requires an individual review
A past DUI, criminal conviction, drug-related matter, prior test result, prescription medication, or driving-record issue does not automatically mean you cannot become a mariner. It may, however, affect timing, documentation, safety-and-suitability review, credential issuance, renewal, or employment.
Mariners Online cannot determine your eligibility. Read the current Coast Guard application carefully, answer every question truthfully, obtain official records, and consult current NMC guidance or qualified individualized advice before applying if your history is complicated. See Drugs, Alcohol, DUI & Your Coast Guard Credential.
Official sources
Where this fits in your journey
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