Requirements checked against NMC checklists and 46 CFR · September 2026
New to the credential itself? Start with What Is a Merchant Mariner Credential?
The good news: no sea time required
Entry-level ratings (Ordinary Seafarer, formerly Ordinary Seaman; Wiper; and Steward's Department/Food Handler) have no professional or sea-service requirements. What stands between you and your first Merchant Mariner Credential is paperwork, and most delays come from getting it slightly wrong.
Zero to MMC, in order
Enroll for your TWIC
Apply through TSA and list your occupation as "Merchant Mariner." You need proof that you hold a TWIC or have applied for one before the MMC is issued. If your job truly won't require a TWIC, the CG-719B has an exemption box, but you still have to enroll and pay so TSA can run the background check.
Get the medical exam
For entry-level ratings only, there's a shorter form, the CG-719K/E. It's quicker now, but it won't carry you into an upgrade. When you go for AB, QMED or a license, you'll need the full CG-719K physical. If you already know you're moving up, consider doing the full exam the first time. Not sure you'll pass? Read Medical Fitness: Before You Invest first.
Pass the drug test
Use a DOT-compliant test documented on form CG-719P, or show you're in an employer's random testing program.
Gather proof of citizenship or residency
A U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate, or a naturalization certificate works for citizens. Permanent residents need their USCIS documentation.
Complete the application and pay the fees
In Navita, apply for the entry-level ratings you want and pay the fees online. If you file on paper instead, use Form CG-719B, check the Entry Level boxes in Section II, and include your pay.gov receipt.
Submit and keep copies of everything
Submit your application to the NMC through Navita, the Coast Guard's online system (paper is still accepted for now but takes much longer). Keep copies. They're the start of the paper trail that every future upgrade will depend on.
Who actually needs a TWIC?
Not every mariner has to keep a TWIC current, and your license tonnage doesn't decide it. There's no "under 100 tons exempt, over 100 tons required" rule. What matters is whether you're applying for a credential, and whether your work takes you into secure areas of vessels and facilities that must have a security plan NMC TWIC FAQ.
| Situation | TWIC requirement |
|---|---|
| Applying for your first MMC, including a six-pack or small-tonnage license | The NMC generally requires proof that you hold a TWIC or have applied for one. |
| Working aboard vessels that aren't required to have a security plan | You may qualify for an exemption from keeping a valid TWIC. It doesn't excuse the first enrollment: the exemption statement requires that you've already applied. |
| Needing unescorted access to secure areas of regulated vessels or maritime facilities | A valid TWIC is generally required. |
| Ordinary recreational boating | You don't need a TWIC to run your own pleasure boat. |
The rule of thumb: applying for a credential and keeping a TWIC current for your work are two separate questions. For how the exemption works on small passenger vessels, see OUPV / Six-Pack.
Enrolling: first-time applicants can pre-enroll online, but you still visit a TSA enrollment center in person for fingerprints and a photo. The card is good for five years. At this writing the fee is $125.25, with a lower price for eligible online renewals. Check TSA's TWIC page for current fees, and apply well before you need the card, because the background check takes time.
Bonus: your TWIC works at the airport
Mariners fly to and from ships all the time, and a TWIC helps in two separate ways:
The PreCheck benefit covers U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents who meet TSA's eligibility rules. If you got your TWIC through a TSA waiver, you aren't eligible through this route TSA PreCheck for TWIC FAQs.
Find the CIN on your card
The Credential Identification Number is on the back of your TWIC, below the barcode.
Enter it as your Known Traveler Number
Put the CIN in the "Known Traveler Number" field of your airline reservation or frequent-flyer profile.
Match your name and birth date
They must match your TWIC enrollment information exactly, or the number won't work.
Check your boarding pass
Look for the TSA PreCheck indicator. Showing your TWIC at the checkpoint alone won't get you into the PreCheck lane.
Traps for first-time applicants
- Names that don't match. Your TWIC, ID documents and application must show the same name. A missing middle name or a hyphen can trigger a hold.
- An incomplete packet. Missing items get you a "Notification of Incomplete Application" letter and a delay.
- The short medical form when you're planning to move up. The 719K/E means a second physical later.
- No records from your first trip. Start collecting discharges and sea-service letters from day one. Your first AB or QMED depends on them.
- An old license problem you forgot about. The Coast Guard checks the National Driver Register, which lists suspensions, revocations and serious offenses such as DUI. An old suspension in another state, even from an unpaid ticket, can hold up your review. Check your record in every state where you've held a license. See Details & Regulations.
- Assuming the MMC is enough to sail. Most seagoing jobs also require STCW Basic Training. Ask your prospective employer before you sign on.
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
FREE DOWNLOAD · OCTOBER 2026 EDITIONWho’s Hiring? Maritime Employer Directory
76 maritime employers and 62 union hiring halls in one printable PDF: phone numbers, careers pages, a hall map and job call times. Free when you join From the Bridge, Captain Mike's monthly email: rule changes, sea-time tips and new guides, in plain English. One email a month. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sent with Kit. Your email is used only for the directory and this monthly note. See the Privacy Policy.