The following is excerpted from recent bulletins released by the U.S. Coast Guard. The first section addresses resumption of routine operations at Regional Examination Centers.
Funding for the Federal Government has been restored, and the National Maritime Center (NMC) and Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are in the process of resuming services to mariners. Full resumption of services at the RECs will be phased in to allow prioritization of our most critical services and to accommodate mariners most impacted by the furlough.
E-mail submission of applications and supporting documentation remains active. Walk-in and scheduled counter service at the RECs will remain suspended through November 21, 2025, to allow REC employees to prioritize the backlog in screening applications and scheduling mariner examinations.
Starting November 24, 2025, RECs are expected to return to routine operations, including availability to schedule exams for all mariners. Because of existing staffing shortages, some RECs may continue to have limited services.
The following information is excerpted from the most recent update on National Maritime Center operations (#3) released earlier in November:
To mitigate the impact caused by the government shutdown, the NMC has implemented the following measures:
- E-mail submission of applications and supporting documentation remains active. Processing will resume once appropriations are restored.
- Merchant Mariner Credentials (National Endorsements only) and Medical Certificates (National and Pilot expiration dates only) that expire in October and November 2025 remain valid until January 31, 2026. Mariners who are actively working on expired credentials that meet the expiration criteria must carry the expired credential AND a copy of the attached letter while sailing under the authority of those credentials. The NMC will not issue separate or replacement MMCs or Medical Certificates reflecting the extension.
The letter referred to in the above bullet point is on the third page of the USCG bulletin available on the NMC website.
- Additional information letters, approval to test letters, and mariner training course completion certificates that expire in October and November 2025 are extended until January 31, 2026. The NMC will not issue updated letters reflecting the extension.
- Qualified Assessor and Designated Examiner certification letters and course approvals that expired October 31, 2025, remain extended to February 28, 2026. Those that expire on November 30, 2025, are extended until March 31, 2026. The NMC will not issue updated certificates/letters reflecting the extension.
- Mariner Examinations:
- Mariners who began but did not complete all modules of an examination prior to October 1, 2025, may resume testing without penalty once the NMC reopens. Testing should be completed within 60 days of reopening. Contact the NMC regarding waivers due to sea service.
- 90-day retest periods are paused beginning on October 1, 2025, and will restart upon reopening. Contact the NMC regarding waivers due to sea service.
For updates on NMC and REC operating statuses, please monitor the NMC website. For questions, contact our Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system on the NMC website, by e-mailing [email protected], or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).