Great news for active members of the United States uniformed services!
As of November 4, 2024, you’ll be exempt from paying Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) fees for:
- the evaluation of an MMC application
- the administration of an examination required for an MMC endorsement
- the issuance of an MMC
The MMC fee exemption applies to original applications, renewals or applications for a raise of grades. To get the fee exemption, a mariner must submit documentation of their eligibility for the exemption at the time they submit a MMC application. Accordingly, a mariner who received an exemption in the past may not be eligible for an exemption on a subsequent application if their active duty or reserve status has changed.
Members of the uniformed services who are eligible for the fee exemption include: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Aeronautics Administration (NOAA), and Commissioned Corps of Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) on active duty; members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of any of the armed forces (Army National Guard of the United States, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard of the United States, Air Force Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve); and the Ready Reserve Corps of the USPHS from fees associated with obtaining an MMC.
The Coast Guard explains that the fee exemption is part of America’s effort to establish and maintain an effective merchant marine and to provide sufficient support and resources to active duty and separating service members who pursue or possess MMCs.
The goals of not requiring these fees are to: (1) help attract active-duty service members with the appropriate skills and expertise to obtain an MMC for employment in the maritime industry; (2) support U.S. national security requirements; and (3) provide meaningful, well-paying jobs to U.S. veterans.
- The old MMC “Red Book” has been replaced with a new, one-page certificate. Read about it HERE.
- Do you have an MMC and are looking for a maritime job? Guice Offshore is hiring! Apply online HERE.
Usual Coast Guard MMC Fees Still In Effect for All Other Mariners
Normally, evaluation fees for MMCs range from $50 to $100, and the applicant must pay the fee at the time an application is submitted to the Coast Guard. Examination fees range from $45 to $140, depending on the endorsement sought, and must be paid before the professional examination for an endorsement is taken. If an applicant applies for an MMC with both a rating and an officer endorsement, the higher evaluation fee is charged. Issuance fees are $45 and must be paid before an MMC is issued.
The original issuance of an MMC, as well as any subsequent credential transactions, such as increasing the scope or raising the grade of authority, or renewing an MMC, all require a fee. MMCs are valid for a period of five years and may be renewed at any time during the validity period of the credential and for one year after expiration.
Mariners typically seek additional endorsements after accruing the required sea service and completing required training. There are no fees associated with issuing mariner medical certificates or endorsements for the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
The Coast Guard does not require a fee for MMC transactions if one of the following three conditions is met:
(1) The application is for a Document of Continuity, as specified in 46 CFR 10.219(e)(3).
(2) The credential is a duplicate of a credential lost in a shipwreck or other casualty under 46 CFR 10.229(c) and reflected in table 1 to § 10.219(a).
(3) The applicant qualifies for a “no-fee” MMC under 46 CFR 10.219(h).
Currently, an applicant only qualifies for a “no-fee” MMC if they are a volunteer for, or an employee of, an organization that is youth-oriented, not-for-profit, and charitable, 46 CFR 10.219(h).
The holder of a “no-fee” MMC is restricted to using vessels owned or operated by the sponsoring organization, 46 CFR 10.219(k).
