Services Resume At Regional Exam Centers

With the federal government shutdown drawing to a close and funding restored for federal agencies, the National Maritime Center (NMC) and its regional examination centers (RECs) are beginning to resume services to mariners. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, services at RECs will be phased in to prioritize the most critical services and to accommodate mariners most impacted by the shutdown.

Email submission of applications and supporting documentation remains active. Walk-in services at RECs will remain suspended through November 21 to allow employees to clear the backlog of screening applications and mariner examinations.

RECs will focus first on rescheduling examinations that were canceled during the shutdown. The earliest date for mariners to begin rescheduled testings at RECs will be November 18. REC officials will contact mariners directly to reschedule examinations.

Beginning November 24, RECs will return to normal operations, including the availability to schedule exams for all mariners. However, because of staffing shortages, some RECs may continue to have limited services.

NMC and REC updates will be posted to the National Maritime Center’s website, dco.uscg.mil/national_maritime_center. Mariners may direct questions to the NMC’s online chat system, submit them by email to iasknmc@uscg.mil or call 1-888-427-5662.