How to Renew Your Captain’s License — The Nine Easy Steps
You’ve done all of the hard work! Jumped through all of the hoops and have been working on vessels for the last few years. You look down and realize that it’s time to renew your Captain's License, Now what?
This is kicking off a Nine Step series where we will go into detail on each step. But here is a quick overview for each step. If you are using MM-SEAS all of your documents should already be in the system, there are built in reminders and there are simple to use checklists to make this process simple and easy for you!
Step 1: Make sure you understand what you need for the professional requirements to renew. This includes gathering your sea service documents and counting up your sea days in the previous five years of your renewal application date.
Step 2: Once you know how many sea days you have you need to take the required training if needed and then ensure you have the training certificates in your possession.
Step 3: You need to hold a valid TWIC or have recent evidence of applying for a TWIC.
Step 4: You need to pay the appropriate fee as set forth in 46 CFR 10.219 to pay.gov and keep the receipt for submission.
Step 5: A photocopy — front, back, and all attachments of what you are renewing. This can be your uncanceled MMD, MMC, license, STCW endorsement, Certificate of Registry (COR), or Document of Continuity.
Step 6: Evidence of having passed a chemical test for dangerous drugs or of qualifying for an exemption from testing in 46 CFR 16.220.
Step 7: Applicants seeking a national domestic endorsement must either hold an unexpired medical certificate or submit a medical certificate application.
Step 8: A completed, signed application.
Step 9: Submit your completed, signed application, with all of the above seven steps documents attached to the nearest USCG regional exam center via email.
These nine steps may seem a little daunting and we agree. We actually built MM-SEAS for this exact reason. Instead of wondering how many sea days you have or where your documents are MM-SEAS gives you one location for all of your maritime documents and tells you exactly how many sea days you have documentation for!
