The National Maritime Center (NMC) has noted an increase in the number of Designated Examiner (DE) and Qualified Assessor (QA) requests being included with Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) applications. This has delayed the processing of some DE and QA requests. DE and QA approvals are not MMC endorsements and are not requested through the MMC application process.

Mariners who wish to serve as a DE or QA should send an e-mail request to NMCCOURSES@uscg.mil. Alternatively, submissions can be mailed to:

Commanding Officer (NMC-2)
USCG National Maritime Center
100 Forbes Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25404

The documentary evidence that must be provided as part of the request to become a DE is listed in Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 10.405, and described in Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 03-16, paragraph 5.c.2.

The documentary evidence necessary to become a QA is listed in 46 CFR 10.405. Additional guidance is found in NVIC 19-14, Enclosure 1, on how to obtain approval as a QA. Enclosure 2 provides guidance on professional qualification criteria for assessors for various STCW endorsements.

Additional information can be found on the Training and Assessment Page of the NMC Website. For general questions, please see the NMC Website or contact the Customer Service Center by e-mail at IASKNMC@uscg.mil, by Chat, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.