The National Maritime Center posted a bulletin to its website announcing the following changes to the mariner examination process at its Regional Exam Centers. The changes take affect April 6, 2020.

• Walk-in services for examinations will no longer be offered. All examinations must be scheduled at least 2 business days in advance. After receiving a letter from the NMC indicating you are approved to test, schedule an examination appointment by:
  1. Using the Schedule Exam/REC Appointment link on the Examinations page of the NMC Website.
  2. Calling the NMC Contact Center at 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).
  3. Contacting the NMC Contact Center by chat.
  
• All RECs will have two examination periods daily, a 3 ½-hour morning session and a 3 ½-hour afternoon session, with a minimum 30 minute break between sessions. See the REC webpage for specific hours.
  
• Mariners who finish a module early may take additional modules during an examination period but will not be given additional time to complete the extra modules. Requests for additional modules during a specific examination period are coordinated with the REC staff at the time of examination.
  
• There will be no changes to the First Class Pilot examination process.
  
• Appointments are highly recommended for all other services. See the REC webpage for facility access requirements.

Should you have any questions or concerns visit Examinations or Frequently Asked Questions on NMC’s website, or contact the NMC Customer Service Center by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, by using the NMC online chat system, 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.