The U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center (NMC) has announced changes for test procedures at its Regional Examination Centers (RECs), the biggest of which will be the elimination of walk-in exams without prior registration.
The center, based in Martinsburg, W.Va., announced the changes in January, saying they were “an effort to provide consistent, quality customer service to all mariners.”
Beginning April 6, all licensing tests at RECs must be scheduled at least two business days in advance. After receiving a letter from the NMC indicating approval to take a test, mariners can schedule an appointment by using the “Schedule Exam/REC Appointment” link on the Examinations page of the NMC website (www.dco.uscg.mil/national_ maritime_center). They can also call the NMC Contact Center at 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662), or reach out by online chat.
All RECs will have two examination periods daily: a 3.5-hour morning session and a 3.5-hour afternoon session separated by at least a half-hour break.
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Professional Mariner.
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This story is from the May 2020 edition of Professional Mariner.
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