3rd mate’s license at USCGA

[Ericb128]

Hello,

I am currently applying to all of the academies and I have been attracted to the idea of getting a third mate’s license (deck officer) at USMMA. I was wondering if it is possible to get a third mate license at USCGA during undergrad or possibly a graduate program? If anyone has any experience with this or knows of any programs, I would love to hear about it!

 

[ekb1398]

You will graduate with a 100 ton near-coastal license. Near Coastal is 200 nautical miles from shore. If you choose to go underway and become a deck watch officer (DWO - the majority at the Academy do end up there upon graduation), your first job will be to become a qualified Officer of the Deck (OOD). By getting that, being CPR certified, taking a firefighting class (for which there is a path laid out to get credit for doing such for doing the qualifications you will do anyways), you qualify to apply for and sit for the 3rd Mate Unlimited License.

 

[Impulsive]

You will graduate with a 100 ton near-coastal license. Near Coastal is 200 nautical miles from shore. If you choose to go underway and become a deck watch officer (DWO - the majority at the Academy do end up there upon graduation), your first job will be to become a qualified Officer of the Deck (OOD). By getting that, being CPR certified, taking a firefighting class (for which there is a path laid out to get credit for doing such for doing the qualifications you will do anyways), you qualify to apply for and sit for the 3rd Mate Unlimited License.

Things certainly have changed. It used to be that you needed a certain amount of "sea time", on a certain tonnage, in certain areas, along with the first aide, and "Radar Observer Certification" and 90% score on Rules of the Nautical Road, to even have the CG consider you to sit for a Merchant Mariners License. Then IF you passed the physical, written, and oral tests, you got your license, but were not allowed to actually have the paper or us the license. This was back when CG was part of DOT and while your license was noted in your record and service jacket, you were not allowed to actually use it until you left the CG.

Under the "old" rules, you needed a certain amount of sea time (50%) on a vessel over 1600 tons to qualify for an "unlimited" license. Under the new Rules, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/46/11.407 Graduation from CGA, and 6 months of DWO Watches grants you the Third Mates License. Nice Deal, since CG is now DHS you can also probably actually get and use your license..

 

[jaglvr]

Hello,

I am currently applying to all of the academies and I have been attracted to the idea of getting a third mate’s license (deck officer) at USMMA. I was wondering if it is possible to get a third mate license at USCGA during undergrad or possibly a graduate program? If anyone has any experience with this or knows of any programs, I would love to hear about it!

Consider SUNY Maritime or A&M Galveston as well. They have both have a Corp and you can study for your license. My DS is a senior at A&M and will test in the spring for his license, though he won't be able to earn it until he finishes his cruise next summer but he's almost there!

 

[Swimmom816]

You will graduate with a 100 ton near-coastal license. Near Coastal is 200 nautical miles from shore. If you choose to go underway and become a deck watch officer (DWO - the majority at the Academy do end up there upon graduation), your first job will be to become a qualified Officer of the Deck (OOD). By getting that, being CPR certified, taking a firefighting class (for which there is a path laid out to get credit for doing such for doing the qualifications you will do anyways), you qualify to apply for and sit for the 3rd Mate Unlimited License.

Thats great to know!