Chief Limited, testing required or not?

Professional Mariner Forum
1

I had mixed results on googling.

I have almost 900ish days as an engineering officer, split between 3AE and 2AE. I can test for my 1AE.

Academy graduate, so that applies.

I don’t work on “Unlimited” ships anymore and I’m sticking with smaller ships, so the path of 1AE → C/E Unlimited is currently a no as I can’t get sea time to fulfill C/E Unlimited.

But I would like to get my C/E Limited should that position open within the company I’m with.

My academy time puts me at needing 720 days, I believe, which I surpass.

Is testing required? I want to say yes. But looking to see if any other acad. folks went this route.

2

Not an engineer but, when I was testing for my CM unlimited I saw engineers who were 2 A/E testing for chief limited . On the deck side if you test for CM you get a 1600 ton master for free so i assume it would be the same for y’all

3

Is it? I had to take the one test while I was testing for my CM, but that was back in like 2013.

4

I tested back in may w another mate on my ship and we just told them to add it and they printed it w our licenses . May be an error for the REC but I have it on my license

5

I received a CE limited endorsement when I received my 1AE but that was some years ago. According to this CFR that is still the case. Updated Nov. 2026