# Chief Limited, testing required or not?

**URL:** <https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chief-limited-testing-required-or-not/78233>\
**Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\
**Created:** [November 8, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chief-limited-testing-required-or-not/78233 "2026-11-08T13:32:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f475e1/32.png) [@alb](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/alb)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chief-limited-testing-required-or-not/78233/1 "2026-11-08T13:32:06Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![MasterunlimitedNC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@MasterunlimitedNC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/MasterunlimitedNC)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chief-limited-testing-required-or-not/78233/2 "2026-11-08T17:38:37Z")

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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

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**Author:** ![New3M](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/new3m/32/394_2.png) [@New3M](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/New3M)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chief-limited-testing-required-or-not/78233/3 "2026-11-08T18:29:54Z")

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> [@MasterunlimitedNC](#):
>
> On the deck side if you test for CM you get a 1600 ton master for free

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

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**Author:** ![MasterunlimitedNC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@MasterunlimitedNC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/MasterunlimitedNC)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chief-limited-testing-required-or-not/78233/4 "2026-11-08T20:37:43Z")

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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

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**Author:** ![tengineer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@tengineer1](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tengineer1)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chief-limited-testing-required-or-not/78233/5 "2026-11-08T23:31:54Z")

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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

> **[Federal Register :: Request Access](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-46/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-11/subpart-E)**