Anyone have an updated time line for med cert renewal?
2-3 months
I was just past 50 days, received mine in the mail 2 weeks ago.
I applied May 1 and it was approved on June 12. I hadn’t hear anything by June 11, so I sent a follow up email asking for confirmation it was received… Low and behold, I got an email on the 12 saying it had been approved. I still haven’t seen it in the mail, but I live in NZ so that’s not a surprise.
Sent April 4th, I haven’t heard anything other than a "we got it"email.
April 16th: Emailed physical to CG. Received confirmation email same day.
April 17th: Noticed I couldn’t track application on NMC site.
May 18th: Called NMC & asked about not being able to track application. Representative said the Medical Department did not accept my physical yet due to backlog & it could take between 6 to 10 weeks.
May 27th: Received email saying physical received by Medical Department.
May 28th: Another email saying all good & certificate would be mailed soon.
May 28th: Another email minutes later saying it was in the mail & could take the usps 14 days to get it to me.
June 7th: Medical Certificate arrived in my mail box.
A little over 7 weeks with no issues, the longest it’s ever taken for me.
If you make sure it’s complete you should be good. See bulletin: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/NMC/pdfs/announcements/2024/med_cert_app_backlog_062624.pdf?ver=mUkj0JBZuaDSOe6j5-aB8w%3D%3D×tamp=1719421938760
1 Like
80 days since applying and I just got word my application has reached a medical evaluator.
1 Like
I feel slightly better, I’m on day 78 today.
I am on day 30-something and called the USCG yesterday. They were unable to tell me anything. Reading this tells me I need to be much, much…much more patient 
@Tugboater203 & @Lemurian2 , did you guys mail yours off or send via email in 1 pdf? I’m wondering because it looks like I emailed my off later than you two but got my back already. Any health issues that would require more time screening? Another thing it could be was mine was due to expire in June so maybe they’re prioritizing on expiration date. Odd.
I emailed mine on April 4th and have no outstanding medical issues. It was a single pdf file with my reference number in the title.
1 Like
I emailed a PDF application. Nothing special. The STCW portion expired a few weeks ago. Good thing I’m working inland right now.
I did get an update from the USCG that the medical has been approved to print. That happened within hours of the notification that my application reached the evaluator. No rhyme or reason.
1 Like
@Tugboater203 & @Lemurian2 , really weird since it’s now the same nmc for everyone. I sail international & need the stcw portion so maybe they’re prioritizing on need since my was expiring the same a Lecurian2. For me, the med cert has always been the fastest with turn around in 2 weeks or less. From now on I’ll start doing it 4 months in advance to be safe which is a shame. Maybe they should get AI to help them & get it done in seconds?
Just wanted to add my timeline for others as well.
June 12th: Emailed USCG completed form and received email confirmation of receipt.
July 18th: Application forwarded to REC: Martinsburg.
July 26: Being screened by medical division for completion check. Approved for print (20 minutes later). Issued and mailed (4 hours later).
Overall, it took 44 days from submission to issuance.
3 Likes
Submitted June 13th, issued and mailed July 29th.
This was with zero issue or questions from CG.
1 Like
My timeline….
June 25 emailed my renewal packet to Honolulu, HI
July 2 excepted
July 8 MMC waiting security/vetting (current MMC doesn’t expire until March so they may not screen for a few months.)
July 29 medical excepted by Martinsburg pending screening
August 6 received email at 0642 “medical is being screened/0645 received another email “medical application completed evaluation process and is approved to print”(current medical expires December)
Just received another email at 1402, “medical card has been issued and mailed…”
1 Like
Wow, that is fast. Hearing a few mariners been waiting for 4 months now, with no prior medical issues.
2 Likes
It stinks! They do not even logged into the system until pulled for evaluation so the backlog numbers are all lies. It could sit in a void for two or three months waiting to be reviewed and never entered into there tracking database. If lost, no way to check until months later.
If you are missing info such as H1c test for diabetes or sleep apnea test, you are sent letter for more info. Once you submit more info, your application goes to the back of the three or four month line to wait again. I have been told this many times as a 3rd Party. Just write your Cingressman after a month with no news and you will be moved ahead of everyone else.
98 days from email submission to certificate in hand. “Individual results may vary.”
1 Like