Ive heard a lot of mixed information on this topic and wondering what the consensus is on here. I’ve just started taking my chief mate classes and Ive been slow to get the complete set scheduled and now the clock is ticking; I want to make sure I don’t waste time or have sunk costs. I started at MPT and the staff there felt very confident in advising me that I have ten years to complete all requirements and still have validity on the class certs. Most others have told me five years which sounds more accurate. A few people have told me you only have one year to complete the whole set but that doesn’t sound right, still out of abundance of caution I want to be extra sure. I have also been told that each cert, individually, needs to be submitted to the coast guard within one year or they won’t be credited, even if the courses themselves are good for longer (in other words, say the class is good for five years, but if I submit a two year old certificate for an upgrade it won’t be counted). I’ve tried going right to the horses mouth and reading the coast guard requirements but I haven’t seen anything specific about this and I’ve misinterpreted their requirements before anyway. Hopefully there’s someone who’s gone through this recently who can shed some clarity. I think it might take me 2-3 years to get everything done and I want to make sure I’m not wasting time and money before I invest any further. Thanks in advance!
MPT is right. See section 5.a.2.iii on pages 2-3 of NVIC 03-14.
I submitted all sorts of certs closing in on 10 years. No problemo getting approval to test in 2021. I did have to reboot the assessments to get my STCW but I was luckily holding a 1600T Master so that cut down the numbers. I have often done things the hard way. 
Great, that’s very good to know from someone who has gone through it recently. Which leads me to a follow up question though, I also have my 1600t master and didn’t know it takes care of some assessments. Where would I find the information of what that knocks out? For that matter, at this point it might be in my best interest to go ahead and get the 3,000t master next, if that satisfies even more of them. Thanks!
Have not gone through it myself, got mine in the last ice age and was grandfathered. But I wrote the bit I cited, so I might know a little.
For assessments, you may not need all of them if you already have an STCW endorsement for Master less than 3,000 GT. In enclosure 2 of NVIC 10-14, you would not need to do the assessments marked as “Note 1.”
I didn’t realize the STCW training had a ten year shelf life. I didn’t see anything in any of the NVICs about the assessments having a similar shelf life (for those received from a course or those received on the job). Is there a time limit on those assessments for submitting an application?
Looks like ten years for assessments as well, reading through the NVIC as provided by @jdcavo .
I read through both NVICs and still don’t see any expiration of assessments. I know that they do change periodically based on the updates to STCW, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they do have a shelf life.
Aha, beg pardon, right you are. I did a quick skim after the question was asked and it said the courses that satisfy assessments are good for ten, not the assessments itself. My bad.
It doesn’t, having Master 3,000 GT does.
Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/2 of 3,000 GT or More of STCW Code Management Level – Assessments for this endorsement Must complete & attach Record of Assessment from NVIC 10-14 or its equivalent.
Note 1: Operational-level assessments are not required if the mariner holds or has previously held an STCW endorsement as OICNW or Master valid on vessels (other than OSV’s) of 500 GT or more issued after 1997.
This is right off the checklist.
I got an email like this was a reply to me but if it was I’m not sure what your point is.
When I was in the process to take C/M classes I “heard” it was 5 years. Started in early 2020, then COVID hit and that threw me back a year. In late 2022 submitted all the certs and by early 2023 got the ATT. Tested in March, failed. Then tested again in August and passed. Now I read about the NVIC 03-14 do to this thread and found out about the 10 years. So keep investing in your future!
The USCG NMC website has plenty of old information up. Here’s a FAQ that says the limit is 5 years. I see it has an older date on it than the NVIC but they should really update their stuff so people don’t get confused.
From the FAQ:
I took a course through a USCG-approved school/program. When does my course
certificate expire?
The validity period during which an applicant may use a course completion to meet
credentialing requirements is as follows:
• Any time limit prescribed by regulation, e.g., 5 years for the “Tankship Dangerous
Liquids” course specified in 46 CFR 13.201(c)(4), and
• One year for courses that substitute for an examination given by the Coast Guard, and
• Five years for all other courses.