[QUOTE=socalguy;173130]Glad to hear it is only a one time deal now. Nevertheless (pardon my seeming obtuse), but I guess my question is- do the flashing light tests that the various schools administer now need only consist of sending SOS and various single letter signals (such as those on p.22 of PUB102)? If they are still using the old standard of groups of multiple character codes, on what basis do they do so?[/QUOTE]
I don’t know what they are using, I’m not at NMC and normally don’t see course curricula. They should be able to use the new lesser requirement, [U]if they wish to do so and get approval from NMC to change their curricula[/U]. Schools aren’t giving a test, they are giving a course that includes a test, and have strict currculim requirements. They must thoroughly document their courses, and strictly adhere to the curiculum they submitted for approval (they can subsequiently modify, with NMC approval). So it’s quite possible many schools are using the old format because they haven’t bothered to update their curriculum. The Coast Guard sets minimum requirements, and schools may exceed them if they choose to, so there is no requirement for schools to chnage to a lesser requirement, they can continue to train to the old, higher standard.
[QUOTE=injunear;173137]For years the test was 6 words per minute. The last I heard, the test was 4 wpm. You can can jot down the dots and dashes and decipher from 102. Not much of a challenge.[/QUOTE]
That change was made in 2002. As I explained previously, it’s no longer a license requirement, and is now to meet STCW. STCW only requires recognition of single letters and SOS, and the ability to use the International Code of Signals. That latter requirement means there needs to be motre than just revceiving SOS and single letters. The courses need to have some way to assess familiarity with and ability to use the International Code of Signals.