# Is appointment to test necessary? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maritime Training & Licensing\ **Created:** [October 9, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-appointment-to-test-necessary/4743 "2010-10-09T20:47:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Black\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Black\_Angel](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Black_Angel)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-appointment-to-test-necessary/4743/1 "2010-10-09T20:47:30Z")
I just stopped in to Mandeville REC to set up an appointment to test for my 3rd Mate’s license after my next hitch. The lady told me I don’t need to make an appointment, just show up with my “approval to test” letter. This seems kind of risky – anyone else show up for 7 modules of testing with no advance warning? ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Capt\_Lee](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Capt_Lee)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-appointment-to-test-necessary/4743/2 "2010-10-09T21:35:12Z")
[QUOTE=Black\_Angel;42764]I just stopped in to Mandeville REC to set up an appointment to test for my 3rd Mate’s license after my next hitch. The lady told me I don’t need to make an appointment, just show up with my “approval to test” letter. This seems kind of risky – anyone else show up for 7 modules of testing with no advance warning?[/QUOTE] Black\_Angel, I did make an appointment when I tested at Mandeville, LA last November and I do not think it was necessary. You can make the appointment online if you like. They do not do any preparation just because you make an appointment. I had 9 Modules for Chief Mate plus 2 modules for Barge Supervisor for a total of 11 modules. What she said is pretty accurate. All the tests are printed up while you wait. I asked the proctor to print them up for me and have them ready, that I intended to take as many as I could. He did not listen. He just printed them up after he graded my previous one. It only took a day and a half, though. They were very friendly and there is plenty of testing seats available. PS when I was there they did not have a star finder in the testing area. I do not know how to identify stars without it. There is a way…I just don’t know how. They let me use my personal star finder. I would suggest bringing yours just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Sf\_deckhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@Sf\_deckhand](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Sf_deckhand)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-appointment-to-test-necessary/4743/3 "2010-10-10T13:43:41Z")
When I went to the Seattle REC for an examination, I made an appointment online. The guy there didn’t know I was coming, and when I left he explained that the online appointment system doesn’t notify him. He gave me his card, so that I could call and let him know when I was coming in for future tests… ---
**Author:** ![Cgaptain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@Cgaptain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Cgaptain)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-appointment-to-test-necessary/4743/4 "2010-10-11T05:43:02Z")
I tested in mandeville early august. I called ahead because the appointment calendar was unavailable for the next several days (it wanted to schedule me a week out). They confirmed no appointment neccesary, I gave them my mariner number and when I showed up the next morning, they had everything ready. I took the exams in the order that I wanted (CELNAV first, ROR, Gen), and as he graded one test, the next exam was ready. They did have a starfinder, but it looked pretty beat up and not sure if it was complete. I had my own because I heard they didn’t provide one in the exam room. Overall I think there were 4 questions that used the Rude (2 on celnav exam). They let me test at my own pace, working through lunch if I wanted. Finished that afternoon. Get there for a 730 start and have your last exam finished by the time they close (I think 430). Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![CaptAndrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@CaptAndrew](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/CaptAndrew)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 9:33am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-appointment-to-test-necessary/4743/5 "2010-10-11T09:33:51Z")
I don’t know if you can call the REC directly any more. All the REC’s have the same number that goes directly to NMC. Even the “secret” numbers I had don’t work any more. Walk in and hope or use the online scheduler seem to be the options now. ---
**Author:** ![Cgaptain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@Cgaptain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Cgaptain)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-appointment-to-test-necessary/4743/6 "2010-10-12T04:42:27Z")
Google “USCG Mandeville” 4250 Louisiana 22 Mandeville, Louisiana 70471 (985) 624-5700