I’ve been working as an unlicensed engineer on a ferry boat and am coming up on my 180 days in the engine room. I want to get my Oiler endorsement. Do I submit my packet to the CG first, and then they’ll send me something saying I’m approved to test? Or do I need to schedule the exam first, pass it, then hand in the grade or whatever with the packet? Also, are there any Horsepower ratings for QMED. The ferry is 8000 HP, so I’d like to get an unlimited rating if possible.
Have been studying the blue QMED book and thinking about ordering the cd from hawsepipe.net. Hopefully I can pass the exam without taking a course.
Get a sea service letter from your company.
Submit it with your application for the QMED rating.
When it’s been approved you’ll get permission to test.
You’ll HAVE to take the General subjects and Safety exams, then you select which rating exam(s) you’d like to take.
For future licensing upgrades this would start your time towards a DDE.
[QUOTE=Alex13;44808]I’ve been working as an unlicensed engineer on a ferry boat and am coming up on my 180 days in the engine room. I want to get my Oiler endorsement. Do I submit my packet to the CG first, and then they’ll send me something saying I’m approved to test? Or do I need to schedule the exam first, pass it, then hand in the grade or whatever with the packet? Also, are there any Horsepower ratings for QMED. The ferry is 8000 HP, so I’d like to get an unlimited rating if possible.
Have been studying the blue QMED book and thinking about ordering the cd from hawsepipe.net. Hopefully I can pass the exam without taking a course.
Thanks for any info!
Happy Holidays!
Alex[/QUOTE]
Hello and congrats on getting your sea-time!
First, there are NO horsepower limits with any QMED endorsement, [I]however there are restrictions[/I]. For example, I assume you’ve been on a diesel ferry, so if you do get the oiler endorsement, you’ll have it restricted to motor vessels only.
Also be careful if you do decide to take a QMED course, not all of them are the same. Some give 90 days sea-time credit, others don’t. Some are for QMED-Oiler OSV (trust me, you [I]don’t[/I] want one of those). The best would be a general QMED course but those are pricey and time consuming (about 3 grand and up and about 4 weeks of classes or more).
You will need to submit your packet to your nearest USCG REC with either certificates of discharge to merchant seaman or a letter of sea-time. Once that is evaluated you’ll be given a letter that allows you to test for whichever QMED ratings you asked for.
Once you have the letter, you can make an appointment at a REC and take the exams. You have 3 chances to pass and one year’s time to take the tests.
The CD from Hawespipe is a good one and I personally think it’s worth the price just for all the study aides and materials that are included as well as the Q&A section.
Also, forgot, what’s the difference between Junior Engineer and Oiler. Is one better to have then the other in terms of broader employment opportunities. Difference in test?
Also, forgot, what’s the difference between Junior Engineer and Oiler. Is one better to have then the other in terms of broader employment opportunities. Difference in test?[/QUOTE]
Your welcome!
J/E is higher up than an oiler, but most “QMED” jobs are for Oilers anyways. But some places like MSC usually have a need for J/E’s.
just went through the same process you are going through i can give you a list of items you will need to take to the REC with you
sea service leter from employer stating sea service time
DOT 5 five drug test results or a letter from employer stating that they do random tests
cg 719k physical exam form (annual physical)
copy of twic card
application for raise in grade
Be prepared to wait about 4 weeks to get your letter to test. Once you recieve it contact NMC or th closest REC to you to set up a time for the exam.
P.S. when you apply be sure to request all of the different QMED ratings you think you are ready for. A good study guide that I found was from marineradvancement.com it was easy to use and helped alot
[WPG][/WPG][QUOTE=SaltySailor;44810]…First, there are NO horsepower limits with any QMED endorsement, [I]however there are restrictions[/I]. For example, I assume you’ve been on a diesel ferry, so if you do get the oiler endorsement, you’ll have it restricted to motor vessels only… [/QUOTE]
I think you are intermixing QMED and the STCW endorsement of Rating Forming Part of an Engineering Watch (RFPEW). RFPEW can be limited to motor vessels. QMED endorsements don’t have a limitation per se, but some QMED endorsements are limited as to what vessels they can serve on. But, there is no restriction on what QMED endorsements you can get based ojn the propulsion or other equipment of the vessels you’ve served on. With the exception of deck engine mechanic and engineman, all QMED endorsements require six months of service with no requirements for time in a specific priopulsion mode. If you have that sea service, you can sit for as many or as few of them as you chooose. Make sure to note on your application which specific QMED endorsements you want so there is no confusion when you go to test.
[QUOTE=SaltySailor;44810]…Also be careful if you do decide to take a QMED course, not all of them are the same…[/QUOTE]
Good advice. Make sure that whatever course you go to is approved to substute for the exams for the specific QMED endorsements you are applying for. You don’t have to take a course, you can sit for the exams from the Coast Guard.
I was wondering how am I to go about getting my QMED Electrical license. I was in the US Navy years ago and heard that that would account for sea time and I was an Electrician Mate. Currently I’m working on a drill rig as an electrician, but would like to make myself more valuable with my QMED license. I checked a lot of school online but due to my work schedule it would be rather hard to attend those.