Renewal Timeline for USCG Medical Certificate:

Maritime Topics Maritime Training & Licensing
1

Hey all,

I am currently in the process of renewing my medical certificate. Anyone recently renewed their certificate? What kind of timeline did you see?

7/8 - I submitted all my documents to the MEDAIP email.
7/28 - Notified the center received my application. 8/11 - Cleared initial medical screening.

Now I have been in “READY TO BE EVALUATED” for about a month. This has me a bit worried because in previous years, once it hits ready to be evaluated, I usually get an email the same day marking completion and then an email saying it was printed / sent out. I followed the guidelines posted by NMC about submitting 90 days early, actually 100+ days early, but lately I’ve been seeing posts about people waiting more than that, which has me concerned. No help or proper updates / estimations on timeline when contacting the NMC. Besides to look at their tracking system which has shown the same “READY TO BE EVALUATED” for a month now.

Anyone else currently waiting? Or recently renewed? What has your timeline looked like? How long did the ready to be evaluated step take?

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See here.

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IDK but I’m hearing a LOT of complaints about this when I talk to guys still sailing. Medical delays seem to be the number one complaint lately.

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I submitted my paperwork 8/17, NMC acknowledged receipt 9/6. I didn’t receive the “READY TO BE EVALUATED” email this time.
Approved and shipped 9/17.
About the only thing consistent with the NMC this year is that there is no consistency. The email and process seem to have changed.
I’ve been told that the process goes off the rails if you do not follow the subject line template they suggest and/or email them during the process.
A shipmate of mine emailed them for a follow up and it took him 4 months to get his, I guess a call doesn’t mess up the process, but an email does. It seems like they may have an AI program that has yet to be flushed out, or some new players.

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I’m hearing that it’s 6-8 months to renew a Medical Certificate these days.

Some people thought I was too extreme about what a worthless failed agency the NMC is, but now NMC is only getting worse, and more people are learning the about NMC for themselves.

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Just renewed mine. Submited around June 15th, issued around July 29th. It was right at 45 days. That was with no hangups.

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Good to hear that some people are getting semi-reasonable service.

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Thank you all for sharing dates. Heard from a few others that some have taken past the full 90 days so it puts me at ease a bit to know at least some are getting it back well within that time period.

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How many of those had “clean” physicals?

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Oh man. Please don’t defend NMC. Service is so bad that people now smile if they get a response inside 90-days?

As for clean physicals, a competent med evaluator should be able to clear any of those with a 30-minute review and clear out the entire backlog in a week.

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I submitted my Medical form on August 18th and it was mailed yesterday (Sept. 20th). Clean physical, no health issues, MEBA clinic.

Maybe I got lucky

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Not defending. But 6-8 months is may not be typical of what someone might expect if they have a clean physical.

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Well, I do get your point there but I’m approaching the 90 day mark from submission and I have a clean physical. No health issues that would slow it down. Ive been submitting these for quite some time now, have a backlog of old applications I look at to make sure all the proper boxes are checked and that I and my doctor don’t miss anything that would delay me. I’ve never had to wait more than 3 weeks to have my new medical certificate in hand. This delay is unacceptable.

Especially seeing as I have submitted beyond the NMCs own recommendation of 90 days from from renewal need and still have concerns I won’t receive it in time.