# USCG Medical Certificate Req Jan 24th **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [January 7, 2014, 6:52am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-medical-certificate-req-jan-24th/11810 "2014-01-07T06:52:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tugsailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 6:52am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-medical-certificate-req-jan-24th/11810/1 "2014-01-07T06:52:29Z")
It looks like we don’t need to do anything at all to get our new medical certificates, and NMC is required to automatically send them to us by 31 March 2013. From Federal Register summary Separate from training, service, and assessmen ts, one important element that needs to be addressed immediately is the requi rement to hold a medical certi ficate, especially for those mariners sailing internationally. In general, the Coast Guard will be changing its procedures and it will issue a separate medica l certificate to certify a mariner’s compliance with the minimum mariner medical standards. While the medical certificate issue is not a requirement for STCW until 2017, the International Labour Organiza tion’s Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) requires that mariners have a se parate medical certificate issu ed by the flag administration. Therefore, since it will eventually be require d under STCW, and since it is required now under the MLC, the Coast Guard is pressing forward to issue medical certificates as quickly as possible within the timing of this rule. One very impor tant additional reason why the United States is eager to issue medical certificates to our mariners traveling internat ionally is that U.S. registered vessels that visit ports of nations that have adopt ed the MLC will be at risk of detention if they cannot demonstrate adequate compliance with th e MLC. Therefore, effective January 2nd, 2014, the National Maritime Center (NMC ) will begin issuing medical cert ificates to those mariners who hold STCW endorsements, and, on January 24, 2014, will begin to issue medical certificates to all mariners in the normal course of the a pplication process. Pl ease recognize that once you receive a medical certificate, it should be carried with your mercha nt mariner credential (MMC). Also, if you are a current holder of a valid STCW endorsement and you do not receive your medical certificate by March 31, 2014, we ask that you please contact the NMC at 1 888-I-ASK- NMC (1-888-427-5662). ---
**Author:** ![jdcavo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/jdcavo/32/108_2.png) [@jdcavo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/jdcavo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 9:24am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-medical-certificate-req-jan-24th/11810/2 "2014-01-07T09:24:39Z")
[QUOTE=tugsailor;127787]It looks like we don’t need to do anything at all to get our new medical certificates, and NMC is required to automatically send them to us by 31 March 2013.[/QUOTE] They are sending them out as discussed in the Federal Register. They are not “required” to, it’s being done on the Coast Guard’s initiative to make it easier (The Coast Guard put the announcement int he Federal Register). ---
**Author:** ![tugsailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 10:06am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-medical-certificate-req-jan-24th/11810/3 "2014-01-07T10:06:55Z")
When will doctors have the new USCG procedures and forms and begin actually doing the new physicals? Once this system is up and running will doctors issue a “provisional” certificate on the spot, that will then be followed by NMC review, and hopefully by a regular certificate from the NMC some months later? Is the USCG seeking reciprocity with other countries for the new medical certificates? Specifically, will the new USCG certificate be accepted by the UK MCA as an equivalent to the ENG1?