46 CFR § 10.302 - Medical and physical requirements.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s10.302"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 10.302 - Medical and physical requirements."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "10.302"
section_name: "Medical and physical requirements."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "MERCHANT MARINE OFFICERS AND SEAMEN"
part_number: "10"
part_name: "MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "14 U.S.C. 503; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 46 U.S.C. 2101, 2103, 2104, 2110; 46 U.S.C. chapter 71; 46 U.S.C. chapter 73; 46 U.S.C. chapter 75; 46 U.S.C. 7701, 8903, 8904, and 70105; Executive Order 10173; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "USCG-2006-24371, 74 FR 11216, Mar. 16, 2009, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "10"
---


# 10.302 Medical and physical requirements.

(a) To qualify for a medical certificate, a mariner must provide evidence of meeting the medical and physical standards in this section on a CG-719-K or CG-719-K/E, or as directed by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard retains final authority for determining whether a mariner is medically and physically qualified. Columns 2 through 5 of Table 1 to paragraph (a) of this section provide the specific exam, test, or demonstrations required to obtain the corresponding credential listed in column 1. Further clarifications of the requirements contained in the table are found throughout this subpart.

Table 1 to § 10.302(**a**)—Medical and Physical Requirements for Mariner Endorsements

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Credential | Vision test | Hearing test | General
medical exam | Demonstration of physical ability |
| (1) Deck officer, including Pilot | § 10.305(a) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (2) Engineering officer | § 10.305(b) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (3) Radio Officer | § 10.305(b) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (4) OIM, BS, or BCO | § 10.305(b) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (5) Able Seafarer | § 10.305(a) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (6) QMED | § 10.305(b) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (7) Able Seafarer-Deck | § 10.305(a) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (8) RFPNW | § 10.305(a) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (9) Able Seafarer-Engine | § 10.305(b) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (10) RFPEW | § 10.305(b) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (11) ETR | § 10.305(b) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (12) Tank vessel endorsement | § 10.305(b) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (13) Lifeboat Operator and PSC | § 10.305(b) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (14) Lifeboat Operator-Limited and PSC-Limited | § 10.305(b) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (15) Fast Rescue Boat | § 10.305(b) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |
| (16) Food Handler serving on vessels to which STCW does not apply |  |  | § 10.304(b) |  |
| (17) Food Handler serving on vessels to which STCW applies |  |  | § 10.304(b) | § 10.304(c) |
| (18) Ratings, including entry level, serving on vessels to which STCW applies, other than those listed above |  |  |  | § 10.304(c) |
| (19) Ratings, including entry level, serving on vessels to which STCW does not apply, other than those listed above |  |  |  |  |
| (20) VSO | § 10.305(a) | § 10.306 | § 10.304(a) | § 10.304(c) |

(b) Any required test, exam, or demonstration must have been performed, witnessed, or reviewed by a Licensed Medical Doctor, Licensed Physician Assistant, Licensed Nurse Practitioner, or a Designated Medical Examiner. All licensed medical practitioners must hold a valid license issued in the United States.

[USCG-2004-17914, 78 FR 77900, Dec. 24, 2013, as amended by USCG-2022-0025, 89 FR 76346, Sept. 17, 2024; USCG-2021-0097, 89 FR 93067, Nov. 25, 2024; USCG-2021-0834, 89 FR 102334, Dec. 17, 2024]