46 USC § 7509 - Medical certification by trusted agents

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s7509"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 7509 - Medical certification by trusted agents"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "7509"
section_name: "Medical certification by trusted agents"
chapter_number: 75
chapter_name: "GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR LICENSING, CERTIFICATION, AND DOCUMENTATION"
part_number: "E"
part_name: "Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 114–120, title III, § 309(a), Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 56.)"
---


# § 7509. Medical certification by trusted agents

**(a)** **In General.—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law and pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary, a trusted agent may issue a medical certificate to an individual who—

**(1)** must hold such certificate to qualify for a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document, or endorsement thereto under this part; and

**(2)** is qualified as to sight, hearing, and physical condition to perform the duties of such license, certificate, document, or endorsement, as determined by the trusted agent.

**(b)** **Process for Issuance of Certificates by Secretary.—** A final rule implementing this section shall include a process for—

**(1)** the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue medical certificates to mariners who submit applications for such certificates to the Secretary; and

**(2)** a trusted agent to defer to the Secretary the issuance of a medical certificate.

**(c)** **Trusted Agent Defined.—** In this section the term “trusted agent” means a medical practitioner certified by the Secretary to perform physical examinations of an individual for purposes of a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document under this part.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 114–120, title III, § 309(a), Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 56.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Implementation Deadline

> “Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [
> 
> ], the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall issue a final rule implementing
> 
> , United States Code, as added by this section.”

, , , provided that: