National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited
Credential: National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited
Credentialing Agency: United States Coast Guard (USCG)
The National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited is a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC). A Lifeboatman is a mariner who is qualified to take charge of, lower, and operate survival craft and related survival equipment on a vessel. A Lifeboatman-Limited is a mariner who is qualified to take charge of, lower, and operate life rafts, rescue boats, and other survival equipment on vessels where lifeboats are not installed. To obtain the National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited credential, applicants must satisfy general MMC requirements and a sea service requirement. Applicants must also pass an exam (by oral or other means) and a practical demonstration. The practical demonstration requirement may be met by completion of an approved course, provided the course includes actual practical demonstration of abilities.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited
The following Marine Corps Enlisted MOSs provide training and/or experience that contributes to attaining this credential:
| Enlisted Occupation | Occupation Type | Related As | COOL$ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0321 Reconnaissance Marine | MOS |  Some |
 COOL Bucks |
|
| 0372 Critical Skills Operator | MOS | Some |
COOL Bucks |
The following civilian occupations are related to this credential:
| Civilian Job | Job Family | Bright Outlook | Registered Apprenticeship | Local Salary Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorboat Operators | Transportation and Material Moving |  find local salary |
|||
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | Transportation and Material Moving |  Apprenticeship |
find local salary |
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Attainability: 
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite
- Experience: 6 months
- Education
- Training: completion of an approved course
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
Exam Administration (View Details)
- In-person exam
- Remote proctored on-line exam
- Third-party test vendor
RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY
Renewal Period
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
United States Coast Guard (USCG)
United States Department of Homeland Security
2100 2nd St. S.W.
Washington, DC 20593-0001
Phone: (202) 267-0218
Email: iasknmc@uscg.mil
Experience REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must meet ONE of the following sea service requirements:
- At least six months of sea service in any department of vessels AND the successful completion of an approved course.
- At least 12 months of sea service in any department of vessels on ocean, coastwise, inland, and Great Lakes routes.
To assist with evaluating your sea service for Merchant Marine credential eligibility and navigating the process, visit the MilGears Mil-2-Mariner Tool on the MilGears website. The M2M Tool allows you to upload individual military service records and compare your creditable sea service, training and assessments completed during your military service against the standard for an original or upgraded Merchant Mariner Credential. The tool will provide guidance and application recommendations for National Maritime Center issued credentials, based on your specific results. The practical exam requirement may be met by completion of an approved course, provided the course includes actual practical demonstration of abilities.
Oral Exam Requirement
- Lifeboats and life rafts, the names of their essential parts, and a description of the required equipment
- The clearing away, swinging out, and lowering of lifeboats and life rafts, the handling of lifeboats under oars and sails, including questions relative to the proper handling of a boat in a heavy sea
- The operation and functions of commonly used types of davits
Practical Exam
- Take charge of a survival craft or rescue boat during and after launch
- Operate a survival craft engine
- Demonstrate the ability to row by actually pulling an oar in the boat
- Manage a survival craft and survivors after abandoning ship
- Safely recover survival craft and rescue boats
- Use locating and communication devices
Exam Preparation Resources
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited examination:
-
Best Sources
- 46 Code of Federal Regulations Part 10 - Merchant Mariner Credential
- 46 Code of Federal Regulations Part 12 - Requirements for Rating Endorsements
- Application for Merchant Mariner Credential (Form CG-719B)
- National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited Checklist
- NMC Exam Details
- NMC Frequently Asked Questions
- USCG Deck and Engineering Guide for the Administration of Merchant Marine Examinations
- General References
An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.
Testing Information
-
Exam Administration
Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited credential where checked:
- In-person exam
- Remote proctored on-line exam
- Third-party test vendor
For more information on the United States Coast Guard (USCG) testing process, visit the agency website.
National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited include:
Applicants for the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) must meet the listed general requirements:
- Meet the credential age requirement.
- Submit evidence of holding or having applied for Transportation Working Identification Card (TWIC) from TSA.
- Submit completed MMC Application CG-Form 719B.
- Must submit evidence of appropriate Sea Service as required. Military sea service may be counted towards the sea service required to become a mariner. This military sea service is only part of the MMC evaluation. Documentation is key and must be submitted with the MMC application package to a Regional Exam Center.
- Provide photocopies the front and the back of all relevant Training Course Certificate(s) and Certifications.
- Submit CG Form- 719C Disclosure Statement for Narcotics, DWI/DUI, and/or other convictions as applicable.
- Provide proof of passing the appropriate vision, hearing, medical, or physical exam, documented on CG Form-719K or CG-719K/E.
- Provide evidence of passing a DOT/USCG periodic drug test on CG From- 719P.
- Submit evaluation, exam and issuance Fees as applicable.
National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited include:
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) National Maritime Center (NMC) awards credentials to fully qualified mariners to assure a safe, secure, economically viable and environmentally sound Marine Transportation System. There are generally two types of mariner credentials: National and International, and they are awarded in two primary operational departments, Deck and Engine. However, before any mariner credential is awarded, applicants must first attain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
The International credentials are governed in compliance with Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW). These international standards (STCW) were first developed in 1978 when the international maritime community realized that human factors played a dominant role in the prevention of marine casualties. The last major revision to the international STCW Convention and Code were adopted in 2010 in Manila, Philippines and took effect on 1 Jan 2012.
General Application Requirements include drug test compliance, medical screening, First Aid and CPR certificates of training, and firefighting training. In addition to the general application requirements, the primary data elements that NMC evaluators need from military mariner applicants to assess their experience and suitability for National or STCW level credentials are Military Sea Service history and Vessel Information as described below:
MILITARY SEA SERVICE
Military sea service experience must be a reasonable equivalent to the service required of a merchant mariner who is seeking an identical license. Evaluations of military sea service require submission of a Transcript of Sea Service (TOSS) or a Sea Service Letter. Each service has a slightly different version of their Sea Service letter; this example shows U.S. Navy Sea Service Letter requirements. U.S. Army applicants can request a copy of their Sea Service history through the Sea Pay system.
NMC Regional Examination Centers may also require an official description of duties statement, letters of qualification, service record entries, or letters from former supervisors or commanding officers as well. Specific details about sea service requirements for the various different credentials can be found in 46 CFR Part 10 - Merchant Mariner Credential, and 46 CFR Part 12 - Requirements for Rating Endorsements. Additional details related to criteria for accepting military sea experience can be obtained from the Marine Safety Manual-Vol III, and Section 3 of the Military File Evaluation Manual.
VESSEL INFORMATION
Each Service also has corresponding vessel information.
U.S. Navy applicants can reference this U.S. Navy Vessel Information chart for details on Ship Type, Name, Hull number, Ship Class, GRI ITC Tonnage, GRT Tonnage, Horsepower, and Propulsion Type when completing their Sea Service Letter.
U.S. Army applicant’s Vessel information will be included in the Sea Pay letter they request for military sea service history.
National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited include:
Requirements for renewal:
- The applicant must either—
- Present evidence of at least 1 year of sea service during the past 5 years;
- Pass a comprehensive, open-book exercise covering the general subject matter as appropriate to the credential;
- Complete an approved refresher training course;
- Provide evidence of employment as a qualified instructor or in a position closely related to the credential.
- A credential may be renewed at any time during its validity and for 1 year after expiration.
There are no professional requirements for renewal for the following endorsements:
- Ordinary seaman, Wiper, Steward's department, Steward's department (F.H.).
- Cadet, Student observer, Apprentice engineer, Apprentice mate.
- Person in charge of medical care, Medical first-aid provider.
- GMDSS at-sea maintainer, GMDSS operator.
Certain STCW endorsements must complete approved refresher or revalidation training.
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