In certain instances a licensed Radio Officer is required on commercial vessels. A license as Radio Officer authorizes you to operate shipboard radio equipment.
Click here to view the Radiotelegraph Operator Checklist.

A COR is required for certain Staff Officers in administrative positions on commercial vessels.
Click here to view the COR Checklist.

You may apply at any of the 17 Coast Guard Regional Examination Centers (RECs). There are several requirements to satisfy including the completion of an application form and payment of user fees. All of these requirements are described in this guide. To see a list of RECs and their locations, click here.

None of these credentials are a guarantee of finding work, but serve as certification to work in the shipboard merchant marine industry. Shipping companies or maritime labor unions are possible sources for work. These organizations are listed in the Yellow Pages and marine industry related publications. Another source of employment information is the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) and their website is http://marad.dot.gov.

There is no written examination for a Radio Officer license, but you must present a current First or Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator License issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Enter the following information on the application (Form CG-719b): the number, class, and date of issuance of your FCC license.
Click here to view the Radiotelegraph Operator Checklist .

You may document required service in various forms, including original certificates of discharge and official documents from marine companies on original company letterhead signed by authorized officials. Your original proof of service MUST INCLUDE the following information about the amount and nature of your experience:

1. Name and documentation/official number of each vessel on which the service was obtained (if sea service is required).
2. Number of days underway on each vessel including the dates the service was obtained (if sea service is required).
3. Average number of hours worked per day (if sea service is required).
4. A brief description of duties or work performed (if sea service is required).

Military or foreign sea service is creditable towards eligibility for a COR as Staff Officer. Such service is subject to evaluation by the Coast Guard to determine that it is a fair and reasonable equivalent to service acquired on merchant vessels of the United States, with respect to grade, tonnage, horsepower, waters, and operating conditions.

Satisfactory evidence of U.S. military service means a Transcript of Military Sea Service or certified History of Assignments (a DD-214 is not sufficient evidence of sea service).
If you do not already have proof of military sea service, you must Request your Military Records (official Transcript of Military Sea Service).

National Archives Website

• Military Personnel Records
• Military Service Record Request (DD Form 214 & SF-180)

US Coast Guard Websites

• Transcripts of Sea Service (TOSS)

Please make sure you include your Military Sea Service documentation in your application to avoid in delaying your request for a credential.

Satisfactory evidence of foreign sea service must meet the requirements for proof of qualifying service as noted in the How do I document my qualifying experience for Staff Officer? section above. If the documentation is not in English, then a certified translation should be included.