How to Become a Seafarer in the USA: A Practical Guide

Eve Church
09 Oct, 2025
08 Mins read

A bulk carrier at sea flying the Stars and Stripes flag

If you’re starting to plan for a seafaring career and you’re from the U.S., the good news is, you’ve got multiple, well - defined pathways that lead to nationally and internationally recognized credentials.

In Martide’s latest guide on how to be a seafarer, we explain the U.S. - specific education, training, documents, and licenses you’ll typically need to work on commercial vessels. That’s whether you have your sights set on ocean going tankers, cruise ships in the Caribbean, or inland cargo ships on the Great Lakes.

What routes to a maritime career are available to U.S seafarers?

Most budding seafarers in the USA start by pursuing one of three technical tracks:

Deck (Navigation): Bridge watchkeeping, passage planning, COLREGs, ECDIS/radar/ARPA, cargo ops, mooring, safety and environmental compliance.

Engine (Marine Engineering): Propulsion and power generation, fuel/lube systems, maintenance diagnostics, HVAC/refrigeration, pollution prevention, planned maintenance.

Electro - Technical (ETO): Electrical distribution, high-voltage safety, automation/PLC, sensors/alarms, navigation/communications electronics.

Options include starting your maritime career as a rating (hands - on crew members such as Motormen or Deckhands) and climbing the ranks later, or by pursuing a maritime officer route from the get-go.

a diverse group of people working in deck crew jobs chatting on deck

What should budding seafarers study in high school/college in the United States?

Math & Physics: You’ll need the foundations for learning about stability, navigation, thermodynamics, and operating and maintaining machinery.

English/Communication: Clear written and spoken English and Maritime English is a must for updating logbooks, permits, and handovers.

IT/Digital skills: Modern ships run on various types of software such as ECDIS, PMS (Planned Maintenance System), and e-logs.

Helpful add-ons: If they’re your jam, consider adding in technical drawing/CAD, basic electronics, shop classes, and meteorology/geography.

In particular, getting good grades in math and science will help with officer-track admissions and USCG (United States Coast Guard) exams.

U.S. entry routes to a maritime career at a glance

1) Officer cadet route via a maritime academy

The U.S. has federally and state - supported academies offering approved programs that lead directly to USCG officer licenses and STCW endorsements (with sea terms embedded):

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA, Kings Point)

State academies: Maine, Massachusetts (MMA), SUNY Maritime, Great Lakes (GLMA), California (Cal Maritime), Texas A&M Maritime (Galveston)

Cadets complete academic blocks, sea projects/sea phases, STCW short courses, and graduate eligible to sit for OICNW (Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch, “3rd Mate”) or OICEW (Engineer, “3rd Assistant Engineer”) and related national endorsements.

2) “Hawsepipe” route (earn & upgrade)

Start as a rating, build sea time, complete approved courses and assessments, and progressively qualify for higher endorsements. This path suits those who prefer paid, hands-on learning and are disciplined with study and documentation.

a man using his laptop and text books to study while surrounded by nautical posters

3) Union apprenticeship and company pipelines

Maritime unions and employers in the United States shipping industry run strong entry programs:

SIU Paul Hall Center (Piney Point, MD) for ratings (deck/engine/steward) with upgrade paths, such as Able Bodied Seaman or a QMED - a Qualified Member of the Engine Department.

MEBA Calhoon Engineering School and AMO STAR Center for licensed engineer and deck upgrades.

SUP/IBU/AMO/MEBA/SIU and others place mariners on Jones Act and international runs.

Military Sealift Command (MSC) hires CIVMARs across ratings and officer roles and offers training/upgrade tracks.

The seafaring documents you’ll need in the U.S.

Before you can be issued credentials or step aboard a ship you’ll need to gather some crucial documents. These include:

TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) from TSA - required for secure facilities and to apply for USCG credentials.

MMC (Merchant Mariner Credential) - your combined “seaman’s book and license” with national and STCW endorsements.

USCG Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate - must meet STCW/MLC medical standards plus those who will be standing watch on deck must meet color-vision rules.

Passport - plus any visas required by your vessel’s routes.

DOT/USCG drug testing program compliance - pre-employment test and enrollment in a random testing program. This is often via a union/company consortium.

Sea-service letters or discharges as you build experience.

Applications use USCG forms (e.g., CG-719B application, CG-719K medical, CG- 719P drug test, CG-719S sea service). Credentials are evaluated/issued by the USCG National Maritime Center (NMC) and exams occur via Regional Exam Centers or approved facilities.

seafaring students on the campus of a maritime college

STCW baseline and short courses for U.S. seafarers

If you’ll be sailing beyond purely inland routes, you’ll need STCW training and endorsements in addition to your national ones. Core early courses include:

Basic Training (BT) - Personal Survival, Fire Prevention/Firefighting, Elementary First Aid, PSSR.

Security - VPDSD (Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties) or SA (Security Awareness).

Lifeboat/Liferaft - PSC/PSCRB (Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats) for most watchstanding roles.

Advanced Firefighting (AFF) and Medical First Aid (and Medical Care Provider for higher licenses).

BRM/ERM (Leadership & Teamworking/Managerial Skills) at operational/management levels per STCW.

ECDIS, Radar Observer/ARPA, and GMDSS (ROC/GOC) for deck officers.

Refreshers/Revalidations: BT, AFF, and PSCRB all require revalidation every five years. The methods of revalidation will differ depending on your recent sea service.

National vs. STCW endorsements - and routes/tonnage

U.S. credentials for seafarer jobs include national endorsements (valid on specified waters/routes) and STCW endorsements (for international service). The key concepts are as follows:

Routes: Inland, Great Lakes, Near Coastal, Oceans.

Tonnage/horsepower: 100/200/500/1600 GRT and Unlimited (deck); horsepower thresholds and DDE/Assistant/Unlimited (engine).

Examples: “Mate 1600 GRT Oceans / OICNW (II/1)”; “3rd Assistant Engineer Unlimited HP / OICEW (III/1).”

a container ship being towed into port by two tugboats

Ratings tiers examples:

AB (Able Seafarer Deck) - Special/Limited/Unlimited levels tied to sea time (e.g., AB Unlimited typically requires 1080 days); Lifeboatman/PSC required.

QMED (Qualified Member of the Engine Department) - various categories, sea time and exam required.

OS/Wiper/Steward - entry points with pre-sea and Basic Training.

Special endorsements:

Tankerman - PIC (DL/LG) - cargo transfer counts plus course for oil/chem or liquefied gas tankers.

TOAR (Towing Officer Assessment Record) plus sea time for Mate (Towing)/Master (Towing).

DP (Dynamic Positioning) - Nautical Institute scheme (common offshore).

Passenger/Crowd & Crisis Management for cruise ship and ferry seafarer jobs.

High-Voltage (engine/ETO).

VSO (Vessel Security Officer) for security leadership roles.

How the marine licensing process typically works in the USA

Qualify academically and medically. Keep your ENG - equivalent USCG Medical Certificate valid.
Accumulate sea time appropriate to the endorsement you’re seeking (academy programs embed required sea service; hawsepipe mariners document it via discharge/letters).
Complete assessments (e.g., STCW task sign - offs, TOAR) and approved courses.
Apply to the NMC with forms, fees, sea - service proofs, course certificates, TWIC, drug test, and medical.
Test (if required) for national endorsements (e.g., 3/M or 3/AE modules) at an REC/approved test site.
Receive MMC with national and STCW endorsements, obtain any flag-state endorsements if sailing under foreign flags.

a container ship flying the flag of South Korea

Top tip: Keep immaculate records - vessel names/IMO, GT/kW, dates, routes, rank/duties etc. Upgrading from lower ranks to better paying seafarer jobs is much easier when you have clean documentation!

How to get your first job on a ship in the U.S.

Apply to unions/training providers such as SIU, SUP, AMO, MEBA, IBU and attend orientations or hiring halls.

MSC (Military Sealift Command) hires CIVMARs across ratings and officers.

Company pipelines - Jones Act tankers, OSVs, tugs, ATBs, and ferries recruit via their HR portals although many require you to have your TWIC/MMC .

Expect screening such as Marlins/CES or company tests with simulator tests for officers, as well as background checks, and pre - employment drug tests.

How long does it take to find a job at sea in the USA?

Rating route: Weeks to a few months for pre-sea plus Basic Training and entry hiring. AB/QMED upgrades will follow with sea time and exams.

Officer via academy: Typically, 3 - 4 years including sea terms, then USCG exams/orals for 3/M or 3/AE plus STCW OIC.

Hawsepipe to OIC: Varies. Plan on approximately 1080 days of sea service for OIC- level pathways (deck/engine) plus assessments and courses, unless you’re undertaking an approved reduced program.

Upgrades to Chief Mate/Master or 2AE/Chief Engineer require additional sea time, management-level courses (leadership/managerial, advanced stability/plant), and further USCG exams.

The other skills U.S. maritime employers value

It’s not just about your ability to chart a course, understand ECDIS or drop an anchor. Good employers in the U.S. maritime and offshore industries also look for skills that show you’re an all-round good person to have onboard one of their vessels. Therefore, soft skills such as the following should be considered:

Safety culture and compliance: Respect the SMS (Safety Management System) permits to work, JSAs (Job Safety Analysis), and drills matter.

Clear communications: Maritime English/SMCP should be used when working on a ship, and precise logs and handovers are vital.

Digital competence: ECDIS updates, PMS, e - NOA/D filings, company portals must all be handled correctly.

Professionalism: Punctuality, working well with a diverse crew, sound judgment, and the ability to remain sober are a must. (Vessels have strict drug and alcohol policies).

Paperwork discipline: Keep your certificates current, and track revalidations and medical/TWIC/MMC expiries.

seafarer documents on a table

A step-by-step checklist for maritime jobs seekers in the U.S.

Pick your stream: Deck, Engine, or ETO.
Choose your entry route: Academy cadet, union apprenticeship, or hawsepipe.
Get a TWIC - start early; you need it to apply for your MMC.
Schedule your USCG medical and obtain a Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate.
Complete STCW Basic Training (and Security) at a USCG - approved provider if you plan to sail STCW routes.
Apply for an MMC (initial rating or officer) with the NMC; include drug test proof and IDs.
Accumulate sea time (cadet phases or as OS/Wiper/Steward) and keep sea-service letters/discharges tidy.
Finish required courses and assessments: ECDIS, Radar, BRM/ERM, PSC, AFF, GMDSS for deck and HV for engine/ETO, plus Tankerman/TOAR if applicable.
Test at an REC (where required) and receive MMC with national and STCW endorsements.
Maintain and update: Revalidate STCW every 5 years, keep medical/TWIC current, and build sea time toward higher licenses.

Becoming a seafarer in the United States: Conclusion

The U.S. maritime career pathway is structured, portable worldwide, and offers multiple on-ramps-academy, union apprenticeship, or hawsepipe routes.

Whichever you choose, your seafarer job success rests on approved training, documented sea time, clean medicals and drug -testing compliance, and disciplined record-keeping.

One word of advice is to set your sights on a type of fleet early on. For instance, do you think you’d prefer to work on tankers or container ships or cruise ships, offshore support vessels, or tugboats?

Solidifying this in your mind will then set you on the right path towards the endorsements you need – i.e. the endorsements you need to work on oil tankers will be different to those that make you stand out when you’re applying for jobs on passenger ships.

a cruise ship flying the Union Jack sailing down the River Thames in London

Good luck and if you’re looking for your next seafarer job, don’t forget to take a look at Martide’s maritime job vacancies!

Disclaimer: The information above is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing and is provided for informational purposes only as a starting guide. U.S. requirements can change and may vary by route, tonnage, company, or flag. We highly recommend checking the latest guidance from the *U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC), TSA (TWIC), your chosen training providers/academies, and your employer or union before making any decisions.*