Before you can test at the NMC, you need a USCG physical (CG-719K), a chemical drug test (CG-719P), a TWIC card, and current First Aid/CPR. Here is exactly what each one requires.
The USCG captain license application requires two distinct medical documents: a physical examination on form CG-719K and a chemical drug test documented on form CG-719P. These are not the same thing. You cannot satisfy one with the other. Both must be submitted to the National Maritime Center (NMC) as part of your Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) application.
In addition, most applicants also need a TWIC card (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) and current First Aid and CPR certifications. All four requirements must be satisfied before your application is complete.
CG-719K
Physical exam form
CG-719P
Drug test form
185 days
Drug test validity window
2 years
Physical exam validity
Required for all captain license applicants. Submitted to the NMC with your MMC application.
The CG-719K must be signed by a licensed Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Nurse Practitioner (NP), or Physician Assistant (PA). Your primary care physician qualifies. Urgent care providers and occupational health clinics also commonly perform these exams. Chiropractors, naturopaths, and non-licensed providers cannot sign the form.
Cost: typically $100–$300 depending on provider and location.
Failing the standard Ishihara color vision test does not automatically disqualify you. You have options:
Discuss alternatives with your provider before assuming you are ineligible. Many mariners operate successfully with this notation.
Validity
The CG-719K is valid for 2 years from the date completed, provided the NMC receives your application within that window. If it lapses, you must redo the physical.
A separate requirement from the physical. Must be collected at a certified facility and submitted with your application.
The drug test must be conducted by a SAMHSA-certified laboratory or collected at a DOT-certified collection site. A general physician-ordered test or home kit does not satisfy this requirement.
Quest Diagnostics
Nationwide DOT-certified collection sites. Book online at questdiagnostics.com.
LabCorp
Another major nationwide network. Book online or walk in at many locations.
Occupational Health Clinics
Many urgent care and occupational health centers are DOT-certified. Search the SAMHSA provider locator.
Important: No exceptions for state-legal substances
Federal maritime law governs the CG-719P. State-legal cannabis, medical marijuana cards, and similar authorizations are irrelevant. A positive result is a positive result.
Required for most captain license applications. Apply early — it is the longest step in the process.
The TWIC is a federal biometric identity credential issued by the TSA. It includes a background check and fingerprinting. For captain license applicants, the TWIC serves as your security vetting under 46 CFR Part 10.
Apply at a TSA enrollment center (operated by IDEMIA). You can pre-enroll online at universalenroll.dhs.gov and schedule an appointment for in-person fingerprinting and identity verification.
Processing typically takes 4–8 weeks. Standard fee is approximately $125 (reduced to $105.25 for current merchant mariners). Expedited processing is available for an additional fee.
The TWIC card is valid for 5 years. It must be valid — not pending, not expired — when you submit your NMC application. Apply before you start the rest of your paperwork.
Both certifications must be current when the NMC receives your application.
Cost: typically $50–$100 for a combined First Aid + CPR course. Many fire stations, community centers, and dive shops offer these regularly. The Red Cross website has a course finder at redcross.org.
Order matters. TWIC takes the longest. The drug test has the shortest validity window. Plan accordingly.
Start TWIC application first
TWIC takes 4–8 weeks to process. Apply at a TSA/IDEMIA enrollment center as soon as you decide to pursue your license. Everything else can be done while you wait.
Get your drug test (CG-719P)
Go to a SAMHSA-certified or DOT-certified collection site. Remember: the NMC must receive your completed application within 185 days of the test date. Don't test too early.
Complete the physical exam (CG-719K)
Schedule with any licensed MD, DO, NP, or PA. The form is valid for 2 years, so there is more flexibility here — but don't let it lapse before you submit.
Get First Aid & CPR certified
Any ARC, AHA, or ASHI course counts. CPR must be current within 1 year; First Aid within 2 years. Many community centers offer combined courses for $50–$100.
Submit all documents together to the NMC
Submit the complete package — CG-719K, CG-719P, TWIC, First Aid/CPR card, sea service documentation, and application fee — in one submission to avoid delays.
The 185-day clock starts the moment the sample is collected — not when results come back. If your application sits around, the test can expire before the NMC receives it. Coordinate your drug test timing carefully.
The CG-719K must be signed by a licensed MD, DO, NP, or PA. A chiropractor, naturopath, or any non-licensed provider cannot sign the form. The NMC will reject an improperly certified physical.
A general physician-ordered drug test or a home test kit does not satisfy the CG-719P requirement. The collection must occur at a SAMHSA-certified laboratory or a DOT-certified collection facility.
You must have a valid, activated TWIC card — not just a pending application. Apply early. If TWIC processing runs long, it becomes the bottleneck on your entire license application.
If you fail the standard Ishihara color vision test, you are not automatically disqualified. You may qualify for a license with a "not by colors alone" notation, which restricts how you may use navigational lights. Discuss alternatives with your provider before assuming you are ineligible.
The USCG requires a physical exam documented on form CG-719K, completed by a licensed physician (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Nurse Practitioner (NP), or Physician Assistant (PA). The exam covers vision (including color vision), hearing, cardiovascular health, and general medical fitness. The completed CG-719K is valid for two years when submitted with your National Maritime Center (NMC) application.
You must have a negative result on a urine drug test (5-panel or 10-panel) collected at a SAMHSA-certified laboratory or DOT-certified collection site. The test result cannot be more than 185 days old when the NMC receives your application. Collection sites include Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, and many occupational health clinics. The test is documented on form CG-719P. There are no exceptions for state-legal substances — a positive result will disqualify your application.
The CG-719K physical examination is valid for two years from the date it was completed, provided it is submitted to the NMC within that period. The chemical drug test (CG-719P) has a shorter window — the NMC must receive your application within 185 days of the test date. Plan accordingly: if you let either expire, you must redo the exam or test before submitting.
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