USCG Medical Certificate (CG-719K) — What to Expect

Form CG-719K is the merchant-mariner medical certificate — a physical exam by a licensed medical practitioner that the USCG requires for every credential issuance and renewal.

TL;DR

CG-719K: physical exam, vision (20/40 best correction in each eye, full colour), hearing, blood pressure, neuro screening. Valid 24 months at issuance. Can be signed by an MD, DO, NP, or PA.

What's on the exam

Vision: 20/40 in each eye with corrective lenses, normal colour vision (Ishihara plates). Hearing: ability to hear conversational speech at 5 ft. Blood pressure: usually 160/100 ceiling. Neuro / cardiac / respiratory screen. Medication review.

Who can sign

MD, DO, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant. The provider does NOT need to be USCG-affiliated, but they must have a current US license to practise.

Common flags

Diabetes (insulin-dependent vs not), seizure history, sleep apnea, cardiovascular events, controlled substances. Most flagged conditions can still be cleared with documentation — it just takes longer at the NMC review stage.

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