Funding for the Federal Government has been restored, and the National Maritime Center
(NMC) and Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are in the process of resuming services to
mariners. Full resumption of services at the RECs will be phased in to allow prioritization of
our most critical services and to accommodate mariners most impacted by the furlough.
E-mail submission of applications and supporting documentation remains active. Walk-in and
scheduled counter service at the RECs will remain suspended through November 21, 2025, to
allow REC employees to prioritize the backlog in screening applications and scheduling
mariner examinations.
To prioritize mariners whose examinations were canceled during the furlough, the RECs will
focus on rescheduling these examinations during the first 5 business days. The earliest
available date for these mariners to start testing at most RECs will be November 18, 2025.
Mariners whose examinations were canceled during the furlough will be contacted by the REC
to re-schedule new examination dates.
Starting November 24, 2025, RECs are expected to return to routine operations, including
availability to schedule exams for all mariners. Because of existing staffing shortages, some
RECs may continue to have limited services.
For updates on NMC and REC operating statuses, please monitor the NMC website. For
questions, contact our Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, by e-mailing