Category: Announcements

3rd Mate Oceans Exam report

Posted on by LAPWARE Admin

Recently received feedback from a mariner sitting for the 3rd Mate’s Unlimited Oceans exam. Filtering out personally identifiable info, here it is:

T-NAV Pretty standard exam that is relatively similar to the NMC sample exam. Things that stood out. 

1. Amplitude of venus

2. An ETA that’s 1 hour off, I reworked the question several times and I kept getting 1757 the         answer is 1857.

RR- pretty much the same old RR test, saw several new questions.

1. A 60 meter fishing vessel trawling shows how many masthead light/lights.

    The answer is 1 masthead light all though they have 2 listed as a choice as well

Deck Gen  They should just change the name to liquid cargo exam.

Nav Gen Nothing like the NMC 3rd mate sample exam, the test I received is very similar to the NMC sample exam 203 chief mate/master OSV.

1. I had never seen a ZOC chart, I’m used to the normal ZOC questions with the little stars but I had never seen the chart.

2. Beito Island chartlet is also on the exam, I believe that question stems from Q402 100 GRT Rivers.

3. special case bearing problems which i’m not used to seeing on nav gen

Chart Plot  I think that’s on me I am not used to plotting questions that have 3 different leeways within the same question. They certainly managed to find a way to make long island incredibly complicated.

Deck Safety All CFR questions with a handful of gimme questions. They make it really easy to die in the CFR rabbit hole. 

Observation, a lot of the questions I received looked like they took the old questions copied and pasted them to Chat GBT and asked the app to reword the question.

C-NAV Pretty similar to the NMC , My recommendation is to study the hardest versions of those questions.

NMC is returning to work (or Lapse in Appropriations Update #3)

Posted on by LAPWARE Admin

It appears that the NMC has returned to work despite the ongoing DHS shutdown. What that means:

  • NMC is evaluating applications on a first come, first serve basis using the Application Submission Portal (ASAP).
  • The REC will contact mariners with appointments between Feb 17 and April 18 to reschedule their exams.
  • Approval to Test Letters that expire between Feb and May 2026 are extended through Aug 2026 — with no updates showing extensions.
  • In-process examinations: If you didn’t complete all modules, you may restart testing without penalty, but it must be completed within 60 days of the NMC’s reopening.
  • Retesting: The 90-day period was paused as of Feb 13th but will restart on reopening.
  • National Defense credentialing issues: Employers should reach out to the NMC Customer Service Center.

You can find the NMC’s Announcement here:

NMC Operations during the Government Shutdown

Posted on by LAPWARE Admin

COAST GUARD UPDATE ON NMC EFFORTS TO MITIGATE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

The National Maritime Center and all regional examination centers remain closed. 

Customer walk-in service at the RECs is suspended. Examinations and other REC appointments are cancelled. 

To mitigate the impact of the government shutdown, NMC says that it has implemented the following measures:

— email submission of applications and supporting documentation remains active and processing will resume once appropriations are restored;

— additional information letters sent to mariners, training providers, designated examiners, and qualified assessors that expire on or after Oct. 1, 2025, will be extended from the date funding is restored for a period equal to the duration of the shutdown;

— approval to test letters, drug test letters, and mariner training course certificates that expire on or after Oct. 1 will be extended from the date funding is restored for a period equal to the duration of the shutdown.

Mariner Examinations

Mariners who began but did not complete all modules of an examination prior to Oct. 1 may resume testing without penalty once the NMC reopens. 

Testing should be completed within 60 days of reopening. Contact the NMC regarding waivers due to sea service.

Ninety-day retest periods are paused beginning on Oct. 1 and will restart upon reopening. Contact the NMC regarding waivers due to sea service.

For updates on NMC and REC operating status, the agency asks that you monitor the NMC website. 

For questions, contact the Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, by emailing , or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

LAPWARE remains online to support the training needs of mariners, shutdown or not.

LAPWARE First: 2025 NMC Exam Modules are here

Posted on by LAPWARE Admin

LAPWARE has the 2025 sample NMC Exam Modules on our site. Subscribers can download them and the 2024 sample exams after logging in from the Student Resources pages.

LAPWARE recommends that each subscriber review each sample for the tests they’ll take for the latest information. LAPWARE will be integrating this new information into our proprietary software as soon as possible, but this provides new insights on what the USCG is expecting.

It’s another example of LAPWARE being the premier provider of mariner credentials preparation material and building on over 20 years of excellence.