REC – LAPWARE.org

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

, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

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.

Tag: REC

Resumption of Services at Regional Examination Centers

NMC Operations during the Government Shutdown