46 CFR 10.303: Medical waivers, limitations, and restrictions
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers medical waivers for applicants who do not meet medical standards. The Coast Guard may grant a waiver when extenuating circumstances warrant special consideration, and it keeps final authority. It may also attach conditions, operational limitations, or restrictions.
Applies toApplicants who do not possess the vision, hearing, or general physical condition necessary and whose extenuating circumstances warrant special consideration.
What it says
The Coast Guard may grant a waiver if an applicant lacks the necessary vision, hearing, or general physical condition and extenuating circumstances warrant special consideration.
46 CFR 10.303(a)“an applicant does not possess the vision, hearing, or general physical condition necessary; and extenuating circumstances warrant special consideration”
An applicant may submit additional correspondence, records, and reports to the Coast Guard in support of a waiver.
46 CFR 10.303(a)“An applicant may submit to the Coast Guard additional correspondence, records, and reports in support of a waiver.”
The Coast Guard will give full consideration to recommendations made on behalf of their employees by Federal Government agencies operating government vessels and by owners and operators of private vessels.
46 CFR 10.303(a)“recommendations from agencies of the Federal Government operating government vessels, as well as owners and operators of private vessels, made on behalf of their employees, will be given full consideration.”
In general, the Coast Guard approves waivers when an applicant does not meet the medical standards, but objective medical evidence shows the condition is sufficiently controlled and medication effects pose no significant risk to maritime and public safety.
46 CFR 10.303(b)“objective medical evidence indicates that the condition is sufficiently controlled and the effects of medication pose no significant risk to maritime and public safety”
The Coast Guard retains final authority for issuing medical waivers.
46 CFR 10.303(b)“The Coast Guard retains final authority for the issuance of medical waivers.”
The Coast Guard may grant a waiver with specific conditions that the applicant must adhere to.
46 CFR 10.303(c)“Medical waivers may be granted with specific conditions to which the applicant must adhere”
The Coast Guard may place an operational limitation on medical and physical conditions, and any such limitation will be reflected in the medical certificate.
46 CFR 10.303(d)“Any operational limitations will be reflected in the medical certificate.”
Any restriction the Coast Guard places on a medical certificate will be reflected on the certificate and may include restriction of route or trade.
46 CFR 10.303(e)“Any restriction will be reflected on the medical certificate and may include restriction of route or trade.”
Common questions
When can the Coast Guard grant a medical waiver?
The Coast Guard may grant a waiver if an applicant lacks the necessary vision, hearing, or general physical condition and extenuating circumstances warrant special consideration. It decides after reviewing all relevant supporting medical documents and consulting the examining physician, as needed.
“an applicant does not possess the vision, hearing, or general physical condition necessary; and extenuating circumstances warrant special consideration”
Can a medical waiver come with conditions?
Yes. Waivers may be granted with specific conditions the applicant must adhere to, such as more frequent monitoring, exams or tests at varying intervals, or operational limitations.
“Medical waivers may be granted with specific conditions to which the applicant must adhere”
Where do operational limitations appear?
Any operational limitations will be reflected in the medical certificate.
“Any operational limitations will be reflected in the medical certificate.”
Can a medical certificate be restricted by route or trade?
Yes. The Coast Guard may place a restriction on a medical certificate, and it may include restriction of route or trade.
“Any restriction will be reflected on the medical certificate and may include restriction of route or trade.”
The text of 46 CFR 10.303
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Medical waivers, limitations, and restrictions
(a) The Coast Guard may grant a waiver if, after review of all relevant supporting medical documents and consultation with the examining physician, as needed, an applicant does not possess the vision, hearing, or general physical condition necessary; and extenuating circumstances warrant special consideration. An applicant may submit to the Coast Guard additional correspondence, records, and reports in support of a waiver. In this regard, recommendations from agencies of the Federal Government operating government vessels, as well as owners and operators of private vessels, made on behalf of their employees, will be given full consideration.
(b) In general, medical waivers are approved when an applicant does not meet the applicable medical standards, but objective medical evidence indicates that the condition is sufficiently controlled and the effects of medication pose no significant risk to maritime and public safety. The Coast Guard retains final authority for the issuance of medical waivers.
(c) Medical waivers may be granted with specific conditions to which the applicant must adhere, such as more frequent monitoring of the medical conditions, submission of medical exams and/or tests at varying intervals to track the ongoing status of the medical condition, or operational limitations in the manner the mariner may serve under the MMC.
(d) The Coast Guard may place an operational limitation on medical and physical conditions. Any operational limitations will be reflected in the medical certificate.
(e) The Coast Guard may place a restriction on a medical certificate based upon medical and physical conditions of an applicant. Any restriction will be reflected on the medical certificate and may include restriction of route or trade.
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.