46 CFR 11.502: General requirements for national engineer endorsements

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets general requirements for national engineer endorsements. Applicants for original or raise of grade endorsements must have part of their service on the propulsion mode they seek. Officers may add a propulsion mode through service or an approved course.

Applies toApplicants for original and raise of grade engineer endorsements, and applicants who hold an MMC officer endorsement in that grade and want to add a propulsion mode.

What it says

  1. For all original and raise of grade engineer endorsements, at least one-third of the minimum service requirements must have been obtained on the particular mode of propulsion for which the applicant seeks endorsement.

    46 CFR 11.502(a)“at least one-third of the minimum service requirements must have been obtained on the particular mode of propulsion for which the applicant seeks endorsement”

  2. An applicant who holds an MMC officer endorsement in that grade and wants to add a propulsion mode (steam, motor, or gas turbine) may use the alternatives listed in paragraph (b).

    46 CFR 11.502(b)“If an applicant desires to add a propulsion mode (steam, motor, or gas turbine) to their endorsement while holding an MMC officer endorsement in that grade”

  3. One alternative is four months of service as an observer on vessels of the new propulsion mode.

    46 CFR 11.502(b)(1)“Four months of service as an observer on vessels of the new propulsion mode.”

  4. Another alternative is four months of service as an engineer officer at the operational level on vessels of the new propulsion mode.

    46 CFR 11.502(b)(2)“Four months of service as an engineer officer at the operational level on vessels of the new propulsion mode.”

  5. Another alternative is six months of service as Oiler, Boiler Technician/Watertender, or Junior Engineer on vessels of the new propulsion mode.

    46 CFR 11.502(b)(3)“Six months of service as Oiler, Boiler Technician/Watertender, or Junior Engineer on vessels of the new propulsion mode.”

  6. Another alternative is completing a Coast Guard-approved training course for this endorsement.

    46 CFR 11.502(b)(4)“Completion of a Coast Guard-approved training course for this endorsement.”

Common questions

How much service must be on the propulsion mode for an engineer endorsement?

For all original and raise of grade engineer endorsements, at least one-third of the minimum service requirements must be on the propulsion mode the applicant seeks.

“at least one-third of the minimum service requirements must have been obtained on the particular mode of propulsion for which the applicant seeks endorsement”

How can an engineer add a propulsion mode to an endorsement?

An applicant holding an MMC officer endorsement in that grade may use one of four alternatives, such as four months as an observer on vessels of the new mode or a Coast Guard-approved training course.

“If an applicant desires to add a propulsion mode (steam, motor, or gas turbine) to their endorsement while holding an MMC officer endorsement in that grade”

How much Oiler or Junior Engineer service counts toward adding a propulsion mode?

Six months of service as Oiler, Boiler Technician/Watertender, or Junior Engineer on vessels of the new propulsion mode is an acceptable alternative.

“Six months of service as Oiler, Boiler Technician/Watertender, or Junior Engineer on vessels of the new propulsion mode.”

The text of 46 CFR 11.502

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

General requirements for national engineer endorsements

(a) For all original and raise of grade of engineer endorsements, at least one-third of the minimum service requirements must have been obtained on the particular mode of propulsion for which the applicant seeks endorsement.

(b) If an applicant desires to add a propulsion mode (steam, motor, or gas turbine) to their endorsement while holding an MMC officer endorsement in that grade, the following alternatives are acceptable:

(1) Four months of service as an observer on vessels of the new propulsion mode.

(2) Four months of service as an engineer officer at the operational level on vessels of the new propulsion mode.

(3) Six months of service as Oiler, Boiler Technician/Watertender, or Junior Engineer on vessels of the new propulsion mode.

(4) Completion of a Coast Guard-approved training course for this endorsement.

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.