46 CFR 12.201: General requirements for national and STCW rating endorsements

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets general rules for national and STCW rating endorsements on an MMC. Deck and engineer officers are endorsed for entry-level ratings, and staff department work involving food handling requires a Food Handler's endorsement. Physical and medical requirements are found in 46 CFR part 10, subpart C.

What it says

  1. An MMC issued to a deck or engineer officer will be endorsed for all entry-level ratings and any other ratings for which the officer qualifies under this part.

    46 CFR 12.201(a)(1)“An MMC issued to a deck or engineer officer will be endorsed for all entry-level ratings and any other ratings for which they qualify under this part.”

  2. An applicant for any STCW endorsement must hold the appropriate national endorsement, unless otherwise specified.

    46 CFR 12.201(a)(1)“An applicant for any STCW endorsement must hold the appropriate national endorsement, unless otherwise specified.”

  3. The authorized holder of any valid rating endorsement may serve in any capacity in the staff department of a vessel, except in capacities requiring a staff officer.

    46 CFR 12.201(a)(2)“The authorized holder of any valid rating endorsement may serve in any capacity in the staff department of a vessel, except in those capacities requiring a staff officer;”

  4. When the service includes handling food, no person may be employed unless their credential bears the Food Handler's endorsement, shown by the notation "(F.H.)".

    46 CFR 12.201(a)(2)“whenever the service includes the handling of food, no person may be so employed unless their credential bears the Food Handler's endorsement indicated by the notation “(F.H.)”.”

  5. The Coast Guard will issue the appropriate endorsement when an applicant meets the requirements for certification set forth in this part.

    46 CFR 12.201(a)(3)“When an applicant meets the requirements for certification set forth in this part, the Coast Guard will issue the appropriate endorsement.”

  6. The physical and medical requirements for the endorsements in this subpart are found in 46 CFR part 10, subpart C.

    46 CFR 12.201(b)“The physical and medical requirements applicable to the endorsements in this subpart are found in 46 CFR part 10, subpart C.”

Common questions

Do I need a Food Handler's endorsement to work in the staff department?

Yes, if the service includes handling food. No person may be so employed unless their credential bears the Food Handler's endorsement, shown as "(F.H.)".

“no person may be so employed unless their credential bears the Food Handler's endorsement indicated by the notation “(F.H.)”.”

Do I need a national endorsement before getting an STCW endorsement?

Yes, an applicant for any STCW endorsement must hold the appropriate national endorsement, unless otherwise specified.

“An applicant for any STCW endorsement must hold the appropriate national endorsement, unless otherwise specified.”

Where are the medical requirements for rating endorsements?

They are found in 46 CFR part 10, subpart C.

“The physical and medical requirements applicable to the endorsements in this subpart are found in 46 CFR part 10, subpart C.”

The text of 46 CFR 12.201

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

General requirements for national and STCW rating endorsements

(a) General. (1) An MMC issued to a deck or engineer officer will be endorsed for all entry-level ratings and any other ratings for which they qualify under this part. An applicant for any STCW endorsement must hold the appropriate national endorsement, unless otherwise specified.

(2) The authorized holder of any valid rating endorsement may serve in any capacity in the staff department of a vessel, except in those capacities requiring a staff officer; except that whenever the service includes the handling of food, no person may be so employed unless their credential bears the Food Handler's endorsement indicated by the notation “(F.H.)”.

(3) When an applicant meets the requirements for certification set forth in this part, the Coast Guard will issue the appropriate endorsement.

(b) Physical and medical requirements. The physical and medical requirements applicable to the endorsements in this subpart are found in 46 CFR part 10, subpart C.

Sections it refers to

  • 46 CFR part 10, subpart C

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.