46 CFR 12.501: General requirements for Qualified Member of Engine Department

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section defines a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) and lists the QMED ratings. It also sets the requirements an applicant must meet to qualify for any QMED endorsement, including age, medical, drug test, sea service, examination and English language requirements.

Applies toPersons who hold or apply for an endorsement as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED).

What it says

  1. A QMED is any person below officer and above the rating of Coal Passer or Wiper who holds an MMC or MMD endorsed as QMED by the Coast Guard.

    46 CFR 12.501(a)“A Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) is any person below officer and above the rating of Coal Passer or Wiper, who holds an MMC or MMD endorsed as QMED by the Coast Guard.”

  2. Each QMED rating must be endorsed separately, unless the applicant qualifies for all QMED ratings, in which case the endorsement will read "QMED—any rating."

    46 CFR 12.501(b)(1)“Each QMED rating must be endorsed separately, unless the applicant qualifies for all QMED ratings, in which case the endorsement will read “QMED—any rating.””

  3. A mariner who holds an endorsement for Deck Engineer, Deck/Engine Mechanic, or Engineman, or an individual endorsement for Refrigerating Engineer, Machinist, Electrician, or Pump Technician, may continue to renew it as long as the mariner is otherwise qualified.

    46 CFR 12.501(b)(2)“However, a mariner who holds any of these endorsements may continue to renew them as long as they are otherwise qualified.”

  4. A holder of a Pump Technician only or Machinist only endorsement who seeks the combined Pump Technician/Machinist endorsement must pass the examination described in table 1 to § 12.505(c).

    46 CFR 12.501(b)(3)“the mariner must pass the examination described in table 1 to § 12.505(c).”

  5. An applicant must provide evidence of having passed a chemical test for dangerous drugs or of having qualified for an exemption from testing, as described in § 16.220 of this subchapter.

    46 CFR 12.501(c)(3)“Provide evidence of having passed a chemical test for dangerous drugs or of having qualified for an exemption from testing, as described in § 16.220 of this subchapter;”

  6. An applicant must speak and understand English as would be required in performing the general duties of QMED and during an emergency aboard ship.

    46 CFR 12.501(c)(6)“Speak and understand the English language as would be required in performing the general duties of QMED and during an emergency aboard ship.”

Common questions

How old must I be to get a QMED endorsement?

An applicant for any QMED endorsement must be at least 18 years of age.

“Be at least 18 years of age;”

Can I still renew an Engineman endorsement?

Yes, if you are otherwise qualified. The Coast Guard no longer issues original Engineman endorsements, but holders may continue to renew them.

“However, a mariner who holds any of these endorsements may continue to renew them as long as they are otherwise qualified.”

What does a QMED endorsement say if I qualify for all ratings?

If the applicant qualifies for all QMED ratings, the endorsement will read "QMED—any rating."

“unless the applicant qualifies for all QMED ratings, in which case the endorsement will read “QMED—any rating.””

The text of 46 CFR 12.501

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

General requirements for a Qualified Member of the Engine Department

(a) General. A Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) is any person below officer and above the rating of Coal Passer or Wiper, who holds an MMC or MMD endorsed as QMED by the Coast Guard.

(b) Categories. (1) Each QMED rating must be endorsed separately, unless the applicant qualifies for all QMED ratings, in which case the endorsement will read “QMED—any rating.” The ratings are—

(i) Boiler Technician/Watertender;

(ii) Oiler;

(iii) Junior Engineer;

(iv) Electrician/Refrigerating Engineer; and

(v) Pump Technician/Machinist.

(2) The Coast Guard will no longer issue original endorsements for Deck Engineer, Deck/Engine Mechanic, or Engineman, or individual endorsements for Refrigerating Engineer, Machinist, Electrician, and Pump Technician. However, a mariner who holds any of these endorsements may continue to renew them as long as they are otherwise qualified.

(3) If the holder of an endorsement as Pump Technician only or Machinist only seeks the combined endorsement of Pump Technician/Machinist, the mariner must pass the examination described in table 1 to § 12.505(c).

(4) If the holder of an endorsement as Electrician only or Refrigerating Engineer only seeks the combined endorsement of Electrician/Refrigerating Engineer, the mariner must pass the examination described in table 1 to § 12.505(c).

(c) Requirements for certification. To qualify for any endorsement as QMED, an applicant must—

(1) Be at least 18 years of age;

(2) Pass the prescribed physical and medical examination requirements specified in 46 CFR Part 10, subpart C;

(3) Provide evidence of having passed a chemical test for dangerous drugs or of having qualified for an exemption from testing, as described in § 16.220 of this subchapter;

(4) Meet the sea service or training requirements in § 12.503 of this subpart;

(5) Pass an examination as QMED; and

(6) Speak and understand the English language as would be required in performing the general duties of QMED and during an emergency aboard ship.

Sections it refers to

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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.