46 CFR 12.627: Qualifying for STCW Security Awareness endorsement

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the requirements for an STCW endorsement for Security Awareness. An applicant must show evidence of meeting 33 CFR 104.225, meet physical examination requirements, and meet safety and suitability requirements. It also describes alternate ways to apply until March 24, 2014.

Applies toApplicants for an endorsement for Security Awareness.

What it says

  1. An applicant must provide satisfactory documentary evidence, such as a company official's certificate or letter or a course completion certificate, that the applicant meets 33 CFR 104.225.

    46 CFR 12.627(a)(1)“Provide satisfactory documentary evidence, such as a certificate or letter signed by a company official, or a certificate of completion from a Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved course, of meeting the requirements in 33 CFR 104.225;”

  2. An applicant must meet the physical examination requirements in 46 CFR, part 10, subpart C.

    46 CFR 12.627(a)(2)“Meet the physical examination requirements in 46 CFR, part 10, subpart C; and”

  3. An applicant must meet the safety and suitability requirements and the National Driver Registry review requirements in § 10.209(e) of this subchapter, unless the applicant met them within the previous 5 years in connection with another endorsement.

    46 CFR 12.627(a)(3)“Meet the safety and suitability requirements and the National Driver Registry review requirements in § 10.209(e) of this subchapter, unless the applicant has met these requirements within the previous 5 years in connection with another endorsement.”

  4. Until March 24, 2014, a seafarer could apply by having at least 6 months in total of approved seagoing service during the preceding 3 years.

    46 CFR 12.627(b)(1)“Having performed approved seagoing service for a period of at least 6 months in total during the preceding 3 years;”

  5. Until March 24, 2014, a seafarer could apply by successfully completing Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved training.

    46 CFR 12.627(b)(3)“Successfully completing Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved training.”

Common questions

What evidence do I need for a Security Awareness endorsement?

You must provide satisfactory documentary evidence that you meet 33 CFR 104.225. This can be a company official's certificate or letter, or a course completion certificate.

“Provide satisfactory documentary evidence, such as a certificate or letter signed by a company official, or a certificate of completion from a Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved course, of meeting the requirements in 33 CFR 104.225;”

Do I need a physical exam for a Security Awareness endorsement?

Yes. An applicant must meet the physical examination requirements in 46 CFR, part 10, subpart C.

“Meet the physical examination requirements in 46 CFR, part 10, subpart C; and”

Do I have to repeat the suitability review if I recently had one?

Not if you met those requirements within the previous 5 years in connection with another endorsement.

“unless the applicant has met these requirements within the previous 5 years in connection with another endorsement.”

The text of 46 CFR 12.627

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

Requirements to qualify for an STCW endorsement for Security Awareness

(a) An applicant for an endorsement for Security Awareness must—

(1) Provide satisfactory documentary evidence, such as a certificate or letter signed by a company official, or a certificate of completion from a Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved course, of meeting the requirements in 33 CFR 104.225;

(2) Meet the physical examination requirements in 46 CFR, part 10, subpart C; and

(3) Meet the safety and suitability requirements and the National Driver Registry review requirements in § 10.209(e) of this subchapter, unless the applicant has met these requirements within the previous 5 years in connection with another endorsement.

(b) Until March 24, 2014, seafarers will be able to apply for an endorsement in Security Awareness by—

(1) Having performed approved seagoing service for a period of at least 6 months in total during the preceding 3 years;

(2) Having performed security functions considered to be equivalent to the seagoing service required in paragraph (b)(1) of this section; or

(3) Successfully completing Coast Guard-accepted or Coast Guard-approved training.

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 April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.