46 CFR 12.709: Apprentice Engineer endorsement on the MMC

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers the Apprentice Engineer endorsement on a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC). People enrolled in a Coast Guard-approved engineer training program may receive it and sign on ships as apprentice engineers. The holder may not replace any of the regular required crew.

Applies toPersons enrolled in an engineer training program approved by the Coast Guard who provide a letter or other documentary evidence of enrollment.

What it says

  1. A person enrolled in a Coast Guard-approved engineer training program who provides a letter or other documentary evidence of enrollment may be issued an MMC endorsed as Apprentice Engineer.

    46 CFR 12.709(a)“Persons enrolled in an engineer training program approved by the Coast Guard, and who provides a letter or other documentary evidence that they are enrolled, may be issued an MMC endorsed as Apprentice Engineer”

  2. A person with the Apprentice Engineer endorsement may be signed on ships as an Apprentice Engineer.

    46 CFR 12.709(a)“and may be signed on ships as such.”

  3. The Apprentice Engineer endorsement may be in addition to other endorsements.

    46 CFR 12.709(a)“The endorsement as Apprentice Engineer may be in addition to other endorsements;”

  4. The Apprentice Engineer endorsement does not authorize the holder to replace any of the regular required crew.

    46 CFR 12.709(a)“this endorsement does not authorize the holder to replace any of the regular required crew.”

  5. Persons holding the Apprentice Engineer endorsement are deemed to be seafarers.

    46 CFR 12.709(b)“Persons holding the endorsement as Apprentice Engineer are deemed to be seafarers.”

Common questions

Who can get an Apprentice Engineer endorsement on an MMC?

A person enrolled in a Coast Guard-approved engineer training program who provides a letter or other documentary evidence of enrollment may be issued the endorsement.

“Persons enrolled in an engineer training program approved by the Coast Guard, and who provides a letter or other documentary evidence that they are enrolled, may be issued an MMC endorsed as Apprentice Engineer”

Can an apprentice engineer fill a required crew position?

No. The endorsement does not authorize the holder to replace any of the regular required crew.

“this endorsement does not authorize the holder to replace any of the regular required crew.”

Is an apprentice engineer considered a seafarer?

Yes. Persons holding the Apprentice Engineer endorsement are deemed to be seafarers.

“Persons holding the endorsement as Apprentice Engineer are deemed to be seafarers.”

The text of 46 CFR 12.709

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

Apprentice Engineers

(a) Persons enrolled in an engineer training program approved by the Coast Guard, and who provides a letter or other documentary evidence that they are enrolled, may be issued an MMC endorsed as Apprentice Engineer and may be signed on ships as such. The endorsement as Apprentice Engineer may be in addition to other endorsements; however, this endorsement does not authorize the holder to replace any of the regular required crew.

(b) Persons holding the endorsement as Apprentice Engineer are deemed to be seafarers.

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.