46 CFR 12.711: Apprentice Mate rating endorsement

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers the Apprentice Mate rating endorsement on the MMC. A person enrolled in a Coast Guard-approved Mate training program who shows evidence of enrollment may be issued it. The endorsement does not let the holder replace any of the regular required crew.

Applies toPersons enrolled in a Mate 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 Mate training program who provides a letter or other documentary evidence of enrollment may be issued an MMC rating endorsement as Apprentice Mate.

    46 CFR 12.711(a)“A person enrolled in a Mate 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 rating endorsement as Apprentice Mate”

  2. A person with the Apprentice Mate endorsement may be signed on a vessel in this capacity.

    46 CFR 12.711(a)“and may be signed on a vessel in this capacity.”

  3. The Apprentice Mate rating endorsement may be held in addition to other endorsements.

    46 CFR 12.711(a)“The rating endorsement as Apprentice Mate may be in addition to other endorsements;”

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

    46 CFR 12.711(a)“this endorsement does not authorize the holder to replace any of the regular required crew.”

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

    46 CFR 12.711(b)“Persons holding the endorsement as Apprentice Mate are deemed to be seafarers.”

Common questions

Who can get an Apprentice Mate endorsement?

A person enrolled in a Mate training program approved by the Coast Guard may be issued the endorsement. The person must provide a letter or other documentary evidence of enrollment.

“A person enrolled in a Mate 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 rating endorsement as Apprentice Mate”

Can an Apprentice Mate 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 Mate considered a seafarer?

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

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

The text of 46 CFR 12.711

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

Apprentice Mate

(a) A person enrolled in a Mate 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 rating endorsement as Apprentice Mate and may be signed on a vessel in this capacity. The rating endorsement as Apprentice Mate 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 Mate 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.