How to Complete the CG-719K Application for Medical Certificate

Form CG-719K is the Application for Medical Certificate that every U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license applicant completes. A licensed medical practitioner records your exam on it, and the National Maritime Center uses it to confirm you meet the standards in 46 CFR Part 10. Submit it with your credential application.

Most aspiring captains hit one form that makes them nervous: the CG-719K. It’s the medical piece of your application, and a single blank field can send you back to the doctor’s office.

The good news is that it’s straightforward once you know what each section wants. We’ve walked thousands of students through it. Here’s how to complete Form CG-719K right the first time.

What Is Form CG-719K, and Who Needs It?

Form CG-719K, the Application for Medical Certificate, is the document a licensed practitioner uses to confirm you meet the Coast Guard’s medical and physical standards. The National Maritime Center (NMC) issues your medical certificate based on it as part of the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) process. Anyone applying for or renewing a captain’s license needs one.

The certificate proves you can communicate, hear alarms, and perform routine and emergency duties without an impairing condition. It applies to OUPV/Six-Pack and Master applicants alike. The current form runs 10 pages, so read it through before your appointment.

Do I need a CG-719K for an OUPV or Master license?

Yes. Both the OUPV/Six-Pack and the 25/50/100-Ton Master require a medical certificate, and the CG-719K is how you document it. Most of our students complete the exam with their own family doctor rather than a specialist.

CG-719K vs. CG-719K/E: Which Form Do You Use?

Two versions of the form exist, and picking the wrong one is a common cause of delay. The standard CG-719K is what nearly every captain’s license applicant uses. The short-form CG-719K/E covers a narrow group of entry-level and staff-officer mariners. Here’s how they compare.

If you’re pursuing any captain’s license, use the standard CG-719K. The short form exists for food handlers and entry-level roles that don’t stand a navigational watch, the shifts spent actually operating the vessel. That’s a different path than the one most of our students are on.

Which CG-719K version do most captains need?

The standard CG-719K. The short-form CG-719K/E only fits entry-level and staff-officer endorsements that won’t stand a watch. If your goal is an OUPV/Six-Pack or Master license, the full CG-719K is the correct form.

How to Complete and Submit Form CG-719K

Completing the CG-719K is a two-part job: you fill in your information, and a licensed practitioner records the exam. The Coast Guard authorizes a licensed medical doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner to perform the evaluation, as set by federal regulation (46 CFR 10.302(b)). Follow these steps to keep your file moving.

1. Download the current CG-719K from the NMC and complete it in a PDF reader, or print and fill it by hand.
2. Fill in Section I yourself, including your reference number, the ID the Coast Guard assigns to mariners it has credentialed before.
3. Bring all pages to your appointment so the practitioner can complete the medical and physical sections.
4. Attach supporting documentation for any flagged condition, such as a provider letter or recent test result.
5. Sign and date the applicant sections, and have the practitioner sign theirs.

6. Submit the CG-719K to the NMC with your credential application, online through the NMC Application Submission and Additional Information Portal (ASAP).

You can submit your CG-719K alone. If this is your first time dealing with the Coast Guard, you won’t have a reference number yet. Some people even submit the form before they start the rest of the captain’s requirements to make sure they can pass the physical.

Who fills out the CG-719K?

You and a licensed medical practitioner split it. You complete the applicant information and personal history; a licensed medical doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner authorized under 46 CFR 10.302(b) completes the physical exam and signs off on your fitness.

What the Coast Guard Checks on Your CG-719K

The exam confirms four things: vision, hearing, general medical condition, and physical ability. Those standards sit in the federal medical regulations (46 CFR Part 10, Subpart C), with vision spelled out in 46 CFR 10.305. The point isn’t a perfect bill of health; it’s whether you can perform routine and emergency duties safely at sea.

Vision is the most common sticking point. Deck applicants need at least one eye correctable to 20/40, and color vision is assessed by an approved test such as the Farnsworth Lantern Test. Conditions like sleep apnea, diabetes, or a heart history don’t automatically disqualify you, but they do need documentation.

For the full picture of which conditions need paperwork and which can earn a waiver, read our guide to captain’s license medical disqualifiers.

What vision do I need to pass the CG-719K?

Deck applicants need vision in at least one eye correctable to 20/40 or better, per 46 CFR 10.305. Glasses or contacts are fine. Color vision is checked separately, and a restriction is possible rather than an outright denial.

How Long Your Medical Certificate Lasts

A medical certificate for national mariners is valid for up to five years under 46 CFR 10.301(b)(2). You renew it on the same five-year cycle as your credential. Plan your exam timing so the certificate is current when you apply.

Because the certificate and your MMC run on similar cycles, many mariners handle both together. If your health changes substantially mid-cycle, contact the NMC rather than waiting for renewal.

How often do I renew my medical certificate?

National mariners renew the medical certificate at least every five years, aligned with the credential cycle. If your health changes substantially before then, contact the NMC rather than waiting for your next renewal.

Common CG-719K Mistakes We See

After guiding thousands of applications, we see the same handful of errors send students back for a second doctor visit. Each one is avoidable, and each one costs weeks. Knowing them in advance is the cheapest insurance on your whole application.

The three that cost the most time: an unsigned section that forces a return trip to the practitioner, a flagged condition submitted with no supporting letter, and the wrong form version for the license being sought. A fourth quiet one is a missing reference number, which stops the NMC from even accepting the file.

Fix these before you submit, and your medical certificate rarely becomes the bottleneck. That’s the difference between a clean file and an “awaiting information” letter.

What’s the most common CG-719K mistake?

Submitting an incomplete or unsigned form. A blank practitioner signature or a flagged condition with no attached documentation triggers an “awaiting information” hold, which adds weeks. A quick review of every page before you send it prevents most delays.

What Happens If Your Application Is Denied?

A denial isn’t the end of the road. If the NMC determines you don’t meet a standard, you can request reconsideration under 46 CFR 1.03-40, in writing, postmarked within 30 days of the denial letter. Your request can point out errors, add new information, or explain extenuating circumstances.

Many conditions that fall short of a standard still qualify for a waiver under 46 CFR 10.303. A waiver may carry a limitation, such as a daylight-only restriction, and you carry the waiver letter while operating under your credential.

Can I appeal a denied medical certificate?

Yes. Request reconsideration in writing within 30 days of the denial letter under 46 CFR 1.03-40, adding any new medical documentation. If you fall short of a standard but pose no real safety risk, the NMC may issue a waiver with limitations instead.

Frequently Asked Questions About the CG-719K Application for Medical Certificate

Where do I download Form CG-719K?

Download it from the National Maritime Center, which posts the current version. Always pull the latest revision rather than an old saved copy, because the form is updated periodically and the NMC expects the current edition.

Can my family doctor complete the CG-719K?

Yes. A licensed medical doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner can complete and sign the exam under 46 CFR 10.302(b). Most of our students use their own family doctor instead of seeking out a specialist.

How do I submit the CG-719K to the Coast Guard?

Submit it to the NMC with your credential application, either online through the NMC Application Submission and Additional Information Portal (ASAP). The NMC won’t process a medical application without a reference number or an existing MMC.

Is the CG-719K the same as the drug test?

No. The CG-719K is your medical exam. The drug test is separate; a DOT 5-panel test (a federal five-substance drug screen) must fall within 185 days of your application under 46 CFR 16.220, documented on its own form.

Sources

• 46 CFR Part 10, Subpart C, Medical Certification (eCFR)
• 46 CFR 10.301, Medical certificate issuance and validity (eCFR)
• 46 CFR 10.302, Medical and physical requirements; persons authorized to examine, 10.302(b) (eCFR)
• 46 CFR 10.303, Medical waivers, limitations, and restrictions (eCFR)
• 46 CFR 10.304, General medical examination and physical ability (eCFR)
• 46 CFR 10.305, Vision standards (eCFR)
• 46 CFR 1.03-40, Reconsideration of decisions (eCFR)
• Form CG-719K, Application for Medical Certificate (U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center)
• Maine Maritime Academy, Instructions for Filling Out Form CG-719K (maritime academy guidance)

Disclaimer

Coast Guard forms and processes change. This guide reflects current USCG guidance, but always download the latest CG-719K and confirm requirements with the NMC. For questions on your application, contact the NMC Medical Helpdesk at 1-888-427-5662.

Conclusion

The CG-719K looks intimidating, but it’s a checklist. Complete every section, attach the right documentation, sign where required, and use the correct version of the form. Treat it that way and the medical certificate stops being the scary part of your application.

From here, your next move is the license itself. Explore the OUPV/Six-Pack Captain’s License or the 25/50/100-Ton Master Captain’s License. If you have questions about the CG-719K or any other part of the application process, the team at Mariners Learning System is here to help. We’ve guided more than 200,000 students through this process, and we’re not going to let paperwork be the reason you don’t get your license.