Paying MMC Issuance Fees for Your Maritime Credentials

A Guide to User Fees for Merchant Mariner Credentials

What are the MMC fees for? 

The MMC fees charged by the Coast Guard are essential to cover the administrative costs associated with reviewing your application packet and issuing or renewing your MMC.

Mariners are required to pay these user fees online, ensuring a streamlined and efficient payment process.

I am applying for a credential. How do I know what amount to pay?

General 

When submitting your payment, you must ensure it is for the exact amount required.

Here is a breakdown of licensing costs for Mariners Learning System students: 

* There are no additional testing fees when you take your course through the Mariners Learning System. You will select "Course in Lieu of Exam: $0.00." If you were to have tested with the USCG Regional Exam Center, there would have been an additional fee. 

** The total can vary depending on what you select for "Examination/Testing Fees." Our total reflects the option of  "Course instead of Exam: $0.00" selected. 

***No charge for a Duplicate if the loss is due to a marine casualty. 

Submitting Original Application  

Select the following categories for the User Fee Information section on Pay.gov when paying for your original application:  

* "Course in Lieu of Exam" is for completing our course and passing our final proctored exam.

Submitting Master's Upgrade 

Select the following categories for the User Fee Information section on Pay.gov when paying for your OUPV/Six-Pack Upgrade to 25/50 or 100 Ton Masters application: 

* "Course in Lieu of Exam" is for completing our course and passing our final proctored exam.

Submitting Towing or Sailing Endorsement 

Select the following categories for the User Fee Information section on Pay.gov when paying for your addition of the Towing Endorsement and/or Sailing Endorsement application:  

* "Course in Lieu of Exam" is for completing our course and passing our final proctored exam.

Submitting Deck License Renewal 

Select the following categories for the User Fee Information section on Pay.gov when paying for your addition of the Deck License Renewal application:  

* Leave Examination/Testing Fees blank if you met the sea service requirement and DID NOT need to take our Deck License Renewal written requirement. 

I am applying for more than one endorsement. Will I be required to pay for each?

Regardless of the number of endorsements requested, only one evaluation fee and one issuance fee will be required. The required evaluation fee is determined based on the cost of the highest endorsement you are requesting. 

I want to pay by check/money order and mail it to the National Maritime Center. To whom do I address the check?

Effective January 19, 2025, the NMC and RECs will exclusively accept user fee payments via the USCG Merchant Mariner User Fee Payment Page on Pay.gov. Pay.gov, a secure service provided by the United States Department of the Treasury, offers a reliable platform for making payments. Accepted payment methods on Pay.gov include credit cards, debit cards, and bank account routing numbers.

Please take note that as of January 19, 2025, the NMC and RECs will no longer accept any other forms of payment, such as cash, checks, money orders, or credit cards, regardless of whether they are submitted in person or by mail. Any payments made using methods other than Pay.gov will be returned to the applicant, who will then be required to resubmit the fee payment through Pay.gov.

After successfully paying your fees through Pay.gov, it is essential to print or save your receipt. Attach this receipt to your application before submitting it to the NMC. This process ensures a smooth and efficient handling of your application.