Do I need First Aid and CPR to upgrade my USCG License?
Updated: Mar 25, 2022
No. You never need to take First Aid and CPR for any of your domestic upgrades. You are only required to provide First Aid and CPR when applying for your first USCG License that is an Officer Endorsement.
This means if you hold a OUPV or above on the Deck side or any Assistant Engineer or above on the Engineering side you are all set for the rest of your career!
Some examples are:
OUPV to Master 50 GRT Near Coastal. No First Aid and CPR required.
3AE to 2AE. No First Aid and CPR required.
2nd Mate Unlimited to 1600 GRT Master of Oceans. No First Aid and CPR required.
The only time you need to provide a Red Cross First Aid and CPR card or a USCG approved course certificate for First Aid and CPR is when you are getting your first USCG License as an officer. The easiest way to check if you are getting an officer endorsement is to use the USCG National Maritime Center Checklist page on their website. If you are applying for any USCG license that is in the National Officer Endorsements (licensed) for Deck or the National Officer Endorsements (licensed) for Engine Department then you will need to take First Aid and CPR.
We hope this made your life a little easier and if you have other questions the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!
We do prefer to answer questions live with screen sharing to make both of our lives easier.
We hold free live virtual master classes Monday and Wednesday from 5:00 - 5:30 pm PT inside of mmseas.com under License Guidance and then Daily Master Classes.
Pro MM-SEAS members get access to our daily live master classes and office hours Monday thru Friday from 5:00 - 5:30 pm PT. You also get access to unlimited live 1 on 1 calls with one of our USCG Licensing Specialists. Pro MM-SEAS members can access these features inside of mmseas.com under License Guidance.