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  • Writer's pictureNate Gilman

What drug testing letter from my consortium is needed for my USCG license?

Updated: Apr 12, 2022

Only consortium letters with this exact phrase will be accepted by the USCG for your USCG license: APPLICANT’S NAME / SSN has been subject to a random testing program meeting the criteria of Title 46 CFR 16.230 for at least 60 days during the previous 185 days and has not failed nor refused to participate in a chemical test for dangerous drugs.

No other documentation from your maritime drug testing consortium will be accepted by the USCG for any part of your USCG license application.



If you have any other type of documentation from your consortium that will work for other parts of your charter business and compliance but it will not be accepted by the USCG for any part of your USCG license application.


Every maritime drug testing consortium is very used to creating this drug test letter for USCG license applications.


All you need to do is reach out to them and ask for: "a drug testing letter for my USCG License application."


When you get it emailed back to you double check it has the following things:

The letter is on consortium letterhead


The letter is signed by a consortium representative.

The letter from the consortium that says verbatim: APPLICANT’S NAME / SSN has been subject to a random testing program meeting the criteria of Title 46 CFR 16.230 for at least 60 days during the previous 185 days and has not failed nor refused to participate in a chemical test for dangerous drugs. If it does meet all three of these conditions it will not be accepted by the USCG.

Here's what you are meeting with a consortium drug testing letter in the eyes of the USCG National Maritime Center.


Option Two: Provide a letter on marine employer stationary or on command letterhead attesting to participation in random drug testing program. You must include the exact text from the Overview of Drug Test Requirements Option Two on the USCG website (https://www.dco.uscg.mil/nmc/drug_testing/) in your letter. Drug testing letters from a Union will not be accepted by the NMC.



We hope this made your life a little easier and if you have other questions the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!


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