National Able Seaman (A/B)
Credential: National Able Seaman (A/B)
Credentialing Agency: United States Coast Guard (USCG)
The National Able Seaman (A/B) is a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) with various categories of rating endorsements. An A/B is a member of the deck department that works as a watchstander and/or day worker and operates the vessel and its deck equipment under Officer supervision. To earn the A/B credential, applicants must be 18 years old, qualify for endorsement as a National Lifeboatman or Lifeboatman-Limited, satisfy general requirements, and satisfy sea service requirements. Applicants must either pass an exam by oral (or other) means that includes a demonstration of ability or complete a Coast Guard-approved course.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
National Able Seaman (A/B)
The following DOD Civilian Occupations provide training and/or experience that contributes to attaining this credential:
The following Federal Occupations provide training and/or experience that contribute to attaining this credential:
| Federal Occupation | Related As | |
|---|---|---|
| 5220 Shipwright |  Other |
The following civilian occupations are related to this credential:
| Civilian Job | Bright Outlook | Registered Apprenticeship | Local Salary Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fishers and Related Fishing Workers |  find local salary |
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| Mates- Ship, Boat, and Barge |  Apprenticeship |
find local salary |
||
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | find local salary |
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite: Qualify for endorsement as a Lifeboatman or Lifeboatman-Limited
- Experience: 180 days
- Education
- Training
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY
Renewal Period
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
United States Coast Guard (USCG)
United States Department of Homeland Security
2100 2nd St. S.W.
Washington, DC 20593-0001
Phone: (202) 267-0218
Contact Page
Credential Pre-requisite REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must qualify for endorsement as a National Lifeboatman or Lifeboatman-Limited.
Experience REQUIREMENTS
Applicant must meet one of the following Sea Service requirements.
- AB Unlimited – 1080 days deck service on Oceans or Great Lakes.
- AB Limited – 540 days deck service on vessels of 100 GRT or more, not exclusive to rivers & smaller inland lakes of the U. S.
- AB Special – 360 days deck service on navigable waters of the U. S.
- AB OSV – 180 days deck service on navigable waters of the U. S.
- AB Sail – 180 days of deck service on sailing school vessels, oceanographic research vessels powered primarily by sail or equivalent sail vessels on any navigable waters of the U. S.
- AB Fishing – 180 days of deck service, not as a processor, on any navigable waters of the U.S. “Combi” is not deck service
- AB MODU – 360 days of service on vessels 65 feet or over on any navigable waters of the U.S. MSM
Sea Service/Training and or Education REQUIREMENTS
The minimum service required to qualify for the various categories of endorsement as Able Seaman is as follows:
- Able Seaman-unlimited: Three years of service on deck on vessels operating on oceans or on the Great Lakes.
- Able Seaman-limited: Eighteen months of service on deck on vessels of 100 GRT or more which operate in a service not exclusively confined to the rivers and smaller inland lakes of the United States.
- Able Seaman-special: Twelve months of service on deck on vessels operating on oceans or the navigable waters of the United States, including the Great Lakes.
- Able Seaman-offshore supply vessels: Six months of service on deck on vessels operating on oceans or on the navigable waters of the United States, including the Great Lakes.
- Able Seaman-sail: Six months of service on deck on sailing school vessels, oceanographic research vessels powered primarily by sail, or equivalent sailing vessels operating on oceans or on the navigable waters of the United States, including the Great Lakes.
- Able Seaman-fishing industry: Six months of service on deck, not as a processor, onboard vessels operating on oceans or on the navigable waters of the United States, including the Great Lakes.
Note: Approved training programs may be substituted for the required periods of service on deck as follows:
- A graduate of a school ship may be qualified for a rating endorsement as A/B, without further service, upon satisfactory completion of the program of instruction. For this purpose, “school ship” is interpreted to mean an institution that offers a complete approved program of instruction, including a period of at-sea training, in the skills appropriate to the rating of A/B.
- Training programs, other than those classified as a school ship, may be substituted for up to one-third of the required service on deck. The Coast Guard will determine the service/training ratio for each program and may allow a maximum of three days of deck service credit for each day of instruction.
Knowledge Test AB01
- Q450-Navigation and Rules of the Road
- Q451-Deck General/Safety
Practical Exam Marlinespike Seamanship - Demonstration
Applicants must provide evidence or demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Coast Guard, the knowledge of principal knots, bends, splices, and hitches in common use.
- Splice - One of these items must be successfully demonstrated
- Eye Splice with bitter end whipped
- Short Splice with whipped ends
- Knot, Bend, Hitch 1 - Must successfully demonstrate all of these
- Bowline
- Square Knot
- Clove Hitch
- Sheet Bend
- Knot, Bend, Hitch 2 - Must successfully demonstrate a combination of any 6
- French Bowline
- Running Bowline
- Bowline on a Bight
- Cat’s Paw
- Figure Eight
- Carrick Bend
- Round Turn and Two Half Hitches
- Rolling Hitch
- Stopper Hitch
- Timber Hitch
- Stage Hitch
- Barrel Hitch
- Fisherman’s Bend
- Double Becket Bend
Exam Preparation Resources
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the National Able Seaman (A/B) examination:
-
Best Sources
- 46 Code of Federal Regulations Part 10 - Merchant Mariner Credential
- 46 Code of Federal Regulations Part 12 - Requirements for Rating Endorsements
- National Able Seaman Checklist
- NMC Exam Details
- NMC Frequently Asked Questions
- USCG Deck and Engineering Guide for the Administration of Merchant Marine Examinations
National Able Seaman (A/B) include:
Applicants for the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) must meet the listed general requirements:
- Meet the credential age requirement.
- Submit evidence of holding or having applied for Transportation Working Identification Card (TWIC) from TSA.
- Submit completed MMC Application CG-Form 719B.
- Must submit evidence of appropriate Sea Service as required. Military sea service may be counted towards the sea service required to become a mariner. This military sea service is only part of the MMC evaluation. Documentation is key and must be submitted with the MMC application package to a Regional Exam Center.
- Provide photocopies the front and the back of all relevant Training Course Certificate(s) and Certifications.
- Submit CG Form- 719C Disclosure Statement for Narcotics, DWI/DUI, and/or other convictions as applicable.
- Provide proof of passing the appropriate vision, hearing, medical, or physical exam, documented on CG Form-719K or CG-719K/E.
- Provide evidence of passing a DOT/USCG periodic drug test on CG From- 719P.
- Submit evaluation, exam and issuance Fees as applicable.
National Able Seaman (A/B) include:
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) National Maritime Center (NMC) awards credentials to fully qualified mariners to assure a safe, secure, economically viable and environmentally sound Marine Transportation System. There are generally two types of mariner credentials: National and International, and they are awarded in two primary operational departments, Deck and Engine. However, before any mariner credential is awarded, applicants must first attain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
The International credentials are governed in compliance with Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW). These international standards (STCW) were first developed in 1978 when the international maritime community realized that human factors played a dominant role in the prevention of marine casualties. The last major revision to the international STCW Convention and Code were adopted in 2010 in Manila, Philippines and took effect on 1 Jan 2012.
General Application Requirements include drug test compliance, medical screening, First Aid and CPR certificates of training, and firefighting training. In addition to the general application requirements, the primary data elements that NMC evaluators need from military mariner applicants to assess their experience and suitability for National or STCW level credentials are Military Sea Service history and Vessel Information as described below:
MILITARY SEA SERVICE
Military sea service experience must be a reasonable equivalent to the service required of a merchant mariner who is seeking an identical license. Evaluations of military sea service require submission of a Transcript of Sea Service (TOSS) or a Sea Service Letter. Each service has a slightly different version of their Sea Service letter; this example shows U.S. Navy Sea Service Letter requirements. U.S. Army applicants can request a copy of their Sea Service history through the Sea Pay system.
NMC Regional Examination Centers may also require an official description of duties statement, letters of qualification, service record entries, or letters from former supervisors or commanding officers as well. Specific details about sea service requirements for the various different credentials can be found in 46 CFR Part 10 - Merchant Mariner Credential, and 46 CFR Part 12 - Requirements for Rating Endorsements. Additional details related to criteria for accepting military sea experience can be obtained from the Marine Safety Manual-Vol III, and Section 3 of the Military File Evaluation Manual.
VESSEL INFORMATION
Each Service also has corresponding vessel information.
U.S. Navy applicants can reference this U.S. Navy Vessel Information chart for details on Ship Type, Name, Hull number, Ship Class, GRI ITC Tonnage, GRT Tonnage, Horsepower, and Propulsion Type when completing their Sea Service Letter.
U.S. Army applicant’s Vessel information will be included in the Sea Pay letter they request for military sea service history.
National Able Seaman (A/B) include:
Requirements for renewal:
- The applicant must either—
- Present evidence of at least 1 year of sea service during the past 5 years;
- Pass a comprehensive, open-book exercise covering the general subject matter as appropriate to the credential;
- Complete an approved refresher training course;
- Provide evidence of employment as a qualified instructor or in a position closely related to the credential.
- A credential may be renewed at any time during its validity and for 1 year after expiration.
There are no professional requirements for renewal for the following endorsements:
- Ordinary seaman, Wiper, Steward's department, Steward's department (F.H.).
- Cadet, Student observer, Apprentice engineer, Apprentice mate.
- Person in charge of medical care, Medical first-aid provider.
- GMDSS at-sea maintainer, GMDSS operator.
Certain STCW endorsements must complete approved refresher or revalidation training.
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