Regulatory Requirements

All positions require the following for Deep Sea U.S. Merchant Marine Crews:

United States Citizenship with a valid U.S. Passport for the entire voyage.
United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document (Z-Card) with appropriate endorsements.
STWC-95 (An endorsement attesting the issue of a certificate under the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) with appropriate endorsements for all watch-keeping personnel (most of the Deck & Engine Departments.)
A valid drug screening no more than 6 months old.
A valid benzene screening for those that work on vessels carrying products that contain benzene and is no more than one year old.
With each renewal and/or upgrade of rating with Coast Guard, a criminal background check, specifically looking for drug and/or alcohol offenses or any discrepancies listed on your application.
All officers must have a valid U.S.C.G. license for the position they hold with valid endorsements and certificates of training as required by U.S.C.G., I.M.O., International Vetting Inspectors, and I.S.O. 9002 regulations and other regulatory bodies. (If you have to obtain these independently it can cost you as much as $10,000 USD to obtain all necessary training, so it is a good idea to obtain these through a Union and /or Employer education plan, and most certificates have to be renewed every 5 years.)
A U.S.C.G. Physical no older than 1 year at time of renewal/upgrade which includes hearing and color blindness testing.

Key: Blue - Officer, Green - Unlicensed, Grey - Cadet

The following are minimum requirements for various departments to move up in grade as required by the United States Coast Guard:

Note: These are the old requirements and are no longer valid unless you have already been approved for upgrade prior to the when the new regulations took affect.

DECK: (unlimited tonnage ocean licenses only, refer to 33CFR or your local U.S.C.G. office for other requirements, all deck officers are required to have a valid radar observer endorsement) These are the old rules, new rules have significantly different requirements.

Master (Captain) - 360 days as Chief Mate or combination 180 days Chief Mate and 180 equivalent days (2 days for 1 as 2nd/3rd Mate, up to 90 days simulator time, or other approved method).
Chief Mate - 360 days as 2nd or 3rd mate, up to 180 days can be via an equivalent approved method wich can include up to 90 days on the simulator.
Second Mate - 360 days as 3rd mate, up to 180 days can be via an equivalent approved method which can include up to 90 days on the simulator.
Third Mate - Graduate from one of the maritime academies and 360 days sea time as a cadet or 540 days as an A/B.
Deck Cadet - A student from one of the Maritime Academies doing a sea apprenticeship
Bosun - Any qualified A/B with sufficient responsibility
Able Bodied Seaman (A/B) - 180 days as O/S
Ordinary Seaman (O/S) - Z-Card, Drug Test, STWC, & Physical, etc. (as listed above) This position is no longer required and majority of ships no longer carry O/S's.

ENGINE: (unlimited horse power licenses only, refer to 33CFR or your local U.S.C.G. office for other requirements, also motor and steam plants are separate licenses and the lower license is usually listed on the higher license as an endorsement)

Chief Engineer - 360 days as 1 A/E or combination 180 days 1 A/E and 180 equivalent days as 2 or 3 A/E or other approved method.
1st Assistant Engineer - 360 days as 2 or 3 A/E with up to 180 days via an approved alternative method.
2nd Assistant Engineer - 360 days as 3 A/E with up to 180 days via an approved alternative method.
3rd Assistant Engineer - Graduate from one of the maritime academies and 360 days sea time as a cadet or 540 days as a DEMAC/QMED
Engine Cadet - A student from one of the Maritime Academies doing a sea apprenticeship.
DEMAC / QMED (Deck/Engine Machinist) -
Oiler / UJE (Unlicensed Jr. Engineer) -
Wiper - Z-Card, Drug Test, STWC, & Physical, etc. (as listed above)

RADIO:

Radio Officer / Radio Electronics Officer - FCC License, 180 days sea time (position no longer required as of 02 Feb 99)

STEWARD: (Steward Departments range from one to six persons with an average being three persons)

Chief Steward/Baker - Time & requirements by union/company
Chief Cook - Time & requirements by union/company
Assistant Cook - Time & requirements by union/company
GSU/BR (General Steward Utility/Bedroom) - Z-Card, Drug Test, & Physical, etc. (as listed above)

Disclaimer: As the U.S.C.G. revises its requirements every two years, these requirements are subject to change, I am not responsible for any inaccuracies contained in this document, it is intended only as a guide for what may be required for each position, and is by no means complete, as different companies, and unions have additional requirements for each position.