Summer is among the busiest seasons in Florida’s waterways and for mariners who want to renew or obtain or renew their USCG certification, this is the time of year when a lot of people are aware that they have to have their USCG mariner certification medical documents done quickly. If you’ve been told that you have to complete the CG-719K prior to the appointment time, you’re in the right spot.
The CG-719K is a form that each Florida mariner who is applying for the Merchant Mariner Credential needs to fill out. It’s not too difficult however it will require some effort -and knowing what’s on it prior to sitting in front of the computer to fill it in saves your time and decreases chances of making mistakes which can slow your application.
What Is the CG-719K Form
The CG-719K is the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential Medical Examination Report. It’s the medical report which documents your health status in connection with an application for your Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) application.
In simple terms, it’s the form the doctor fills out following conducting an examination, and confirming that you’re meeting the USCG medical standards to work on vessels.
It covers two sides of the process:
- Section completed by you — your personal medical history
- Section completed by your physician — the results of your physical exam
Both sections need to be filled out before the USCG will process your credential application.
Who Needs to Complete the CG-719K
Not every mariner needs this form but most do. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Situation | CG-719K Required? |
First-time MMC applicant | Yes |
MMC renewal (with medical certificate) | Yes |
Adding a new endorsement requiring medical fitness | Yes |
Credential renewal without medical certificate | No |
STCW endorsement applicants | Usually yes |
If your credential includes a medical certificate renewal process which most active mariners working on vessels need then the CG-719K is part of the process.
What the Form Actually Asks
The CG-719K is divided into clear sections. Here’s what each part covers:
Part 1 Your Personal Information
Basic details: name, date of birth, mariner’s reference number if you have one, and contact information. Straightforward stuff.
Part 2 Your Medical History (Completed by You)
This is the section most mariners spend the most time on. It’s a checklist of medical conditions and history that the USCG wants to know about. You’ll be asked whether you have or have had:
- Heart conditions or chest pain
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes or blood sugar issues
- Seizures or epilepsy
- Mental health conditions including depression or anxiety
- Substance use history (alcohol or drugs)
- Vision or hearing problems
- Respiratory conditions like asthma
- Neurological disorders
- Any surgeries or hospitalizations in recent years
- Current medications
You answer yes or no to each. If you answer yes to anything, there’s space to provide details and your physician will follow up during the exam.
Providing complete and accurate information is important because inconsistencies may result in requests for additional documentation or delays in processing. Many conditions that seem disqualifying have medical waiver pathways if they’re disclosed properly.
Part 3 The Physical Examination (Completed by Your Doctor)
This section is filled out by the physician who examines you. It documents:
- Height, weight, BMI
- Blood pressure and pulse
- Vision, corrected and uncorrected
- Color vision test results
- Hearing assessment
- Urinalysis
- General physical findings by body system
- The doctor’s overall recommendation – fit, fit with limitations, or not fit
Your physician signs and dates this section, and it becomes part of your official submission.
USCG Medical Standards, What They're Looking For
The Coast Guard evaluates mariners against certain medical standards based on the kind of credential as well as the vessel. This is a brief outline of the most important physical tests:
Area | General Standard |
|---|---|
Color vision | Must distinguish signal colors (red, green, white) |
Hearing | Hearing may be assessed using a whisper test or other accepted hearing evaluation methods |
Blood pressure | Elevated blood pressure may require further evaluation or documentation depending on severity and overall medical history |
Diabetes | Evaluated case by case, some restrictions apply |
Seizure history | Applicants with a history of seizures are evaluated individually and may be required to provide specialist documentation |
These are general benchmarks. The actual standards vary depending on your specific endorsement and the waters you’ll be operating on. Your physician will know what applies to your credential type.
Need Help Completing Your CG-719K Form?
Get your mariner medical exam completed accurately by a physician familiar with USCG requirements.
How to Fill Out the CG-719K
Here’s a simple walkthrough:
- Download the form from the official USCG National Maritime Center website
- Fill in Part 1 — your personal and contact details
- Complete Part 2 — go through the medical history checklist carefully and answer every question
- Gather supporting documents — if you have any yes answers, pull together relevant medical records, doctor’s notes, or medication lists
- Bring the form to your medical appointment — your physician completes Part 3 during your exam
- Review before submitting — make sure all sections are complete and the physician has signed and dated their section
- Submit with your MMC application — the form goes to the USCG National Maritime Center along with your other application materials
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A few things that slow down or complicate CG-719K submissions:
- Leaving questions blank instead of answering no
- Not disclosing a condition that later shows up in records
- Submitting without the physician’s signature
- Using an outdated version of the form always download the current version from the USCG website
- Forgetting to include supporting documentation for disclosed conditions
The form itself isn’t difficult. The issues almost always come down to incomplete sections or missing signatures.
Why Your Choice of Physician Matters
The examination must be completed by a qualified licensed healthcare practitioner authorized to perform the evaluation and familiar with USCG medical standards. A doctor who doesn’t understand mariner-specific requirements may flag conditions unnecessarily, give incomplete documentation, or miss what the Coast Guard actually needs to see.
For Florida mariners completing the CG-719K, choosing a physician with direct experience in maritime medicine makes the process much smoother especially if you have any medical history that needs to be carefully documented.
FAQs
What is the CG-719K form used for?
The CG-719K is the U.S. Coast Guard’s Physical Examination Report. It’s required for Merchant Mariner Credential applications and renewals that include a medical certificate. It documents your health history and physical exam results to confirm you meet USCG medical fitness standards.
Where can I download the CG-719K form?
The current version is available directly from the USCG National Maritime Center. Always use the most recent version older versions may not be accepted.
Do I need to complete the CG-719K before my appointment?
You should complete Part 1 (personal info) and Part 2 (your medical history) before your appointment. Part 3 the physical exam findings are completed by your physician during the visit. Coming in with Parts 1 and 2 already filled out saves time and helps your doctor prepare.
What medical conditions does the CG-719K ask about?
The form asks you about cardiovascular conditions such as seizures, diabetes and mental health history. drug consumption, vision and hearing as well as respiratory and neurological disorders, surgeries, hospitalizations and current medications. You can choose to answer “yes” or “no” to each one, leaving space to give specifics for each yes response.
What medical conditions does the CG-719K ask about?
The form asks you about cardiovascular conditions such as seizures, diabetes and mental health history. drug consumption, vision and hearing as well as respiratory and neurological disorders, surgeries, hospitalizations and current medications. You can choose to answer “yes” or “no” to each one, leaving space to give specifics for each yes response.
What happens after I submit the CG-719K form?
The form is submitted to the USCG National Maritime Center as part of your MMC application package. A reviewing officer evaluates it against USCG medical standards. If everything is in order, your credential is processed. If there are questions about disclosed conditions, the NMC may request additional documentation or a specialist evaluation before making a determination.
Let Sea Medicine Help You Through the Process
As a Florida mariner completing the CG-719K is one thing, making sure your exam is handled by someone who actually understands USCG requirements is another. Sea Medicine, led by Dr. Weinberg, provides mariner medical examination services at all stages of their career from first-time applicants to seasoned captains renewing credentials.
📞 Contact Sea Medicine today at aweinberg@medavex.org or Call Us: (727) 648-2402 to schedule your mariner medical exam with Dr. Weinberg.
