First aid certification is required for your USCG MMC application. A licensed captain explains exactly what's needed, what the exam tests, and how to prepare efficiently.
The Chartroom Captain
Licensed USCG 100-Ton Near Coastal Master
When it comes to first aid and the USCG captain's license, there are two distinct requirements that students sometimes confuse:
Both are required. Both are manageable. Let's cover each one.
Put this into practice — free
50 practice questions written by a licensed 100-Ton captain. No credit card, no account required to start.
Your USCG Merchant Mariner Credential application requires current first aid and CPR certification from a recognized provider. The accepted organizations include:
The certification must be current (not expired) at the time you submit your application. Most first aid/CPR certifications are valid for two years. If yours is lapsing, renew it before you submit — an expired card will hold up your application.
The course itself typically takes 4–8 hours depending on whether it's in-person or blended online/in-person. Many community centers, fire departments, local Red Cross chapters, and maritime organizations offer them. Cost is typically $40–$80.
What level of certification do you need? The USCG requires a course that covers CPR and basic first aid. A standard "CPR/AED and First Aid" course covers what's needed. You don't need a wilderness first aid course, EMT certification, or anything beyond the standard certification — though those certainly won't hurt you on the water.
The first aid section of the USCG written exam is one of the more straightforward sections. It tests your ability to respond to medical emergencies that could occur aboard a vessel — scenarios you'd realistically encounter as a captain operating offshore or in coastal waters where emergency services may be 30–60 minutes away.
Topics covered most frequently on the exam:
Adult CPR compression rate (100–120 per minute), compression depth (at least 2 inches), compression-to-breath ratio (30:2 for a single rescuer), and when to use an AED. These are standard CPR course material — if you've taken the certification course, this is review.
Direct pressure as the first line of treatment, when to apply a tourniquet, wound packing for severe bleeding, and signs of shock. The exam focuses on the correct sequence of actions, not detailed anatomical knowledge.
Signs of shock (pale/cold/clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, altered consciousness), how to position a shock victim (lay flat, elevate legs if no head/spine injury), and keeping the victim warm. Shock management questions appear frequently.
This one is marine-specific and appears more often on maritime exams than general first aid tests. Signs of hypothermia (shivering, confusion, slurred speech, loss of coordination), field treatment (remove wet clothing, insulate, gentle warming — no vigorous rubbing), and the risk of cardiac arrest during rewarming. Know that a hypothermic patient who appears dead should receive CPR — "not dead until warm and dead."
Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke — the critical distinction is altered mental status. Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, weakness, cool moist skin, normal or slightly elevated temperature. Heat stroke: hot dry skin, high temperature, altered consciousness — a true emergency requiring immediate cooling and evacuation.
A drowning victim who is unconscious and not breathing needs CPR started immediately. Secondary drowning can occur hours after a submersion incident — any person who has swallowed or inhaled water should be evaluated medically even if they seem fine.
First, second, and third degree burns — how to classify them, immediate treatment (cool running water for minor burns, cover and evacuate for major burns), and what not to do (no ice, no butter, don't break blisters).
Immobilization before moving, signs of spinal injury (mechanism of injury, neck pain, numbness or tingling in extremities), and the priority of life threats over fracture management.
If you've recently completed your first aid certification course, the exam section should feel familiar — the course and the exam cover the same material. The USCG questions are straightforward and don't require clinical depth.
Focus your first aid study time on the marine-specific scenarios: hypothermia, near drowning, and offshore evacuation decisions. Those topics get more weight on a maritime exam than on a standard first aid test, and they're the ones where general knowledge sometimes falls short.
The first aid section is one of the most predictable on the exam. Students who do their CPR certification and spend a few hours reviewing the above topics typically score well. Use that study time on COLREGS instead — that's where the 90% requirement makes every hour of preparation count more.
Ready to see where you stand across all seven sections? Take the free diagnostic — it covers every subject area including first aid and tells you exactly which sections need the most attention before your REC appointment.
Get a free boating tip every week
Practical safety and seamanship from a licensed 100-Ton captain. No spam.
The Chartroom has unlimited practice questions — built by the same licensed captain who wrote this guide. Start with 50 free questions, no credit card required.
Start studying free50 free questions · No credit card required