Every Merchant Mariner Credential — deckhand, able seaman, engineer, captain, yacht crew — needs a Coast Guard medical certificate, and the exam behind it is the CG-719K. UrgentMed completes the CG-719K and the shorter CG-719K/E for entry-level ratings as a walk-in visit at Davie or Plantation, with the DOT-regulated drug test the Coast Guard also requires (CG-719P) collected at the same visit — minutes from Port Everglades and the Fort Lauderdale yachting community.
The CG-719K medical examination
The Coast Guard accepts the exam from a licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. It records:
- Medical history and current medications — the Coast Guard reviews certain conditions and medications closely, so bring documentation.
- Vision: distance acuity with and without correction, color vision (required for deck ratings), and field of vision.
- Hearing, blood pressure, height, weight and BMI, and a general physical examination by body system.
- The examiner’s statement of fitness, with any conditions noted for the National Maritime Center to evaluate.
The signed CG-719K is submitted with your application to the National Maritime Center — online, by e-mail or by mail — which issues the medical certificate. The CG-719K/E is the abbreviated report for entry-level ratings only; officer and STCW endorsements need the full CG-719K.
The CG-719P chemical test in the same visit
Original credentials and most renewals require a negative DOT drug test (five-panel, chain of custody) reported on the CG-719P, or proof of enrolment in a random testing program. Both clinics collect DOT drug tests on site, so the medical exam and the test happen in one stop.
Who comes in
- Yacht crew and captains working out of Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades and the Dania Beach marinas.
- Deckhands, engineers and stewards on commercial vessels, ferries, dive boats and charter operations.
- Maritime academy and captain’s-license students who need the medical certificate before their credential.
- Renewals — bring your current credential and medical certificate expiry date.
What to bring
- The CG-719K (or CG-719K/E) printed from the National Maritime Center, with your sections completed.
- Photo ID, glasses or contacts, hearing aids, a list of medications, and any specialist letters for conditions the Coast Guard reviews.
- Your mariner reference number if you have one.
Walk in at either Broward clinic
Both clinics are open seven days a week — Davie at 5149 S University Drive (Renaissance Plaza, just off I-595) and Plantation at 10199 Cleary Boulevard, Suite 10 — serving Davie, Plantation, Cooper City, Weston, Sunrise, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines and the surrounding Broward County communities. Hours, maps and parking.
Insurance and self-pay
Most licensing and program physicals are self-pay and the price is quoted at the front desk before you are seen; employer-ordered exams are billed to the employer account. Bring a photo ID and the form.