USCG-AMS Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows

What "Pass Rate" Means for This Credential

Searching for a "pass rate" assumes a single exam with a single result. The National Apprentice Mate (Steersman) endorsement (Oceans, Near Coastal, Great Lakes and Inland, Western Rivers) doesn't work that way. It is a mariner credential issued by the United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC), and the knowledge examination is organized into topic modules rather than one monolithic test.

That distinction changes how you should read any number you come across. A figure that says "X percent pass" could describe first attempts at one module, completed endorsements, or something else entirely. Without a clear definition, the statistic tells you very little about your own odds.

If you want the bigger picture on difficulty, our guide on how hard the USCG-AMS exam is breaks down what makes individual subjects demanding. For the mechanics of scoring, see USCG-AMS passing score.

What Published Data Exists (and What Doesn't)

Here is the honest state of the evidence: we were not able to verify an official, published pass rate for the Apprentice Mate (Steersman) exam. The NMC publishes examination module information and guidance, but we found no authoritative aggregate figure for how many candidates pass on a first attempt, and we have not verified official percentage weights for the topic areas either.

What you can rely on instead is structure. The credential is examined through defined modules, the subject matter is stable and well documented, and your own practice results across those subjects will tell you far more than a headline percentage. Our USCG-AMS pass rate overview is kept deliberately cautious for this reason.

Why Results Come Module by Module

The NMC examination modules associated with this endorsement path include subjects such as Rules of the Road, Deck General, Deck Safety, Navigation General and navigation problem modules. Towing vessel operations knowledge rounds out what a steersman candidate is expected to understand. Because the subjects are examined as distinct modules, a candidate can be strong in one area and need a retake in another without that reflecting on overall competence.

Difficulty profiles above are qualitative impressions of the subject matter, not measured failure rates. Our complete domains guide goes deeper on each area, and we have not verified official percentage weights for these headings.

Where Candidates Tend to Struggle

Without hard module-level statistics, the most useful evidence is the nature of the material itself. Some subjects punish shallow preparation more than others.

Rules of the Road: precision under pressure

Deck General and Deck Safety: breadth over depth

These modules reward candidates who have actually worked on deck, because the vocabulary and equipment will feel familiar. Candidates coming from a classroom-only background often find the sheer range of topics, from line handling to firefighting equipment, harder than any single concept.

Navigation Problems: The Chart Work Gate

If any module deserves its reputation as a stumbling block, it is the navigation problem work. Unlike multiple-choice recall, plotting and chart problems require you to carry a correct method from start to finish. A small slip early on, such as misreading a scale or applying a correction the wrong way, produces a wrong final answer even when your understanding is sound.

Because Navigation General covers the underlying concepts (charts, aids to navigation, compass work), weakness there tends to show up again in the problem module. Treat them as a linked pair when planning your preparation. The USCG-AMS study guide outlines a sequence for tackling them.

How Sea Service Shapes Your Odds

One reason a single national pass rate would be misleading: candidates arrive from very different backgrounds. Sea-service prerequisites for this endorsement depend on your route and endorsement path, so someone with substantial time on towing vessels is preparing from a very different starting point than someone newer to the industry.

• Experienced deckhands usually find Deck General, Deck Safety and Towing Vessel Operations intuitive, and spend most of their effort on Rules of the Road and chart work.
• Candidates with less hands-on time often need to build practical vocabulary and equipment familiarity alongside the book subjects.
• Candidates seeking broader route coverage must be comfortable with rules and conventions that differ between route types.

For eligibility specifics, see our breakdown of USCG-AMS requirements, and confirm current details directly with the NMC, since requirements are tied to your individual path.

Retakes, Scheduling and Fee Mechanics

The module structure matters most when something goes wrong. If you do not pass a module, the remedy is generally to retake that subject rather than start the entire process over, subject to NMC rules and any waiting or administrative requirements in effect. Specific fee amounts and waiting periods are set by the NMC and examination sites, and we have not verified current figures, so check with your Regional Exam Center or the NMC before planning your budget.

For budgeting, our certification cost breakdown explains the categories of expense, and exam dates and scheduling covers how to approach booking.

Scheduling Prep by Domain

Generic study plans don't help much here, but a domain-ordered plan does. The logic is simple: start with the subjects that feed others, and give the skill-based module the most repetition.

The one-page review in our USCG-AMS cheat sheet works well as a final pass, and you can test yourself on the main practice test site to see which domains need more time.

Who Hires Apprentice Mates (Steersman)

The credential exists to qualify mariners for work on towing vessels, so the employers are the companies that operate them. These include inland and coastal towing companies, harbor and fleeting operations, and barge transportation firms working on rivers, the Great Lakes and coastal routes. The endorsement is a stepping stone for those building toward greater responsibility in the wheelhouse.

Employers generally value documented sea service alongside the endorsement, so the credential and your work history reinforce each other. For more on career outcomes, see USCG-AMS jobs and the ROI analysis. We do not quote salary figures here because we have not verified reliable numbers for this specific endorsement.

Frequently Asked Questions