46 CFR §11.805

1. (a)The applicant for an endorsement as staff officer is not required to take any examination; however, the applicant must provide to the Coast Guard a letter justifying the need for the endorsement.
2. (b)An applicant for a higher grade in the staff department must apply in the same manner as for an original endorsement and must surrender the previous Coast Guard-issued credentials upon issuance of the new MMC. A staff officer may serve in a lower grade of service for which they are registered.
3. (c)Title 46 U.S.C. 8302 addresses uniforms for staff officers who are members of the Naval Reserve.
4. (d)A duplicate MMC may be issued by the Coast Guard. (See § 10.229 of this subchapter.)
5. (e)An MMC is valid for a term of 5 years from the date of issuance. Procedures for renewing endorsements are found in § 10.227 of this subchapter.
6. (f)Each applicant for an original or a higher grade of endorsement, as described in paragraph (b) of this section, must produce evidence of having passed a chemical test for dangerous drugs or of qualifying for an exception from testing in § 16.220 of this subchapter. An applicant who fails a chemical test for dangerous drugs will not be issued an MMC.