Section 12.501 - [Effective 1/17/2025] General requirements for a Qualified Member of the Engine Department(a)General. A Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) is any person below officer and above the rating of Coal Passer or Wiper, who holds an MMC or MMD endorsed as QMED by the Coast Guard.(b)Categories.(1) Each QMED rating must be endorsed separately, unless the applicant qualifies for all QMED ratings, in which case the endorsement will read "QMED-any rating." The ratings are- (i) Boiler Technician/Watertender;(iv) Electrician/Refrigerating Engineer; and(v) Pump Technician/Machinist.(2) The Coast Guard will no longer issue original endorsements for Deck Engineer, Deck/Engine Mechanic, or Engineman, or individual endorsements for Refrigerating Engineer, Machinist, Electrician, and Pump Technician. However, a mariner who holds any of these endorsements may continue to renew them as long as they are otherwise qualified.(3) If the holder of an endorsement as Pump Technician only or Machinist only seeks the combined endorsement of Pump Technician/Machinist, the mariner must pass the examination described in table 1 to § 12.505(c) .(4) If the holder of an endorsement as Electrician only or Refrigerating Engineer only seeks the combined endorsement of Electrician/Refrigerating Engineer, the mariner must pass the examination described in table 1 to § 12.505(c) .(c)Requirements for certification. To qualify for any endorsement as QMED, an applicant must-(1) Be at least 18 years of age;(2) Pass the prescribed physical and medical examination requirements specified in 46 CFR Part 10, subpart C;(3) Present evidence of having passed a chemical test for dangerous drugs or of having qualified for an exemption from testing, as described in § 16.220 of this subchapter;(4) Meet the sea service or training requirements in § 12.503 of this subpart;(5) Pass an examination as QMED; and(6) Speak and understand the English language as would be required in performing the general duties of QMED and during an emergency aboard ship.