Coast Guard Requirements
In order to enlist in the Coast Guard, you need to meet certain requirements:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or a Resident Alien.
- Be between the ages of 17-27
- Reservists must be between 17-39. Prior service personnel should contact their local recruiter for specific programs.
- You must have a high school diploma. GEDs are accepted in special circumstances. Have no more than two dependents
- Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test
- Pass a military entrance medical exam
ASVAB Coast Guard Scores
If you meet all of the qualifications, the next step in your application process is to take the ASVAB. In order to enlist in the Coast Guard and move on in the recruitment process, you will need to receive an AQFT score of at least 40 with a high school diploma or 50 with a GED. Each Coast Guard position requires a different test score.
Below is a table listing each qualification area, the ASVAB subtest, and what the final line score is a result of:
| Qualification Area |
ASVAB Sub-tests |
Line Score Formula |
| Engineman (ENG) |
Auto & Shop Information (AS), Mathematics Knowledge (MK) |
AS + MK |
| Administrative (ADM) |
Verbal Expression (VE)*, Mathematics Knowledge (MK) |
VE + MK |
| General Technical (GT) |
Verbal Expression (VE), Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) |
VE + AR |
| Mechanical Maintenance |
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Auto & Shop Information (AS), Mechanical Comprehension (MC) |
AR + AS + MC |
| Health (HM) |
General Science (GS), Verbal Expression (VE), Mathematics Knowledge (MK) |
GS + VE + MK |
| Mechanical Maintenance (MEC 2) |
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mechanical Comprehension (MC), Assembling Objects (AO) |
AR + MC + AO |
| Electronics (EL) |
General Science (GS), Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Electronics Information (EI) |
GS + AR + MK + EI |
| Nuclear Field (NUC) |
Verbal Expression (VE)*, Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Mechanical Comprehension (MC) |
VE + AR + MK + MC |
| Engineering and Electronics (BEE) |
General Science (GS), Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK) |
GS + AR + (2 x MK) |
| Operations (OPS) |
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK) |
AR + MK |
*Verbal Expression (VE) = Word Knowledge (WK) + Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
Prepare for the ASVAB
Preparing for the ASVAB will get you one step closer to joining the Coast Guard. JobTestPrep provides Coast Guard practice tests and study guides to prepare you for the exam. Start practicing today.
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