The NMEA Certified Marine Electronics Technician (CMET) is the highest Certification that NMEA issues. The CMET program's main goal is to elevate the best and brightest marine electronic technicians in the industry. Ultimately assuring the boat owner that they have received the highest quality of design, installation, and service of their marine electronics package. Achieving the CMET certification is no easy task as it requires an in-depth knowledge of marine electronics theory, practical experience installing and troubleshooting electronics on-board a vessel, and a high level of professionalism. The CMET Certification program tests the knowledge base and experience of the marine electronics professional. The test includes a variety of questions from the Federal Communication Commission General Radio Operators License to the NMEA® Installation Standard. The NMEA CMET is a Marine Electronic Generalist of highest grade and should at a minimum be able to perform the following:
Currently there are no classroom led NMEA training sessions for the CMET Certification. This is a self study course and we encourage all CMET applicants to pay the application fee ($100 NMEA member, $300 non-member) at least six months prior to taking the exam. This allows the applicant plenty of time to fully review the included study materials (NMEA 0400 Installation Standard, GROL Radar Book, Formula calculation sheet).
What is on the Exam?
Aside from extensive knowledge of the NMEA 0400 Installation Standard, there are no other direct study materials or classroom session associated with the CMET exam at this time. Experiential knowledge of troubleshooting and installing complex marine electronics systems is the basis of the exam. The CMET exam question pool, now nearly 500 in all, has been expanded and modernized by subject matter experts in the areas of radar, sat comm, GPS, Sat TV, autopilots, AIS, video displays, computers, heading devices, ethernet, MFDs, Wi-Fi, VHF, DSC, SSB, NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000, Electrical Principals, RF Principals, Transducers / Hydroacoustics, and Power Distribution.
Requirements / Pre Requisites:
Test taker must have a current AMEI certificate and an Advanced NMEA 2000 certificate at the time of the exam. It is required for all United States CMET applicants to have their FCC General Radio Operator License (GROL) with Ship Radar Endorsement (FCC test elements 1,3,8). NMEA is a licensed test center for the FCC, so we can administer these tests for you as well if you do not have these certifications. You need a commercial radio license to operate the following: ship radio stations if; the vessel carries more than 6 passengers for hire, or the radio operates on medium or high frequencies (30 kHz or 30 MHz) or the ships sails to foreign ports, or the ship is larger than 300 gross tons and is required to carry a radio station for safety purposes.
You need a commercial radio license to maintain and repair the following: All ship radio and RADAR stations and all coast radio stations and all hand-carried radio units to communicate with ships and coast stations on marine frequencies.
In the USA, a GROL license is required to adjust, maintain or internally repair FCC-licensed radiotelephone transmitters in maritime public radio services. A GROL is required to operate the following: Any maritime land radio station or compulsorily equipped ship radio telephone operating more than 1500 watts peak envelope power (PEP) and voluntarily-equipped (pleasure) ship stations with more than 1000 watts of peak envelope power (PEP).
The ship RADAR Endorsement may be placed on the General Radiotelephone Operator License, GMDSS Radio Maintainer's License, GMDSS Radio Operator/Maintainer License or on the First or Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate (T1 or T2). Only person whose commercial radio operator license bears this endorsement may repair, maintain or internally adjust ship RADAR equipment.
All international CMET applicants must present to NMEA the equivalent commercial radio repair license (if available in their country) issued from their country and their government issued ID.
Taking the Exam:
The CMET exam is a proctored 150 question multiple choice test with a 2 hour time limit, and a passing grade of 80%. A standard calculator is allowed. Proctored testing arrangements must be scheduled by the test taker a minimum of 2 weeks in advance.
The exam can be taken / proctored as follows:
Re-Taking the Exam:
There is 1 retake allowed within 60 days (included in exam price). If a test taker fails the re-take, the next available date to take the exam is 12 months from the date of first test; in which the standard exam price applies again.
CMET Renewals:
The CMET Certification is good for five (5) years from the date of issue. The renewal exam is an online 50 question test that does not require proctoring. The cost to renew is $100 regardless of membership status. To renew, click on the "Renew My Certification" button above. All renewal applicants have the option of taking a 25 question practice test prior to taking the renewal exam. CMET must also have current AMEI and Advanced NMEA 2000 Certifications in order to renew. NMEA staff will verify this information.
Once payment is received, links for the practice/renewal exams will be sent. Once completed and passed, the CMET certification will be good for another five (5) years. If the exam is not passed within two (2) tries, the 150 question CMET exam will need to be retaken at the current published exam rate.
After a CMETs second and final renewal test, a Lifetime CMET is awarded and no other renewals are needed. The only NMEA verification needed is confirmation that the individual is still actively working in the marine electronics industry.
- Provide the highest level of professional service
- Design a marine electronics integrated system with proper installation and verification
- Diagnose the most significant marine electronic issues on board a vessel
- Identify the source of a marine electronics product problem
- Troubleshoot and repair a wide range of disciplines
- Analyze marine electronics systems conflicts
- Understand where to get additional expert support from manufacturers and other industry sources
- Provide proper documentation to vessel owner and captain
- Is a technician as opposed to an installer
- Be knowledgeable of maritime rules and regulations
- Own all the proper tools to perform all of the requirements above
Currently there are no classroom led NMEA training sessions for the CMET Certification. This is a self study course and we encourage all CMET applicants to pay the application fee ($100 NMEA member, $300 non-member) at least six months prior to taking the exam. This allows the applicant plenty of time to fully review the included study materials (NMEA 0400 Installation Standard, GROL Radar Book, Formula calculation sheet).
What is on the Exam?
Aside from extensive knowledge of the NMEA 0400 Installation Standard, there are no other direct study materials or classroom session associated with the CMET exam at this time. Experiential knowledge of troubleshooting and installing complex marine electronics systems is the basis of the exam. The CMET exam question pool, now nearly 500 in all, has been expanded and modernized by subject matter experts in the areas of radar, sat comm, GPS, Sat TV, autopilots, AIS, video displays, computers, heading devices, ethernet, MFDs, Wi-Fi, VHF, DSC, SSB, NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000, Electrical Principals, RF Principals, Transducers / Hydroacoustics, and Power Distribution.
Requirements / Pre Requisites:
Test taker must have a current AMEI certificate and an Advanced NMEA 2000 certificate at the time of the exam. It is required for all United States CMET applicants to have their FCC General Radio Operator License (GROL) with Ship Radar Endorsement (FCC test elements 1,3,8). NMEA is a licensed test center for the FCC, so we can administer these tests for you as well if you do not have these certifications. You need a commercial radio license to operate the following: ship radio stations if; the vessel carries more than 6 passengers for hire, or the radio operates on medium or high frequencies (30 kHz or 30 MHz) or the ships sails to foreign ports, or the ship is larger than 300 gross tons and is required to carry a radio station for safety purposes.
You need a commercial radio license to maintain and repair the following: All ship radio and RADAR stations and all coast radio stations and all hand-carried radio units to communicate with ships and coast stations on marine frequencies.
In the USA, a GROL license is required to adjust, maintain or internally repair FCC-licensed radiotelephone transmitters in maritime public radio services. A GROL is required to operate the following: Any maritime land radio station or compulsorily equipped ship radio telephone operating more than 1500 watts peak envelope power (PEP) and voluntarily-equipped (pleasure) ship stations with more than 1000 watts of peak envelope power (PEP).
The ship RADAR Endorsement may be placed on the General Radiotelephone Operator License, GMDSS Radio Maintainer's License, GMDSS Radio Operator/Maintainer License or on the First or Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate (T1 or T2). Only person whose commercial radio operator license bears this endorsement may repair, maintain or internally adjust ship RADAR equipment.
All international CMET applicants must present to NMEA the equivalent commercial radio repair license (if available in their country) issued from their country and their government issued ID.
Taking the Exam:
The CMET exam is a proctored 150 question multiple choice test with a 2 hour time limit, and a passing grade of 80%. A standard calculator is allowed. Proctored testing arrangements must be scheduled by the test taker a minimum of 2 weeks in advance.
The exam can be taken / proctored as follows:
- On line, proctored by NMEA staff
- In person at your local Library, learning center, or college (NMEA will mail the test to the staff at the location you specify)
- In person at the NMEA Conference
- In person at the NMEA office in Severna Park, MD
Re-Taking the Exam:
There is 1 retake allowed within 60 days (included in exam price). If a test taker fails the re-take, the next available date to take the exam is 12 months from the date of first test; in which the standard exam price applies again.
CMET Renewals:
The CMET Certification is good for five (5) years from the date of issue. The renewal exam is an online 50 question test that does not require proctoring. The cost to renew is $100 regardless of membership status. To renew, click on the "Renew My Certification" button above. All renewal applicants have the option of taking a 25 question practice test prior to taking the renewal exam. CMET must also have current AMEI and Advanced NMEA 2000 Certifications in order to renew. NMEA staff will verify this information.
Once payment is received, links for the practice/renewal exams will be sent. Once completed and passed, the CMET certification will be good for another five (5) years. If the exam is not passed within two (2) tries, the 150 question CMET exam will need to be retaken at the current published exam rate.
After a CMETs second and final renewal test, a Lifetime CMET is awarded and no other renewals are needed. The only NMEA verification needed is confirmation that the individual is still actively working in the marine electronics industry.
