What is the medical certificate validity for crew aged 18 and older?

• A. 2 Years
• B. 1 Year
• C. 3 Years
• D. 5 Years

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how long a crew member’s International Medical Certificate remains valid before a new medical examination is required. For crew aged 18 and older, this certificate is valid for two years from the date of the medical examination, after which a renewal is normally needed to continue working at sea. This two-year period helps ensure ongoing assessment of fitness to perform duties safely, catching health changes that could affect navigation, safety, or general performance. In practice, some flags or individual medical circumstances might shorten the validity if closer monitoring is needed, but the standard for adults is two years. At port state control, an expired medical certificate would mean the crew member cannot sail until a renewed certificate is issued. So, two years is the correct standard.