Coast Guard and ASVAB

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is used to identify whether a candidate is qualified to enlist in a particular branch of the U.S. Military. If you want to join the Coast Guard then you are going to be taking the ASVAB.

The ASVAB test is also used to determine which jobs (referred to as "Ratings" in the Coast Guard), enlistment bonuses and salary-level a candidate is eligible for. A high score will improve your chances of getting the job and signing bonus you want.

The ASVAB is a large test containing a total of approximately 200 multiple-choice questions that cover a wide variety of topics or categories. In fact, the ASVAB contains questions from nine (9) specific categories or sub-tests as shown below.

Your scores on these individual sub-tests are used by the Coast Guard to calculate 2 (two) important types of scores: your Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score and your Composite Scores. Your AFQT score is used to determine if you are eligible to enlist in the Coast Guard. Your Composite Scores will determine which jobs, or Ratings, you are eligible for. Let's go through each of these separately.

Coast Guard AFQT Scores

Please take a look at our AFQT Overview for a full review of the AFQT and how it is calculated. In short, the Coast Guard will evaluate your scores on four (4) of the ASVAB sub-tests to calculate your AFQT. The sub-tests used to calculate your AFQT are:

Review these sub-tests in detail.

Coast Guard AFQT Minimums

Each branch of the military sets its own standards for enlistment. For most branches, a much higher AFQT score is required from applicants with a GED than their counterparts with a high school diploma. The Coast Guard is no exception. The minimum AFQT scores to enlist in the Coast Guard are:

Minimum AFQT Score (with High School Diploma): 40
Minimum AFQT Score (with GED): 50

Coast Guard Composite Scores (Jobs)

Jobs in the Coast Guard are called "Ratings". The Coast Guard breaks down your ASVAB sub-test scores into groups to find the Rating(s) that you qualify for.

The 9 total ASVAB sub-tests are:

Review these sub-tests in detail.

The Coast Guard Ratings are:

Rating	ASVAB Sub-tests	Minimum Scores
Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT)	AR+MC+AS+EI	213 (Minimum AR of 52)
Aviation Survival Technician (AST)	VE+MC+AS	162 (Minimum AFQT score of 65)
Avionics Technician (AVT)	MK+EI+GS	171 (Minimum AR of 52)
Boatswain's Mate (BM)	VE+AR	101
Damage Controlman (DC)	VE+MC+AS	152
Electrician's Mate (EM)	MK+EI+GS	152 (Minimum AR of 52)
Electronics Technician (ET)	MK+EI+GS	171 (Minimum AR of 52) or AFQT of 66
Food Service Specialist (FS)	VE+AR	106
Gunner's Mate (GM)	AR+MK+EI+GS	208
Health Services Technician (HS)	VE+MK+GS	154
Information Systems Technician (IT)	MK + EI + GS	171 (Minimum AR 52)
Investigator (IV)	None Established
Machinery Technician (MK)	AR+MC+AS	150 or VE+AR of 106
Marine Science Technician (MST)	VE+AR	115 (Minimum MK of 58)
Operations Specialist (OS)	VE + AR	106
Public Affairs Specialist (PA)	VE+AR	110 (Minimum VE of 60)
Port Security Specialist (PS)	VE+AR	101
Storekeeper (SK)	VE+AR	106 (Minimum VE of 52)
Yeoman (YN)	VE+AR	106 and NO+CS of 101

Above Information Courtesy of United States Coast Guard

Prepare for the Coast Guard ASVAB

If you are serious about earning high scores on the ASVAB and jump-starting your career you need to prepare wisely for the ASVAB. No system produces better results than ASVAB Prep Tests.