46 U.S.C. § 7315

(a) Nautical School Program .— Graduation from a nautical school program may be substituted for the sea service requirements under sections 7307 through 7311a and 7313 of this title. (b) Other Approved Training Programs .— The satisfactory completion of a training program approved by the Secretary may be substituted for not more than one-half of the sea service requirements under sections 7307 through 7311a and 7313 of this title in accordance with subsection (c). (c) Training Days .— For purposes of subsection (b), training days undertaken in connection with training programs approved by the Secretary may be substituted for days of required sea service under sections 7307 through 7311a and 7313 of this title as follows: (1) Each shore-based training day in the form of classroom lectures may be substituted for 2 days of sea service requirements. (2) Each training day of laboratory training, practical demonstrations, and other similar training, may be substituted for 4 days of sea service requirements. (3) Each training day of full mission simulator training may be substituted for 6 days of sea service requirements. (4) Each training day underway on a vessel while enrolled in an approved training program may be substituted for 1½ days of sea service requirements, as long as— (A) the structured training provided while underway on a vessel is— (i) acceptable to the Secretary as part of the approved training program; and (ii) fully completed by the individual; and (B) the tonnage of such vessel is appropriate to the endorsement being sought. (d) Definition .— In this section, the term “training day” means a day that consists of not less than 7 hours of training.