Coast Guard ASVAB scores: the minimum and A-school requirements
Last checked October 14, 2026 · Sources: Coast Guard Get Started page, U.S. Coast Guard article ASVAB score requirements changing for A schools and the Department of Defense ASVAB FAQs
The Coast Guard’s recruiting site says the minimum AFQT score to enlist is 32. Your Coast Guard ASVAB scores then decide which ratings (jobs) you can train for: each rating’s A-school sets a minimum composite score built from specific subtests, and some also set minimums on single subtests.
The Coast Guard minimum AFQT
The Coast Guard’s Get Started page states that the minimum ASVAB AFQT score for enlisting is 32. This figure has moved. A search engine’s stored copy of the same page shows 36, and many prep sites still list 36 or 40. When guides disagree with the Coast Guard’s own page, go by the Coast Guard, and confirm the current number with a recruiter before you plan around it.
The AFQT is the percentile score from four ASVAB subtests that decides basic eligibility. Our ASVAB scores guide explains how it works and lists the minimum each branch publishes.
Where the ASVAB fits in joining the Coast Guard
The Coast Guard describes its process in a few steps. You contact a recruiter, who screens you for the basic requirements. You then take the ASVAB and a physical exam at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). Before the medical exam is scheduled, you submit a detailed, well-documented medical history. Once you have a qualifying ASVAB score and medical exam, your recruiter checks the remaining qualifications, such as criminal background and credit checks. Officer programs use different standardized test requirements.
The Coast Guard also suggests a practice test to predict how you will score if you haven’t taken the ASVAB yet. Official sample questions are linked from our free ASVAB resources page.
Ratings and A-school ASVAB requirements
In the Coast Guard, jobs are called ratings, and each rating trains at its own A-school. Each A-school sets a minimum composite score: the sum of the standard scores on specific subtests. Some also set a minimum on a single subtest, and some accept an alternate AFQT score instead.
In October 2021 the Coast Guard announced the first major change to its ASVAB policy since 2004, effective November 1, 2021. It lowered the composite requirement for every A-school except diver by 10 points, while keeping the same subtests and the same subtest minimums. The article gave one example:
| Information Systems Technician (IT) | Before Nov 1, 2021 | From Nov 1, 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Composite (MK+EI+GS) | 172 | 162 |
| Arithmetic Reasoning minimum | 52 | 52 (unchanged) |
| Alternate AFQT qualification | 65 | 65 (unchanged) |
Source: U.S. Coast Guard, ASVAB score requirements changing for A schools, October 22, 2021.
The Coast Guard said it would keep adjusting scores up or down as its needs change, so check the current requirement for any rating with a recruiter. The 2021 figures show how the system works; they may not be today’s numbers.
Waivers and the Path to Success form
The same 2021 policy widened waivers. Coast Guard Recruiting Command Accessions and commanding officers can now waive up to 10 total points, including subtest minimums but not the AFQT. Each rating force master chief can grant waivers beyond that. In the article’s example, a member with an IT composite of 154, an Arithmetic Reasoning score of 50 and an AFQT of 60 could have the 8 composite points and 2 subtest points waived to qualify for IT A-school.
If a waiver is denied, the member must receive a signed Path to Success form. It sets out a plan and resources to raise their ASVAB score or strengthen a future waiver request. The Coast Guard reported that over the previous three years it granted more than 300 merit-based waivers a year, and that members with waivers graduated from A-school at the same rate as their peers.
Why the Coast Guard changed its requirements
The 2021 article explained the reason. At the time, 12 of 21 A-school waitlists did not have enough qualified applicants to fill even one class, and more than 600 A-school seats had gone empty in fiscal year 2021. The Coast Guard said the change would give 79% of current members more choice of A-school, while graduation standards stayed the same.
Retaking the ASVAB
The Department of Defense rule applies to all branches: wait one calendar month before your first retest, another calendar month before the second, then six calendar months before each later attempt. Scores can be used for enlistment for up to two years from your test date. Our ASVAB test day guide covers what happens at MEPS.
Common questions about Coast Guard ASVAB scores
What is the minimum ASVAB score for the Coast Guard?
32 on the AFQT, according to the Coast Guard’s Get Started page as checked on October 14, 2026. Older sources list 36 or 40, so confirm with a recruiter.
What is a Coast Guard A-school?
It is the training school for a Coast Guard rating (job). Each A-school sets its own minimum ASVAB composite score.
Can I get a waiver for a low A-school score?
Yes. Recruiting command and commanding officers can waive up to 10 points, including subtest minimums but not the AFQT, and rating force master chiefs can approve larger waivers.
Do Coast Guard officers need the ASVAB?
The Coast Guard says its officer programs have different standardized test requirements. Check the officer program you are interested in.
Why do websites list different Coast Guard minimums?
The Coast Guard’s own page has changed over time, and many guides still repeat older figures. That is why we only quote the number on the Coast Guard’s current page.
Compare with the Army and Air Force score pages, or go back to the ASVAB overview. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or any service branch.