AMSA will be closed from 5 pm AEDT Tuesday 24 December 2024, re-opening on Thursday 2 January 2025. Our search and rescue will continue to operate every day (24/7) during this time. See which services are affected.

New certificate

New certificate

What do I need to do?

To obtain this certificate you will need to:

Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1.Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers

The Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea and includes the eyesight requirements to let us know that you are not colour blind.

If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.

2. Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers

Provide a medical practitioner with the Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers and have them complete the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850.

If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303), you can use this instead.

You must submit your completed form as part of your certificate of competency application.

Provide evidence of sea service

You can reduce the amount of sea service you need by completing an AMSA task book.

With a completed AMSA task book you will need:

  • 60 days of sea service
  • working in any deck capacity
  • on commercial vessels at least 7.5 metres long

Without a completed AMSA task book you will need:

  • 120 days of sea service
  • working in a deck, or deck and engineering capacity
  • on commercial or recreational vessels at least 7.5 metres long.

If you have completed a task book you must attach a copy of the seafarer details page to your application.

You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:

  • Record of sea service form 771
  • the on board sea service record from your task book
  • a letter from the vessel operator, owner, master or chief engineer detailing your sea service
  • an approved sea service log book.

Read more about qualifying sea service.

If you want a task book

You can get a Master inland waters task book from us or from some registered training organisations.
To order a task book directly from us, use the AMSA chargeable publications order form.

Read more about task books.

Complete a training course

Complete a master inland waters course at a registered training organisation.

You will need to submit your course completion certificate or your interim certificate of competency with your Certificate of competency application.

Meet additional requirements

You must also hold a valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.

If you do not hold this certificate contact your registered training organisation.

Pass a final assessment at a registered training organisation

Before being issued your certificate of competency you are required to complete an AMSA Mandated Practical Assessment (AMPA) conducted by a registered training organisation approved by us as a final assessor.

Refer to the syllabus document to find out what may be included in your final assessment.

After passing the final assessment the registered training organisation may give you an interim certificate of competency that will allow you to start working immediately. To be eligible for the interim certificate of competency you must have completed your Certificate of competency application form 426 including signing the declaration.

You must submit the cover page of your completed AMPA as part of your Certificate of competency application.

Complete and submit a certificate of competency application

To apply, complete and submit the Certificate of competency application form 426.
Read more about completing and submitting your application for a domestic certificate.