Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)
If you hold a STCW Rating or Marine cook certificate of proficiency or Certificate of safety training (COST) you should apply to us to revalidate your certificate before it expires, if it has not been suspended or revoked. The revalidation process may differ and is dependent on whether you have enough sea service or not.
You must complete a sea service and course component to revalidate your certificate as well as have a valid certificate of medical fitness (not required for a Certificate of safety training). Read more about how to revalidate your Ratings or Marine cook certificate of proficiency or Certificate of safety training and how to apply with form AMSA 419:
Australia is a party to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). Under this convention, we comply with the standards required in STCW A-I/11. These standards require all seafarers to demonstrate continued competence refresher training in sea survival and fire fighting at the appropriate level. This requirement also includes the Fast rescue boat endorsement.
Completion of these courses is commonly known as a demonstration of continued competence.
Under the standards in the STCW, there is no requirement for revalidation of elementary first aid, medical first aid, and medical care certificates. However Maritime Labour Convention 2006, Regulation 4.1, Guideline B4.1 Medical care on board ship and ashore states:
3. Persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this guideline and any such other seafarers as may be required by the competent authority should undergo, at approximately five-year intervals, refresher courses to enable them to maintain and increase their knowledge and skills and to keep up-to-date with new developments.
In view of this guideline, employers should determine whether it is necessary for their seafarers to maintain currency of their course-associated medical certificate.
If you hold a Ratings certificate of proficiency or Certificate of safety training and live overseas, STCW short course(s), including continued competence refresher training, completed overseas in eligible countries may be recognised by AMSA for the purpose of revalidation if you satisfy the requirements below.
You will also need to prove sea service to revalidate your certificate (i.e. at least 12 months in 5 years or at least 3 months in the previous 6 months prior to application). Sea service letters are required for this and are only accepted if issued by your employer and written on company letterhead paper. Letters issued by the ship’s Master or Chief Engineer will not be accepted.
You must also have a valid certificate of medical fitness (not required for a Certificate of safety training).
Certificate or endorsement type | STCW short courses (approved by an administration with which we have an agreement) |
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| Certificate of proficiency as Chief integrated rating |
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| Certificates of proficiency in fast rescue boats | Fast rescue boats (STCW Code section A-VI/2 paragraphs 7 to 10) |
| Basic training for IGF code endorsement | Basic training for IGF code (STCW Code section A-V/3 paragraph 1) |
If you hold a Marine cook certificate of proficiency to revalidate you require at least 3 months cooking experience on a vessel or ashore or a combination of both in the previous 5 years. You will also require a valid Certificate of safety training and Certificate of medical fitness.