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Change your name on your domestic certificate of competency

If you have recently changed your name, you can apply to get it changed on your certificate of competency and receive a replacement.

The documents you will need to change your name on your certificate of competency depend on the category that your certificate comes under. The two different categories of certificates of competency are:

  • Low complexity
  • High complexity

Low complexity certificates of competency are:  

  • General purpose hand near coastal  
  • Coxswain grade 3 near coastal  
  • Coxswain grade 2 near coastal  
  • Coxswain grade 1 near coastal  
  • Marine engine driver grade 3 near coastal  
  • Marine engine driver grade 2 near coastal  
  • Master (inland waters)  
  • Master less than 24 metres near coastal  
  • Sailing master (coastal)  
  • Sailing master (offshore)  

High complexity certificates of competency are:  

  • Master less than 45 metres near coastal  
  • Master less than 100 metres near coastal  
  • Marine engine driver grade 1 near coastal  
  • Engineer class 3 near coastal  

Your replacement high complexity certificate will have the same expiry date as your lost, stolen or damaged certificate. If your certificate is due to expire soon, you should apply to renew it instead and include your change of name documents with your application.  

Change your name on a low complexity certificate of competency

What do I need to do?

To get your name changed on your certificate you will need to:

Meet medical and eyesight requirements

You must complete a declaration of medical fitness on the Certificate of competency application form 426. This lets us know that you are still medically fit, and that your eyesight meets the necessary standard, to work at sea.

If your existing certificate has a daylight hours restriction, this restriction will be on your replacement certificate.

Provide existing certificates

You must submit a copy of your:

  • existing certificate of competency ·
  • valid HLTAID011 Provide First Aid certificate, or equivalent.
Meet additional requirements

You must submit a certificate or document attesting to the requested name change. This may be a marriage certificate, change of name certificate issued by a state or territory authority, divorce certificate, or similar.

Complete and submit a Certificate of competency application

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

Change your name on a high complexity certificate of competency

What do I need to do?

To get your name changed on your certificate you will need to:

Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1. Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate 

The Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea. 

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 fill out 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 in place of the Eyesight test certificate. You must submit your completed form with your Certificate of competency application form 426.

Provide existing certificates

You must submit a copy of your:

  • existing certificate of competency
  • valid HLTAID011 Provide First Aid certificate, or equivalent.
Meet additional requirements

You must submit a certificate or document attesting to the requested name change. This may be a marriage certificate, change of name certificate issued by a state or territory authority, divorce certificate, or similar.

Complete and submit a Certificate of competency application

Complete and submit the Certificate of competency application form 426.

Read more about completing and submitting your application for a domestic certificate.

Last updated: 28 December 2022