Master less than 24 metres near coastal

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.

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 instead

You must submit your completed form with your application.

Provide evidence of sea service

You need to show you have experience working at sea in a deck, or deck and engineering capacity.

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:

• 120 days of sea service
• On commercial vessels at least 7.5 metres long

Without an AMSA task book you will need:

• 360 days of sea service on vessels at least 7.5 metres long
• At least half on commercial vessels
• Up to half on recreational vessels

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 <24m 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 up to 24 metres 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
• Long range operator certificate of proficiency, or equivalent.

If you do not hold these certificates contact a 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). This must be 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.
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. 

A Master less than 24 metres near coastal certificate of competency is generally valid for five years. To keep working using your certificate you need to renew it every five years.

What do I need to do?

To renew 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 medically fit, and that your eyesight meets the necessary standard, to work at sea.

If your existing Master less than 24 metres certificate has a daylight hours restriction, this restriction will also be on your renewed certificate.

Provide evidence of sea service

You do not need sea service to renew a Master less than 24 metres near coastal certificate of competency.

Provide existing certificates

You must submit a copy of your:

• existing Master less than 24 metres
• valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.

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. 

You may apply for the following endorsements to your certificate:

• Endorsement to command and operate the engines of a vehicular ferry-in-chains attached to the shore by a cable

Endorsement to command and operate the engines of a vehicular ferry-in-chains attached to the shore by a cable

What do I need to do?

If you want to get this endorsement at the same time as your certificate, you can add this to your application for a new certificate. You will need to include the sea service laid out below with your application.

If you are adding this endorsement to a current certificate you will need to:

1. 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 medically fit, and that your eyesight meets the necessary standard, to work at sea.

2. Provide evidence of sea service

You need to show you have experience working in a deck, or deck and engineering, capacity on a ferry in chains. You must have completed:

• 20 days sea service on a ferry in chains

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

• Record of sea service form 771
• 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.

3. Complete a training course

• Complete an HLTAID011 Provide first aid course.
• You will need to submit your valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent with your application.

4. Provide existing certificate

You must submit a copy of both sides of your existing Master less than 24 metres.

5. 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. 

Remove a daylight hours restriction on your certificate

If you have this restriction on your certificate you may apply to have the restriction removed.

What do I need to do?

To remove this restriction, you will need to:

1. 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 proves that you are medically fit for working at sea and includes the eyesight requirements to let us know you are not colour blind.

If you are colour blind, we will not be able to remove your daylight hours restriction.

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 do not meet the colour vision requirements of the eyesight test you must also get the practitioner to provide a certificate or statement stating that you do not suffer any greater abnormality in colour vision than could be tested by the Ishihara Test.

If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this in place of the Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate.

Submit your completed forms as part of your application.

2. Provide existing certificates

You must submit a copy of your: 

• existing Master less than 24 metres
• valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent. 

3. 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. 

If you hold any of the following certificates, we will give you a Master less than 24 metres near coastal certificate.

• Watchkeeper (Deck) <500 GT
• Watchkeeper (Deck) <500 GT with <3000 GT NC endorsement
• Watchkeeper (Deck)
• Chief Mate <3000 GT
• Chief Mate
• Master <24 m FG

If your existing certificate is restricted to operating within daylight hours only, your new certificate will have the same restriction.

What do I need to do?

To get a Master less than 24 metres near coastal 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. 

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. 

Provide existing certificate

As part of your application for an equivalent certificate you must submit a copy of your:

• existing certificate of competency
• valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.

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.