Perpetual certificates and domestic certificates that expired more than 5 years ago

This information is for people who hold either:

• a perpetual certificate of competency, or
• a certificate of competency that expired more than 5 years ago.

You can use either of these to apply for an equivalent National Law certificate of competency.

Note: You can still use your perpetual certificate in the state it was issued as per the conditions on the certificate. 

How to apply

1. Find your equivalent certificate

Perpetual or >5 years-expired certificates are equivalent to corresponding National Law certificates.

Corresponding National Law certificates

Certificate issued by a State or the Northern Territory	National Law Certificate of competency
General Purpose Hand	General Purpose Hand NC
Coxswain Inland Waters	Coxswain Grade 2 NC
Coxswain  Coxswain (restricted to sheltered waters) Coxswain (restricted to outboard propulsion power)	Coxswain Grade 1 NC
Master Class 5 (restricted to inland waters)  Master Class 4 (restricted to inland waters)	Master (Inland waters) NC
Master Class 5  Skipper Grade 3  Master Class V (Trading)   Master Class V (Fishing)  Master Class 5 (Trading and Fishing) Master Class 5 (restricted to smooth waters)   Mate Class 4  Mate Class IV (Fishing)   Mate Class IV (Trading) Mate <80m	Master <24 m NC
Master Class 4  Skipper Grade 2 Master Class 4 (restricted to smooth waters)   Master Class IV (Trading)  Master Class IV (Fishing) Master <35m	Master <45 m NC
Master Class 3  Skipper Grade 1  Master Class III (Trading)  Master Class III (Fishing) Master <80m	Master <100 m NC
Marine Engine Driver Grade 3	Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 NC
Marine Engine Driver Grade 2	Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 NC
Marine Engine Driver Grade 1	Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 NC
Engineer Class 3	Engineer Class 3 NC

2. Gather supporting documents

You will need:

• a Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers (AMSA form 1850)
• a current 'Provide first aid' certificate (HLTAID011), or equivalent
• a copy of your expired or perpetual certificate of competency.

If you are applying for a Coxswain Grade 1, Master <24m, Master <45m, or Master <100m you will also need:

• a copy of your current marine radio certificate.

3. Sea service

For some certificates you will need to show evidence of sea service in the last 5 years.

This sea service must be relevant to the duties of your certificate (e.g. engineering duties for a Marine Engine Driver Grade 2).

Requirements for sea service

Perpetual certificates

Certificate of competency	Days of sea service in the last 5 years
Engineer Class 3 Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 NC Master <45m NC Master <100m NC	120 days
All other certificates	Not required

Sea service for state or territory, or AMSA-issued certificates expired >5 years ago

Certificate of competency	Days of sea service in the last 5 years
Coxswain Grade 1 NC   Engineer Class 3 Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 NC Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 NC Master (inland waters) NC Master <24m NC Master <45m NC Master <100m NC	120 days
Coxswain Grade 2 NC Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 NC	50 days
General Purpose Hand NC	5 days

Other options to meet sea service requirements

If you cannot provide the required number of sea service days, we may be able to accept the following alternatives:  

• 60 days sea service in the last 6 months (instead of the 120 days in the past 5 years)
• completion of a task book  
• completion of a final assessment (an AMSA mandated practical assessment (AMPA) or an oral examination)  
• other approved industry experience.  

4. Submit your application

1. Contact AMSA Connect to request your AMSA ID.
2. Log in to myAMSA using your AMSA ID and Australian Government myID.
3. In myAMSA:
   1. Select the corresponding National Law certificate
   2. Select the Equivalent certificate of competency option
   3. Select the scenario that applies to you (e.g. I hold a state, territory or AMSA issued certificate of competency that has expired more than 5 years ago)
4. Upload copies of your documents.
5. Pay the required fee and submit your application online.

Apply now

After you apply

We will confirm receipt of your application, and you can track your application in myAMSA.

We will also contact you if:  

• your application is incomplete
• the documents you provided are not suitable
• we need more information to make our assessment. 

See our incomplete application policy.