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.

International qualifications

Is your STCW seafarer certificate due to expire within the next year? Most certificates require a combination of continued competence refresher training in sea survival and firefighting, and medical fitness certificates. Professional qualifications take time, so does the revalidation process—book your continued competence refresher training courses and medical examination in advance.
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Basic safety training

Start your career as a seafarer with this international certificate. You will need a Certificate of safety training (COST) before you get any other qualification.

Ratings

These entry level international certificates allow you to begin advancing your career as a seafarer.

Engineer

These international certificates allow you to perform duties relating to the machinery of a vessel.

Deck

These international certificates allow you to perform duties relating to the navigation of a vessel.

Master

These international certificates allow you to work in a command position on a vessel of any size in any operating area.

Cook

Begin your seafarer career as a marine cook.

  • Marine cook

    This certificate enables you to work as a marine cook on ships of any size in any operating area.
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Training organisations for international qualifications

These registered training organisations deliver courses you can use to get an international certificate of competency.

Courses for international qualifications

There are courses and certificates, including medical and oral examinations, that you will need to take for most international qualifications you apply for.

Managing international certificates

You can apply to us to verify, replace or transition your international certificates. Find out if your certificate is affected by amendments to the STCW.

Fishing and sailing vessels

Find out about standards of competency and eligibility requirements to operate fishing and sailing vessels.

Global maritime distress and safety systems

These international certificates are mandatory if you want to work as a deck officer.

Yachting qualifications

These international certificates allow you to work on a commercial yacht.

Career pathways


Find out more about options for your career path as a seafarer in Australia.

Exemptions

You may be eligibile for an exemption to hold an international certificate of competency. These exemptions allow you to carry out duties for a certain period of time without a certificate of competency.

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