MT03 - AMSA Approval – STCW Certificate of Competency and Short Courses
1. Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)
The following procedure provides detail of the requirements for a RTO to gain approval to conduct unlimited International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW) certificate of competency courses or STCW short courses to those who are seeking to qualify for an STCW qualification.
It is a requirement of the STCW Convention for a Flag State Authority (AMSA in Australia) to monitor all training, assessment of competence, certification, endorsement and revalidation activities carried out by non-governmental agencies or entities under its authority.
Considering the above a student undertaking an AMSA approved course and wishing to obtain an AMSA primary certificate of competency, proficiency or certificate of safety training must complete all the education (including short courses) and training at an AMSA approved college.
2. Scope
This procedure outlines the process for AMSA approved RTO's to offer courses that lead to the issue of a STCW qualification. Additional guidance is provided for AMSA Approval - Distance Education
3. Definitions
For clarification of terms and abbreviations used within this procedure refer to Definitions
4. Associated documents
- Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations 2011
- International Maritime Organization (IMO) Model Courses
- International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW)
- Marine Orders Part 6 - Marine Qualifications Radio (MO6)
- Marine Orders Part 3 - Seagoing Qualifications (MO3)
- Maritime Training Package TDM07 (MTP) published by the Transport & Logistics Industry Skills Council (TLISC)
In the case of the Australian Maritime College (AMC) reference should be made to the accredited curriculum documents.
5. Application for Approval
- An RTO must submit to AMSA a full application in writing for approval to conduct STCW certificates of competency and/or short courses for the award of STCW qualifications to candidates who successfully complete the program.
The conditions applying to the approval are: - AMSA will only recognise training provided by RTO's who are approved by AMSA to conduct STCW certificate of competency and/or short courses;
- The assessment criteria must be in accordance with AMSA requirements, and
- Recognition of Prior Learning or Credit Transfers must be in accordance with AMSA requirements.
- RTO's who wish to provide GMDSS GOC training must also comply with Approval of the Global Maritime Distress & Safety System, General Operator's Certificate Course.
6. Rejection of RTO submissions for AMSA course approval
AMSA reserves the right to reject a submission from an RTO seeking approval to provide training leading to the issue of an AMSA seafarer certificate under Marine Orders Part 3 – Seagoing Qualifications.
AMSA may reject a submission at its discretion, and will reject its submission when:
- There are already existing AMSA approved providers of the proposed course in the same area with under utilised facilities.
- Submissions are inadequate with respect to compliance with AMSA course guidelines or IMO Model courses, as appropriate.
- The RTO does not have appropriately qualified and experienced lecturers for delivery of the proposed course.
- The RTO does not have the necessary equipment or facilities to conduct the proposed course.
- The RTO does not have an audited and verified quality management system.
If a submission is rejected by AMSA feedback will be provided to the RTO stating the reasons why the submission was unacceptable. AMSA will then not accept a further submission from the RTO for a period of 12 months from the date of rejection. If the RTO chooses to make a new submission AMSA will charge the appropriate approval assessment fee.
7. Assessment/Approval of the application
For AMSA approval, the training provider must comply with the requirements specified in the AMSA Audits – STCW Certificate of Competency and Short Courses.
Note: RTO’s are advised that AMSA requires a minimum period in order to allow sufficient time for an assessment of submitted or resubmitted course material, as follows:
- for short courses six (6) working weeks;
- for certificate of competency and proficiency courses twelve (12) weeks.
The above times may extend due to the current staff workload at the time of submission.
8. Submission
An RTO wishing to gain approval to deliver STCW certificate of competency courses or short courses that leads to an issue of a STCW qualification must make a written submission to AMSA under the following headings:
- Contact details
The full name and address of the RTO that is requesting approval to deliver STCW certificate of competency or short course training.
Identify the Campus location(s) where training is to be conducted.
- Registered Training Organisation
As being a RTO is a prerequisite, documentary evidence issued by the appropriate Australian authority should be included in the submission.
- Full title of the course
The submission should align itself with the MTP and STCW.
- Aim of the course
The aim of the course is to be specified indicating the STCW qualification the program is designed for, including compliance with STCW and reference to the relevant MTP units of competency or profile.
- Objectives of the course
The RTO is to specify the intended outcomes of the training.
- Course curriculum
The course curriculum is to be based on the MTP units of competency and where clarification is required, referenced to the appropriate IMO Model Course. Details to include:
- Weekly hours
- Time spent on each subject/element
- Total course duration. If the proposed teaching hours differ greatly from the nominal hours given in the IMO Model Course the methodology to achieve the outcome is to substantiated.
- Methodology of learning and teaching techniques employed to meet the learning outcomes is to be specified.
- Entry standards
The RTO is to specify the entry standards that the candidate must comply with before being accepted on the training program.
Additionally, the methodology of Recognition of Prior Learning or Credits must be specified.
- Course attendance requirements
It is an AMSA requirement for AMSA approved providers to ensure all students attend at least 80% of classes for each subject of AMSA approved certificate of competency courses and 100% is required for all short courses for issue of an AMSA approved certificate of completion. These requirements are unconditional. AMSA approved providers must keep auditable records of student attendance.
- Conduct of the training
Explanation of the following must be specified:
a. Qualifications of teaching staff
Training and assessment must be undertaken by persons qualified in accordance with the provisions of sections A-I/6 and B-I/6 of the STCW Code. Staff should as a minimum have completed Level IV Certificate for Assessment & Workplace Training. A list of lecturers together with their qualifications and experience is to be provided.
b. Course intake limitations
The RTO is to determine if the number of students enrolled on the program is to be limited by number. If appropriate, the number is to be specified.
c. Course notes and reference documents
The submission is to include course notes, course delivery material and reference documents and must be of a suitable quality and substance to enable the student to complete the course.
d. Text books
If required a comprehensive reading list is to be made available to the students at the commencement of the training program.
e. Facilities & Equipment
The submission documentation is to include information (including picutres) of all teching aids, facilities and equipment that the students will utilise while undertaking the course.
f. Simulators
Simulators used for training should comply with the requirements specified in Sections A-I/12 and B-I/12 of the STCW Code.
- Assessment procedures
a. The RTO is to comply with Sections A-I/6 and B-I/6 of the STCW Code.
b. All candidates studying for STCW qualifications will be required to present sufficient evidence of competence and meet all the performance criteria within the range of the subject matter.
c. RTO's must devise appropriate instruments of assessment for consideration as part of the approval process and submit a copy of the assessment plan together with the marking scheme.
d. Supplementary methods of assessment are to be specified.
e. There is to be a final assessment. A candidate who fails the final assessment may resit it once. Failure to attain the required standard will require the candidate to repeat the components of the relevant competencies. Failure of a student to meet the attendance requirements specified in section 8, in any individual subject or short course, will mean that student will not be eligible for assessment in that subject or short course, for subsequent issue of an AMSA approved course completion certificate, until the attendance requirements have been met.
f. The academic history of the candidate must record the results of all pass or fail assessments. These are to be retained for subsequent verification by AMSA.
- Quality standards
a. The RTO is to comply with Sections A-I/8 and B-I/8 of the STCW Code.
b. The arrangements for delivering training and assessing competences must be continuously monitored by the RTO through a quality standards system to ensure achievement of the defined objectives.
c. RTO's are required to maintain a quality standard through documented procedures that will be audited by AMSA at regular intervals. (Refer to: AMSA Audits – STCW Certificate of Competency and Short Courses)
d. The quality standards system and evaluation arrangements may be part of a RTO's overall quality assurance system.
- Course completion documentation
A course completion document, in a form approved by AMSA, is to be issued by the RTO to the candidate upon the satisfactory completion of the training course.
9. Time restraints/constraints
Course validity
In accordance with Marine Orders Part 3, provision 7.3, where the issue of a certificate (competency, proficiency or short course) to a person is dependent upon that person completing an approved course, that course must have been completed:
- if the applicant provides proof of continuity of sea service since completion of the course which is at least equivalent to the requirements for revalidation in 10.1(a)(i) - within 10 years of the certificate being issued; or
- in any other case - within five (5) years.
The time period commences from the date the course completion certificate was issued by the RTO.