Engineer Class 1 (Motor, Steam or Steam and Motor) (Test page)

On this page: 

• About this certificate
• Eligibility requirements
• Qualifying sea service
• Complete training
• How to apply
• Revalidation requirements
• How to revalidate
• Endorsements
• Career pathways
• Regulations and standards

About this certificate

An Engineer Class 1 is an STCW certificate of competency (CoC).

It allows you to work as a chief engineer, second engineer or engineer watchkeeper on vessels of any propulsion power, in any operating area under the STCW convention.

With this certificate, you can perform:

• chief engineer duties
• second engineer duties
• engineer watchkeeper duties
• electrical, electronic and control engineering duties
• able seafarer – engine duties or functions.

Eligibility requirements

To be issued this certificate, you must:

• hold, or have held:
  • an AMSA-issued Engineer Class 2 certificate
  • an overseas STCW certificate AMSA considers equivalent (same role and function)
• hold a valid AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness (303)
• complete qualifying sea service
• complete an AMSA-approved Advanced Diploma of Marine Engineering
• hold a sea service assessment letter
• pass an AMSA oral exam.

Qualifying sea service

The sea service you need depends on your experience and the certificates you already hold.

There are 4 pathways to qualify for this certificate:

• standard pathway if you mostly have engine room watch experience
• reduced sea service pathway if you have experience as a first engineer
• a transition pathway if you are transferring from a Near Coastal certificate
• combination sea service pathway

Pathway 1 - If you have engine room watch experience (36 months)

Use this pathway if you have at least 36 months sea service in charge of an engine room watch, including:

• 12 months on vessels with propulsion power more than 3000 kW
• 12 months while holding Engineer Class 2.

What you need 
1) At least 36 months qualifying sea service 
2) A valid Engineer Watchkeeper or Engineer Class 2 
3) AMSA-approved Advanced Diploma in Marine Engineering 
4) Sea service assessment 
5) AMSA oral exam

1) Check the certificate you held during your sea service

For this pathway, your qualifying sea service must be completed while holding:

• Engineer Watchkeeper
• Engineer Class 2
• or a combination of both.

These can be either:

• AMSA-issued certificates
• overseas STCW certificates AMSA considers equivalent.

2) Complete qualifying sea service

You must complete:

• Duration: at least 1080 days (36 months)
• Vessels: on vessels with propulsion power of 750 kW or more
• Role: in charge of an engine room watch
• Certificate: while holding a valid Engineer Watchkeeper or Engineer Class 2 certificate

Must include:

• Engineer Class 2 service: 12 months while holding Engineer Class 2
• Large vessel service: 12 months on vessels over 3000 kW (of the propulsion type you are applying for)

3) Apply for a sea service assessment

After completing your qualifying sea service, you need to apply to AMSA for a sea service assessment.

You must have a sea service assessment letter and pass an AMSA oral exam before you can apply for this certificate.

Pathway 2 - If you have first engineer experience (24 months)

Use this pathway if you have at least 24 months’ sea service in charge of an engine room watch, including 12 months as first engineer on vessels with propulsion power more than 3000 kW while holding Engineer Class 2.

What you need 
1) At least 36 months qualifying sea service 
2) A valid Engineer Watchkeeper or Engineer Class 2 
3) AMSA-approved Advanced Diploma in Marine Engineering 
4) Sea service assessment 
5) AMSA oral exam

1) Check the certificate you held during your sea service

For this pathway, your qualifying sea service must include at least 12 months served while holding an Engineer Class 2 certificate.

This can be either an:

• AMSA-issued certificate
• overseas STCW certificate with an equivalent role and function.

2) Complete qualifying sea service

You must complete:

• at least 720 days (24 months)
• on vessels with propulsion power of 750 kW or more
• while in charge of an engine room watch
• while holding Engineer Watchkeeper and/or Engineer Class 2

Your total sea service must include:

• at least 360 days (12 months)
• on vessels with propulsion power more than 3000 kW (of the propulsion type you are applying for)
• as a first engineer
• while holding an Engineer Class 2 certificate

3) Apply for a sea service assessment

After completing your qualifying sea service, you need to apply to AMSA for a sea service assessment.

You must have a sea service assessment letter and pass an AMSA oral exam before you can apply for this certificate.

Pathway 3 - If you hold an Engineer Class 3 Near Coastal or eligible state-issued certificate (42 months)

Use this pathway if you are transitioning from an Engineer Class 3 Near Coastal certificate or an unrestricted Engineer Class 3 certificate issued by an Australian state before 1 July 2013.

What you need 
1) Engineer Class 3 Near Coastal or eligible state-issued Engineer Class 3 certificate during part of your qualifying sea service 
2) At least 42 months sea service
3) At least 18 months’ service on vessels over 3000 kW while holding Engineer Class 2 
4) AMSA-approved Advanced Diploma in Marine Engineering 
5) Sea service assessment and pass an AMSA oral exam

1) Check the certificate you held during your sea service

For this pathway, your qualifying sea service must include sea time while holding either:

• an AMSA-issued Engineer Class 3 Near Coastal certificate
• an unrestricted Engineer Class 3 certificate issued by an Australian state before 1 July 2013.

Your qualifying sea service must also include service while holding Engineer Class 2.

2) Complete qualifying sea service

You must complete:

• at least 1260 days (42 months)
• on vessels with propulsion power of 750 kW or more
• while in charge of an engine room watch.

Large vessel experience

Your sea service must include:

• at least 540 days (18 months)
• on vessels with propulsion power more than 3000 kW
• using the propulsion type related to the certificate you are applying for
• while holding an Engineer Class 2 certificate.

Service while holding Engineer Class 3

Your sea service must include:

• at least 720 days (24 months)
• while holding either:
  • an AMSA-issued Engineer Class 3 Near Coastal certificate
  • an unrestricted Engineer Class 3 certificate issued by an Australian state before 1 July 2013.

3) Apply for a sea service assessment

After completing your qualifying sea service, you need to apply to AMSA for a sea service assessment.

You must have a sea service assessment letter and pass an AMSA oral exam before you can apply for this certificate.

Pathway 4 - If you have combined qualifying sea service

Use this pathway if you have a combination of qualifying sea service that AMSA considers equivalent to Pathway 1 or Pathway 3 requirements.

AMSA will assess your qualifying sea service to determine whether it meets the requirements for this certificate.

You should apply for a sea service assessment before progressing with your application.

Complete training

You must complete the same training regardless of the sea service pathway you choose.

This training is usually delivered as an Advanced Diploma of Marine Engineering.

Certificate course 

AMSA-approved Engineer Class 1 course (STCW A‑III/1 and A‑III/2 )

Additional units (if not already held) 

• Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats (STCW A-VI/2)
• Security awareness training (STCW A-VI/6 (4))
• Advanced fire fighting (STCW A-VI/3)
• Medical first aid (STCW A-VI/4 paras 1-3)

Your AMSA-approved training provider can:

• confirm which units are included in your course
• assess whether your existing training meets the requirements
• advise if your previous training may count through recognition of prior learning (RPL).

How to apply

Make sure you meet the requirements above before you apply.

Follow the step-by-step guide to:

• check your eligibility
• understand what documents you need
• submit your application

Follow the step-by-step guide to apply

Revalidation requirements

This certificate must be revalidated every 5 years to remain current.

For all revalidations, you will need:

• a valid AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness
• to demonstrate continued competence.

The training you need to do depends on whether you have recent qualifying sea service.

Select the pathway that applies to you.

Pathway 1 - With recent qualifying sea service

What you need 

☐ Recent qualifying sea service
☐ Refresher training

1) Check your recent qualifying sea service

You must have completed either:

• 360 days sea service in the last 5 years
• 90 days sea service in the last 6 months

We calculate sea service from the date you apply. For example, your 90 days must be within the 6 months before you submit your application.

Your sea service must have been:

• as a first engineer
• while holding your Engineer Class 1
• on vessels with propulsion power of 750 kW.

Accepted vessel types can include:

• tugs
• Sydney Harbour ferries
• commercial yachts
• domestic commercial vessels
• FPSOs and OSIMUs
• high-speed craft
• vessels on delivery voyages
• sea trials
• bunker barges or similar vessels.

Sea service letters

You will need to provide sea service letters as evidence of your qualifying sea service.

Your sea service letter must: 

• be submitted using the international seafarers template
• issued by your employer
• written on company letterhead.

We do not accept letters issued by the ship’s Master or Chief Engineer.

Find out more about how to provide evidence of sea service.

Sea service letters

You must provide sea service letters as evidence of your qualifying sea service.

Sea service letters are only accepted if they are:

• issued by your employer
• written on company letterhead.

We do not accept letters issued by the ship’s Master or Chief Engineer.

[Find out more about how to provide sea service evidence]

2) Complete refresher training (1- 2 days)

You must have completed these refresher training units within the last 5 years:

• Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats -refresher
• Advanced fire fighting - refresher

Training providers often deliver these units together as a Certificate of Competency (CoC) Refresher. 

Make sure your training provider is approved 

You must complete these courses with an AMSA-approved training provider.

We do not accept training completed with non-approved providers. Some STCW courses may be completed overseas if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Find an AMSA approved training provider

Pathway 2 - Without qualifying sea service

What you need 

☐ Certificate revalidation course or AMSA oral exam 
☐ Full STCW short courses (not refresher training)

1) Complete a revalidation course or AMSA oral exam 

To demonstrate continued competence, you can either:  

• complete an AMSA-approved Engineer Class 1 revalidation course
• book and pass an AMSA oral exam to demonstrate continued competence.

2) Complete full STCW short courses (3 or more days)

You must have also completed full STCW short courses in the last 5 years: 

• Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (STCW A-VI/2)
• Advanced fire fighting (STCW A-VI/3)

Make sure you complete the right training

For this pathway, you must complete the revalidation course and full STCW short courses. We do not accept refresher training for this pathway.

Check with your training provider before enrolling to make sure you complete the correct course.

Training providers often deliver this training as:

• Certificate of Competency (CoC) Revalidation – Part A
• Certificate of Competency (CoC) Revalidation – Part C

Make sure your training provider is approved 

You must complete these courses with an AMSA-approved training provider.

We do not accept training completed with non-approved providers. Some STCW courses may be completed overseas if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Find an AMSA approved training provider

Pathway 3 - If you work in a shore-based maritime engineering role

Use this pathway if you do not have recent qualifying sea service at sea but work in an equivalent maritime engineering role.

Equivalent roles may include:

• technical, engineering or marine superintendent roles
• surveyor or inspector roles
• lecturers at AMSA-approved training providers.

What you need 
☐ Evidence of recent equivalent service 
☐ Evidence you have maintained engineering knowledge and competence 
☐ Revalidation training or oral exam (if required)

1) Check your equivalent service

• You must provide evidence of at least 2.5 years’ service in the last 5 years in an equivalent maritime engineering role.
• Your employer must provide a statement on company letterhead confirming:
  • your role and duties
  • your period of service
  • that you have maintained professional competence relevant to your certificate.

2) Complete any required revalidation assessment or training

AMSA will assess your role and experience to determine whether you need:

• refresher training
• a revalidation course
• STCW short courses
• an oral exam
• or a combination of these.

Some revalidation courses must be completed in Australia with an AMSA-approved training provider.

How to revalidate

Make sure you meet the revalidation requirements before you apply.

Follow the step-by-step guide to:

• confirm your eligibility
• check what evidence you need
• submit your application

Follow the step-by-step guide to revalidate your certificate

Endorsements

You may need additional endorsements depending on the vessel, cargo or duties you perform.

Endorsements available for this certificate include: 

• Dynamic positioning operator (limited and unlimited)
• Polar code (basic and advanced)
• Security endorsements
• IGF code (basic and advanced)
• Basic and advanced tanker endorsements (oil, chemical and gas)
• WIG craft type rating
• Passenger vessel endorsements
• High speed craft
• Proficiency in fast rescue boats.

Learn more about STCW endorsements .

Career pathways

With an Engineer Class 1 certificate, you can work in senior engineering roles on vessels operating under the STCW convention.

You may also use this certificate to:

• work in chief engineer roles on larger or more complex vessels
• move into technical superintendent or marine engineering management roles
• support specialised operations such as offshore, tanker or dynamic positioning vessels
• pursue additional endorsements and specialised engineering qualifications.

Explore career pathways for marine engineers

Regulations and standards

• Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification)
• Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers)