Some AMSA forms will be unavailable from 8:00 – 8:30 pm on Monday 29 April AEST due to scheduled maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience.

New certificate

New certificate
Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1. Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate

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 performing lookout duties during daylight hours only, unless you are working under direct supervision.

2. Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers

Provide the medical practitioner with the Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers and have them complete the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form.

If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this instead.

You must submit your completed form as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426

Complete a training course

Complete a General Purpose Hand near coastal course at a registered training organisation.

You will need to submit your course completion certificate with your Certificate of competency application.

Provide evidence of sea service

You need to show you have experience working at sea on board commercial vessels. You must have completed:

  • 5 days of qualifying sea service on commercial vessels of any size

There is no task book for a General Purpose Hand.

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.

Meet additional requirements

You must also hold a:

  • valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
Pass a practical assessment at a registered training organisation

A candidate may complete an AMPA for the General Purpose Hand (GPH) certificate of competency although this is not a requirement for certification.

Completing the GPH AMPA may however have practical benefits, as a candidate is only required to complete the AMPA for a particular unit of competency once. Therefore, a candidate who has completed the GPH AMPA is not required to complete the AMPA for those units of competency again for another certificate of competency.

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.