This certificate will allow you to work as:
- Master on commercial vessels up to 45 metres long in inland waters
- Work as a General Purpose Hand NC
To be eligible for a Master (Inland waters) certificate you must:
- Be at least 16 years old on the certificate issue date.
- Be able to speak and understand English, including written documents.
- Be medically fit for the duties, including eyesight
- Gain any needed sea service
- Complete training.
For more information, select what you need to apply for below.
Syllabus
Important disclaimer
This web page provides summary information only. We make decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency — national law) 2022. Please refer to this document for full details of eligibility and other requirements for certificate applications.
What do you need to apply for?
New certificate
What do I need to do?
To obtain this certificate you will need to:
- Meet medical and eyesight requirements
Download the:
1.Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers
The Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea and includes the eyesight requirements to let us know that you are not colour blind.
If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.
2. Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers
Provide a medical practitioner with the Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers and have them complete the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850.
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.
- Provide evidence of sea service
You can reduce the amount of sea service you need by completing an AMSA task book.
With a completed AMSA task book you will need:
- 60 days of sea service
- working in any deck capacity
- on commercial vessels at least 7.5 metres long
Without a completed AMSA task book you will need:
- 120 days of sea service
- working in a deck, or deck and engineering capacity
- on commercial or recreational vessels at least 7.5 metres long.
If you have completed a task book you must attach a copy of the seafarer details page to your application.
You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:
- Record of sea service form 771
- the on board sea service record from your task book
- 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.
If you want a task book
You can get a Master inland waters task book from us or from some registered training organisations.
To order a task book directly from us, use the AMSA chargeable publications order form.Read more about task books.
- Complete a training course
Complete a master inland waters course at a registered training organisation.
You will need to submit your course completion certificate or your interim certificate of competency with your Certificate of competency application.
- Meet additional requirements
You must also hold a valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
If you do not hold this certificate contact your registered training organisation.
- Pass a final assessment at a registered training organisation
Before being issued your certificate of competency you are required to complete an AMSA Mandated Practical Assessment (AMPA) conducted by a registered training organisation approved by us as a final assessor.
Refer to the syllabus document to find out what may be included in your final assessment.
After passing the final assessment the registered training organisation may give you an interim certificate of competency that will allow you to start working immediately. To be eligible for the interim certificate of competency you must have completed your Certificate of competency application form 426 including signing the declaration.
You must submit the cover page of your completed AMPA as part of your Certificate of competency application.
- 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.
Renewal of Certificate
A Master (Inland waters) certificate of competency is generally valid for five years. To keep working using your certificate you need to renew it every five years.
What do I need to do?
To renew this certificate you will need to:
- Meet medical and eyesight requirements
You must complete a declaration of medical fitness on the Certificate of competency application form 426. This lets us know that you are medically fit, and that your eyesight meets the necessary standard, to work at sea.
If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.
- Provide evidence of sea service
You do not need sea service to renew a Master (Inland waters) certificate of competency.
- Provide existing certificates
You must submit a copy of your:
- existing Master inland waters (front and back)
- valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
- 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.
Endorsements and restrictions
You may apply for the following endorsement to your certificate:
- Command and operate the engines of a vehicular ferry-in-chains attached to the shore by a cable.
Endorsement to command and operate the engines of a vehicular ferry in chains attached to the shore by a cable
If you want to get this endorsement at the same time as your certificate, you can add this to your application for a new certificate. You will need to include the sea service laid out below with your application.
If you are adding this endorsement to a current certificate you will need to:
- 1. Meet medical and eyesight requirements
Within the Certificate of competency application form 426 there is a declaration of medical fitness that you must complete. This lets us know that you are medically fit, and that your eyesight meets the necessary standard, to work at sea.
If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.
- 2. Provide evidence of sea service
You need to show you have sea service on a ferry in chains.
- You must have completed 20 days on a ferry in chains.
You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:
- Record of sea service form 771
- the on board sea service record from your task book
- 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.
- 3. Provide existing certificates
You must submit a copy of your:
- existing Master inland waters (front and back)
- valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
- 4. 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.
Remove a daylight hours restriction on your certificate
If you have this restriction on your certificate you may apply to have the restriction removed.
What do I need to do?
To remove this restriction, you will need to:
- 1. 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 proves that you are medically fit for working at sea and includes the eyesight requirements to let us know you are not colour blind.
If you are colour blind, we will not be able to remove your daylight hours restriction.
2. Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers
Provide a medical practitioner with the Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers and have them complete the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850.
If you do not meet the colour vision requirements of the eyesight test, you must also get the practitioner to provide a certificate or statement stating that you do not suffer any greater abnormality in colour vision than could be tested by the Ishihara Test.
If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this in place of the Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate.
Submit your completed forms as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426.
- 2. Provide existing certificates
You must submit a copy of your:
- existing Master (Inland waters)
- valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
- 3. 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.
Equivalent certificate
If you hold a State or Territory perpetual Master Class 5 (restricted to inland waters), or perpetual Master Class 4 (restricted to inland waters), we invite you to apply for a Master (Inland waters) allowing you to command a commercial vessel up to 45 metres long in inland waters.
If your existing certificate is restricted to operating within daylight hours only, your Master (Inland waters) certificate of competency will be subject to the same restriction.
What do I need to do?
To get a Master (Inland waters) you will need to:
- 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 and includes the eyesight requirements to let us know that you are not colour blind.
If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.
2. Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers
Provide a medical practitioner with the Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers and have them complete the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850.
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.
- Provide existing certificate
As part of your application for an equivalent certificate you must submit a copy of your:
- existing certificate of competency
- valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
- 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.