Electro-technical officer

For initial issue of a certificate of competency you are required to obtain a Certificate of medical fitness in Australia. The medical examination can be organised by contacting Sonic HealthPlus. We strongly recommend that you complete the medical examination before you commence training to ensure that you are medically fit for a seagoing career.

To book a medical examination, you can:

• Call toll free: 1300 763 822
• Email: seafarermedicals@sonichealthplus.com.au

Read more about medical fitness.

If you were serving as an electrician performing Electro-technical officer duties prior to 1 April 2014, you will need to hold an Australian electrical trade certificate or equivalent and complete these courses:

• Basic safety training, including security awareness training
• Advanced fire fighting
• Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats
• Medical first aid
• Oil and chemical tanker familiarisation (as per STCW Reg V/1-1 (1 & 2), Section A-V/1-1, para 1)
• Liquefied gas tanker familiarisation (as per STCW RegV/1-2 (1 & 2), Section A-V/1-2, para 1)
• An approved course that includes operate and maintain power systems in excess of 1,000 volts (as per STCW Code A-III/6).

These courses must be completed with an approved training organisation.

All of the certificates and training you complete and provide evidence of must comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

For the purpose of issuing an Electro-technical officer certificate of competency, we will accept an overseas electrical trade as an Australian electrical trade if you successfully complete a skills assessment. The skills assessment can be done through an Optional skills assessment service (OSAS). Find an OSAS. When your skills have been assessed, you can get an occupational license for Electrician (General) or Electrician (Special class).

If you are successful, you will be issued with an offshore technical skills record (OTSR). The OTSR is sufficient evidence to apply for a provisional electrical licence with Australian state and territory licensing authorities.

If you were serving as an electrician performing Electro-technical officer duties after 1 April 2014, you will need to complete these courses:

• An approved course that includes a program of workshop skills training from an approved training organisation for an Electro-technical officer
• Complete the approved Training Record Book
• Basic safety training, including security awareness training
• Advanced fire fighting
• Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats
• Medical first aid.

These courses must be completed with an approved training organisation. These organisations will recognise your prior learning if you hold an electrical trade certificate, or equivalent.

All of the certificates and training you complete and provide evidence of must comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

Serving as an Electro-technical officer before 1 April 2014

If you were serving as an electrician performing Electro-technical officer duties prior to 1 April 2014, you must have completed at least 12 months documented sea service as an electrician performing electro-technical officer duties on ships with total installed electrical generation capacity of at least 750 kW.

Serving as an Electro-technical officer after 1 April 2014

If you were serving as an electrician performing Electro-technical officer duties after 1 April 2014, you must have completed at least 6 months sea service on ships with total installed electrical generation capacity of at least 750 kW as part of an approved training program.

All submitted sea service must be documented qualifying sea service. Read more about sea service.

How to apply for sea service assessment

You will need to complete this sea service and then submit a Seafarer form 419 to us so we can assess your sea service and issue you with an AMSA assessment letter. This letter is the evidence you need to prove that you have met the sea service requirements for your qualification. This letter will also instruct you to complete your oral examination.

Once you have been assessed and issued with an assessment letter you will need to book and successfully pass an oral examination. Read more about booking an oral examination.

You will need to lodge a formal application using the Seafarer form 419 to be assessed towards the requirements for a Electro-technical officer certificate of competency.

Lodge from within Australia

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419, attach all required supporting documents and lodge it at a participating Australia Post retail outlet.

You will need to pay the fees for your application at the post office at the time of lodgement.

Lodge from overseas

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419, attach all required supporting documents including a colour passport-style photograph and send the paperwork to us by email to SCSApplications@amsa.gov.au When we receive your email we will let you know how to pay the fee for your application via AMSA online portal.

If you need to revalidate your current certificate, you can provide evidence of a medical completed in Australia, or in a country with an agreement with us.

You can organise a medical examination by contacting Sonic HealthPlus.

To book a medical examination, you can:

• Call toll free: 1300 763 822

Email: seafarermedicals@sonichealthplus.com.au

Obtain a Certificate of medical fitness from overseas

We will accept a Certificate of medical fitness completed in a country we have an agreement with for revalidation purposes.

You will need to print the relevant medical paperwork and make an appointment with a medical examiner. The medical examiner must be approved by the administration of the country which has an agreement with us.

Read more about medical fitness.

You will need to provide evidence that you have completed sea service performing functions for your current certificate for either:

• At least 12 months in total during the preceding 5 years before application
• 3 months in total during the preceding 6 months prior to revalidating.

All submitted sea service must be documented qualifying sea service. Read more about sea service.

All certificates and training must comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and be with an organisation we have approved.

If you are revalidating your certificate and you are an overseas permanent resident, some STCW short courses may be completed in a country we have an agreement with.

With required sea service

If you already have the required sea service, you will need to:

• Obtain a letter(s) from your employer(s) confirming:
  • sea service
  • your participation in the mandatory abandon ship and fire drills required by SOLAS
  • your participation in scheduled drills required by the on board Safety Management System (see sample template).
• Keep the original of this letter and send us a copy with your application.
• Complete continued competence training for the STCW short courses in Advanced fire fighting and Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats in the previous 5 years.

These continued competence training courses are valid for up to 5 years.

It is a requirement of the STCW Code that seafarers, every five years, provide evidence of having maintained the required standards of competence in fire fighting and sea survival at the appropriate level, as well as fast rescue boats. Currently AMSA considers this requirement as one of the criteria for issue or revalidation of an Australian seafarer certificate issued under the Navigation Act, as specified in the Marine Order 70 series. In the case of revalidation, this is considered every five years. An Australian seafarer certificate will not lapse or expire if, during the five year period of the certificate’s validity, STCW training has not been maintained by the seafarer. 

However, AMSA nonetheless strongly recommends seafarers maintain the currency of their STCW Code training over the life of their Australian seafarer certificate, as this is often enforced by foreign Administrations and companies operating foreign flagged vessels.This simply means that seafarers need to be conscious of the period that has elapsed since they last completed STCW Code training requirements and ensure they renew their training five years from this date, even if the five year period does not coincide with the renewal date of their Australian seafarer certificate. 

Without required sea service

If you do not have the required sea service, you will need to complete the full STCW short courses in:

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

You will also need to complete one of the following options:

• Complete an approved revalidation course for your certificate within 5 years before applying to revalidate your certificate.
• Complete an oral examination.
• Perform duties and functions that we consider at least equivalent to sea service.

Read more about approved training organisations and revalidating your current certificate.

You will need to lodge a formal application using the Seafarer form 419 to revalidate your qualification as an Electro-technical officer certificate of competency.

Lodge from within Australia

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419, attach all required supporting documents and lodge it at a participating Australia Post retail outlet.

You will need to pay the fees for your application at the post office at the time of lodgement.

Lodge from overseas

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419, attach all required supporting documents including a colour passport-style photograph and send the paperwork to us by email to SCSApplications@amsa.gov.au When we receive your email we will let you know how to pay the fee for your application via AMSA online portal.