At a glance
To revalidate an STCW CoP or CoC you need to:
- Hold a valid AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness (303)
- Check how much sea service you have
- Complete the right training courses (based on your sea service)
- Prepare your supporting documents
- Apply to AMSA
When to revalidate
You need to revalidate your STCW certificate of proficiency (CoP) or certificates of competency (CoC) every 5 years.
To avoid delays and stay eligible to work, apply within the 6 months before your certificate expires.
Applying during this period:
- keeps your existing expiry date cycle
- avoids gaps in validity.
You must not work in an STCW role if your certificate has expired.
You can apply after expiry, but this may delay your return to work.
You can apply to revalidate even if you are not currently working at sea, as long as you meet one of the revalidation options for your certificate.
Expiry dates
The expiry date of your revalidated certificate depends on when you apply.
If you apply within 6 months before your certificate expires, your new certificate will be valid for 5 years from your current expiry date.
If you apply more than 6 months before expiry, or after your certificate has expired, your new certificate will be valid for 5 years from the date of issue.
How to revalidate a certificate
To revalidate a CoC or CoP, you need to:
- complete the required training
- provide evidence of sea service (if applicable)
- apply to AMSA.
For a Certificate of Safety Training (CoST), go to Revalidate a CoST
For a certificate of recognition (CoR), go to Revalidate a CoR
- (1) Check your medical is valid
You must hold a valid AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness (303).
If your medical has expired, you must complete a new medical assessment before you apply to revalidate.
We do not accept overseas or flag State medicals.
Get an AMSA medical certificate for international seafarers.
- (2) Check your sea service
Your sea service determines which training you need to complete.
You have qualifying sea service if you have completed either:
- 360 days sea service in the last 5 years
or
- 90 days sea service in the last 6 months.
Your sea service must also be:
- on vessels that meet the requirements for your certificate (for example the required gross tonnage, length or kilowattage (kW) propulsion power)
- completed while you held a valid certificate
- for work in duties appropriate to that certificate.
Learn more about sea service for international seafarers.
- (3) Choose the right training course
The training you need depends on your sea service and certificate.
With qualifying sea service
Complete refresher training (usually one to 2 days)
Without qualifying sea service
Complete full STCW short courses (usually 3 or more days)
You may also need to:
- complete an approved certificate revalidation course
- pass an AMSA oral exam (CoC only)
- get a letter from your employer explaining how you perform duties or functions AMSA considers equivalent to sea service.
- (4) Complete your training
Where you can complete training
Where you complete your training depends on where you live.
If you live in Australia
You must complete your training with an AMSA approved training provider.
Some STCW courses offered in Australia are not AMSA approved and will not meet the requirements to revalidate.
If you live overseas
You can complete STCW short courses and refresher training courses overseas, if you complete them in an eligible country.
You cannot complete certificate revalidation courses overseas.
If completing training overseas, you must:
- live overseas permanently (in a country other than Australia)
- complete the course in a country that has an agreement with Australia
- confirm the course is approved with the relevant country’s flag state administration obtain a course completion certificate.
We may also ask you to provide a letter from the training provider confirming that:
- the course is approved by that country’s administration
- you attended and completed the course.
Timing your training
Continued competence training is valid for 5 years.
This means you:
- can complete your continued competence or refresher training at any time during the 5-year validity period of your certificate
- do not need to wait until your certificate is close to expiry before completing the required training.
Your continued competence training must be valid when we decide your application.
If it expires during processing, you’ll need to provide updated training before we can finalise your application.
Course completion certificates
After you finish your training, your provider will give you a course completion certificate.
Your course completion certificate must show the relevant STCW codes.
We do not accept transcripts, attendance records or statements of attainment.
- (5) Check your supporting certificates are valid
You must hold current supporting certificates if required for your role, such as:
- ancillary certificates like GMDSS
- endorsements like ECDIS.
If you need a required supporting certificate and it has expired, you may need to revalidate it before applying.
- (6) Prepare your documents
After completing your training, prepare the documents you need for your application.
You must provide:
- proof of identity
- a passport-style photograph (if you live overseas)
- copies of your course completion certificate(s) with STCW course codes (not transcripts, attendance records or statements of attainment)
- a copy of your AMSA certificate of medical fitness (303)
- copies of any supporting and ancillary certificates
- sea service letter using the sea service letter for international seafarer’s template (if applicable)
We do not accept alternative formats for sea service letters (including the near coastal record of sea service (form 771).
Do not submit additional documents unless we ask for them.
- (7) Submit your application
To revalidate your STCW CoP or CoC, you must complete AMSA Seafarer form 419.
You will need your:
- seafarer ID
- current certificate number and expiry date.
If you live in Australia
You must:
- lodge your application in person at a participating Australia Post outlet
- bring your proof of identity
- have your photograph taken at Australia Post
- pay the application fee at lodgement.
If you live overseas
You must:
- complete AMSA Seafarer form 419
- sign the declaration and sample signature box
- scan your completed form and all supporting documents
- include a passport-style colour photograph (JPG format)
- combine all documents into one file (maximum size: 10MB)
- email the complete application as one attachment to STCW.applications@amsa.gov.au
We will email you payment instructions when we start assessing your application, not when you apply.
How long it takes
We won't start assessing your application until it is complete. This means:
- the application has been filled out correctly
- we have received all required documents
- you have paid the application fee.
It will delay processing if anything is missing or incorrect in your application.
Allow 28 business days for us to assess your application.
This starts from the day we've received your complete application and payment.
This does not include postal delivery time.
We will notify you when your certificate has been approved and issued.
Your certificate will be sent by standard mail through Australia Post. Delivery times vary and tracking is not provided.
Courier delivery is available for overseas addresses only. Additional fees apply, check fees for STCW certificates and services.
How much it costs
The fee to revalidate depends on the type of certificate you hold:
- Certificate of competency (all deck and engineering officers): $136
- Certificate of proficiency (all rating certificates, excluding marine cook): $136
- Marine cook certificate: $112
- GMDSS radio operators certificate: $112
Read more about STCW fees and charges.
Revalidate your STCW CoP or CoC
Complete AMSA Seafarer form 419