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Examination conduct
You must:
- complete the oral exam yourself
- not receive help or prompting from another person
- not use notes, reference materials or other resources unless the examiner allows you to
- follow the examiner's instructions throughout the exam.
If you're sitting your exam online, you must also:
- use a computer or tablet with a working camera and microphone
- keep your camera and microphone available as required by the examiner
- sit the exam in a private, quiet room where you will not be interrupted
- meet the technical requirements for an online oral exam
- not use a mobile phone to sit the exam.
AMSA examiners may take reasonable steps to confirm that you are completing the exam without assistance or unauthorised materials.
If the examiner believes you are not complying with these conditions, they may stop the exam and record the exam as unsuccessful.
Resitting an oral exam
The examiner will assess whether you have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required for your certificate.
If you're assessed as not yet competent, you cannot sit another oral examination until the minimum waiting period has passed.
Waiting periods
| Unsuccessful attempts | Minimum waiting period |
|---|---|
| 1 or 2 | 2 weeks |
| 3 | 4 weeks |
| 4 | 3 months |
| 5 or 6 | 6 months |
| 7 or more | 9 months |
These are minimum waiting periods. Your next exam date will also depend on examiner availability.
If you're assessed as not yet competent in an oral exam 3 or more times, AMSA may require you to sit your next exam face to face.
AMSA may vary these requirements on a case-by-case basis.
You must pay the applicable oral exam fee each time you sit an oral exam.
Changes and cancellations
If you change or cancel your booking, your new oral exam date must be at least 2 weeks after your original exam date.
You can change, reschedule or cancel your booking up to 2 business days before your exam (subject to payment of the change fees below).
If you request to change, reschedule or cancel your booking with less than 2 business days notice, you will not receive a refund.
If you do not attend your exam, you will not receive a refund.
If you book another oral exam after cancelling, you must pay the applicable oral exam fee.
STCW oral exams change fee
For requests to change, reschedule or cancel a booking with 2 or more business days notice:
- a change fee of $136 applies
- you must pay the applicable fee before you can book a new exam date.
Near coastal oral exams change fee
For requests to change, reschedule or cancel a booking with 2 or more business days notice, there is no fee.
Technical issues
If you're sitting your exam online, you are responsible for meeting the technical requirements for the exam.
If your exam cannot continue because your internet connection or equipment does not meet these requirements, you may need to pay another exam fee before your exam can be rebooked.