At a glance
To revalidate your Master <500 GT certificate, you need to:
- Hold a valid AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness
- Hold a valid GMDSS certificate
- Hold an ECDIS endorsement (if required)
- Demonstrate continued competence
- Complete the right training courses (based on your sea service)
- Prepare your supporting documents
- Apply to AMSA
Ready to apply? Complete Seafarer form 419 now
On this page:
- How to revalidate
- Choose your revalidation pathway
- Pathway 1 - with qualifying sea service
- Pathway 2 - without qualifying sea service
- Pathway 3 - pass an oral exam (without qualifying sea service)
- Apply to revalidate
How to revalidate
You need to revalidate your certificate every 5 years to keep it current.
Avoid delays
You should apply within the 6 months before your certificate expires to avoid a gap in validity.
Learn more about when to revalidate and how expiry dates are calculated.
To revalidate your certificate, you will need:
- a valid AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness (303)
- a valid GMDSS radio operator’s certificate or GMDSS certificate of recognition
- an ECDIS endorsement (if you serve on an ECDIS-equipped ship)
- to demonstrate continued competence through one of the revalidation pathways below.
Check your GMDSS is current
Your GMDSS certificate may expire at a different time to your primary certificate.
Make sure it is valid when you apply.
Choose your revalidation pathway
What you need to do depends on whether you have recent qualifying sea service.
Are you a marine pilot or working in a shore-based maritime role?
Different sea service and continued competence requirements may apply if you work as a licensed marine pilot or in an eligible shored-based maritime role in Australia.
Check revalidation requirements for marine pilots
Check if you can use your shore-based service to revalidate
Select the pathway that applies to you.
- With qualifying sea service
What you need
1) Recent qualifying sea service
2) Refresher training
3) Sea service evidence1) Check your recent qualifying sea service
You need either:
- at least 360 days in the 5 years before you apply
- at least 90 days in the 6 months before you apply.
Your sea service must also:
- be on vessels 24m or more in length
- involve duties as a Master, Chief Mate or Officer of the Watch (OOW)
- have been completed while your Master <500 GT certificate was valid.
We calculate sea service from the date we receive your application. For example, your 90 days must be within the 6 months before you apply.
Service on special vessels
If your sea service was completed on an FPSO, FSO or dredger, different rules apply.
Check the sea service rules for STCW certificates2) Complete refresher training
You must complete refresher training for:
- Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats
- Advanced fire fighting
Training providers often deliver these units together as a Certificate of Competency (CoC) Refresher course. Refresher training generally takes 1-2 days.
You must complete refresher training in the 5 years before you apply.
If you live overseas permanently, we may accept STCW refresher training completed in an eligible country.
3) Provide evidence of sea service
You will need to provide evidence of your sea service when you apply.
Your employer must confirm:
- your qualifying sea service
- your participation in mandatory abandon ship and fire drills
- your participation in scheduled drills required under the vessel’s safety management system.
You should provide your evidence using the STCW sea service template.
- Without qualifying sea service (revalidation course)
Use this pathway if you do not have recent qualifying sea service and want to complete an approved revalidation course.
What you need
1) Revalidation course
2) Full STCW short courses1) Complete a revalidation course
You must complete both parts of this AMSA-approved revalidation course:
- Certificate of Competency (CoC) Revalidation – Part A
- Certificate of Competency (CoC) Revalidation – Part B
We do not accept revalidation courses completed overseas. You must complete the revalidation course in Australia with an AMSA approved training provider.
2) Complete full STCW short courses
You must complete the full STCW short courses (not refresher training) for:
- Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (STCW A-VI/2)
- Advanced fire fighting (STCW A-VI/3)
Full STCW short courses usually take 3-4 days for each course. Refresher training will not fulfil this requirement.
You must complete the revalidation course and full STCW short courses in the 5 years before you apply.
If you live overseas permanently, we may accept full STCW short courses completed in an eligible country for revalidation.
- Pass an oral exam
Use this pathway if you do not have recent qualifying sea service and want to demonstrate continued competence by passing an AMSA oral exam.
What you need
1) Pass an oral exam
2) Full STCW short courses1) Pass an oral exam
You must pass an AMSA oral exam for a Master <500GT certificate to demonstrate continued competence.
Learn about oral exams and how to book
2) Complete full STCW short courses
You must complete the full STCW short courses (not refresher training) for:
- Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (STCW A-VI/2)
- Advanced fire fighting (STCW A-VI/3)
Full STCW short courses usually take 3-4 days for each course. Refresher training will not fulfil this requirement.
You must complete the revalidation course and full STCW short courses in the 5 years before you apply.
If you live overseas permanently, we may accept full STCW short courses completed in an eligible country for revalidation.
Apply to revalidate
Once you have completed the requirements for your pathway, you can apply to revalidate your certificate.
Before you apply, read our guide on how to revalidate an STCW certificate.
The step-by-step guide explains:
- which supporting documents you need
- how to prepare and submit your documents
- application fees and processing times
- what happens after you apply.