At a glance
To revalidate your Able Seafarer - Engine certificate, you need to:
- Hold a valid AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness
- 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
- 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)
- to demonstrate continued competence through one of the revalidation pathways below.
Choose your revalidation pathway
What you need to do depends on whether you have recent qualifying sea service.
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 certificates
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 be:
- on vessels with propulsion power of 750kW or more
- performing duties relevant to an able seafarer - engine
- completed while holding a valid Able Seafarer - Engine (STCW III/5) certificate.
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.
2) Complete refresher training
You must complete refresher training for:
- Fire prevention and firefighting
- Personal survival techniques
Training providers often deliver these units together as a Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) 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
Use this pathway if you do not have recent qualifying sea service and want to complete an approved revalidation course.
What you need
1) Full STCW short courses1) Complete full STCW short courses
You must complete the full STCW short courses (not refresher training) for:
- Fire prevention and firefighting (STCW A-VI/1-2)
- Personal survival techniques (STCW A-VI/1-1)
Full STCW short courses usually take 3-4 days for each course. Refresher training will not fulfil this requirement.
You must complete the 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.