STCW certificates: the list by rank

Checked 6 October 2026

Contents6

1 In short

STCW certificates are the certificates and training required by the STCW Convention. Every seafarer needs safety familiarization and a medical certificate; seafarers with safety or pollution-prevention duties need basic safety training (STCW VI/1); officers need a certificate of competency for their rank, and watch ratings a certificate of proficiency. Other training depends on the ship, its equipment and the duties on board.¹

Document	What it is for	Validity	Rule
Basic Safety Training	Covers four foundations of shipboard safety: survival, fire prevention and fighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibilities² MoreLess	As issued; competence shown every 5 years	VI/1
Security Awareness Training	Evidences awareness of ship-security threats, their recognition and reporting procedures³	As shown on the issued document	VI/6
Seafarer Medical Fitness Certificate	Certifies medical fitness for shipboard duties, subject to any restrictions recorded by the medical examiner⁴	By the certificate, at most 2 years	I/9
Seafarers’ Identity Document (SID)	Identifies a seafarer for shore leave, joining a vessel and repatriation procedures covered by the applicable agreement⁵	As shown on the issued document
Seaman’s Book / Sea Service Record Book	Records service aboard vessels and sea-service history⁶	As shown on the issued document
Certificate of Proficiency – Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch	Ratings forming part of a navigational watch on ships of 500 GT or more⁷	As shown on the issued document	II/4
Certificate of Proficiency – Able Seafarer Deck	Deck ratings performing duties at the Able Seafarer Deck level under II/5⁸	As shown on the issued document	II/5
Certificate of Proficiency – Rating Forming Part of an Engineering Watch	Ratings forming part of an engineering watch or designated for duties in a periodically unmanned engine room, on ships with propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more⁹ MoreLess	As shown on the issued document	III/4
Certificate of Proficiency – Able Seafarer Engine	Engine ratings performing duties at the Able Seafarer Engine level under III/5¹⁰	As shown on the issued document	III/5
Certificate of Competency – Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch, 500 GT or more	Officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 GT or more¹¹	As issued; competence shown every 5 years	II/1
Certificate of Competency – Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch / Designated Duty Engineer in Periodically Unmanned Machinery Spaces, 750 kW or more MoreLess	Engineering watch officers and designated duty engineers in periodically unmanned engine rooms, on ships with propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more¹²	As issued; competence shown every 5 years	III/1
Certificate of Competency – Chief Mate, 3,000 GT or more	Chief mates serving on ships of 3,000 GT or more¹³	As issued; competence shown every 5 years	II/2
Certificate of Competency – Master, 3,000 GT or more	Masters serving on ships of 3,000 GT or more¹³	As issued; competence shown every 5 years	II/2
Certificate of Competency – Chief Engineer Officer, 3,000 kW or more	Chief engineer officers on ships with main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW or more¹⁴	As issued; competence shown every 5 years	III/2
Certificate of Competency – Electro-Technical Officer, 750 kW or more	Electro-technical officers on ships with propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more¹⁵	As issued; competence shown every 5 years	III/6
Ship’s Cook Qualification Document	Personnel serving as the ship’s cook¹⁶	As shown on the issued document	MLC 2006 A3.2.3–4

2 What every seafarer needs

Before taking up shipboard duties, every seafarer receives safety familiarization on the ship. Seafarers with designated safety or pollution-prevention duties need basic safety training: personal survival techniques, fire prevention and fire fighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibilities. Basic Safety Training^17,18

Since 1 January 2026 the personal safety part of basic training also covers the prevention of and response to violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault. STCW in 2026¹⁹

A medical certificate is required before service at sea. It is valid for no more than two years, or one year for seafarers under 18. Seafarer medical examination²⁰

3 Certificates by rank

Masters, officers and GMDSS radio operators hold a certificate of competency issued under chapters II, III or IV; ratings forming part of a watch and able seafarers hold certificates of proficiency (II/4, II/5, III/4, III/5, III/7). Which one a rank needs, and on which ships, is shown on each rank page. Ship ranks and positions²¹

4 Depending on the ship

These certificates are needed only when the ship, its equipment or the duties on board require them. The condition for each comes from the STCW requirements.

Document	When it is required	Validity
Basic Training – Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations	Oil tanker or chemical tanker; assigned duties related to cargo or cargo equipment^22–24	As issued; competence shown every 5 years
Basic Training – Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations	Liquefied gas tanker; assigned duties related to cargo or cargo equipment^23–25	As issued; competence shown every 5 years
Basic Training for Service on Ships Subject to the IGF Code	The ship is subject to the IGF Code; assigned safety duties related to fuel^26–28	As issued; competence shown every 5 years
Basic Training for Ships Operating in Polar Waters	The ship operates in polar waters^29–31	As issued; competence shown every 5 years
Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Other Than Fast Rescue Boats	Assigned to survival craft or rescue boats^32,33	As issued; competence shown every 5 years
Advanced Fire Fighting	Designated to control fire-fighting operations^34,35	As issued; competence shown every 5 years
Generic ECDIS Training	The ship uses ECDIS³⁶	As shown on the issued document
General Operator’s Certificate (GOC)	Designated as GMDSS radio operator; GMDSS sea area A2, A3 or A4 or radio equipment beyond sea area A1^37–39	As issued; competence shown every 5 years

5 Validity and revalidation

There is no single STCW expiry date. To keep serving at sea, a master or officer revalidates the certificate of competency at intervals not exceeding five years, showing medical fitness and continued professional competence.⁴⁰

For basic safety training, competence in personal survival and fire fighting is shown every five years; first aid and personal safety have no international interval. Tanker and polar training of masters and officers is also maintained every five years.^41,42

6 Frequently asked questions

Is STCW the same as basic safety training?

No. STCW is the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers; basic safety training (STCW VI/1) is one of the certificates required under it.¹⁷

Is STCW a code or a convention?

Both: the STCW Convention and its annex set the regulations, and the STCW Code sets the detailed standards. Part A of the Code is mandatory, Part B is recommended guidance.⁴³

How long are STCW certificates valid?

It depends on the certificate. A certificate of competency is revalidated at intervals not exceeding five years; for basic safety training, survival and fire fighting competence is shown every five years; a medical certificate is valid for up to two years.^20,40

Do I need STCW certificates to work on a ship?

On ships covered by the STCW Convention, yes: every seafarer receives safety familiarization, seafarers with safety duties need basic safety training, and officers and watch ratings need a certificate for their capacity.⁴⁴