Entry & progression
The paperwork gate. CoST first — it is the gate to the whole international system. Then the A-III/1 and A-III/2 programme, the short courses, the medical (initial issue in Australia), and the AMSA oral examination.
The CoST gate
AMSA's own words on the international qualifications index: "You will need a Certificate of Safety Training (CoST) before you get any other qualification." It is Australia's name for STCW basic safety, and it bundles five elements, not four — personal survival techniques, fire prevention and fire fighting, elementary first aid, personal safety and social responsibilities, and security awareness training.
WARNING — Two CoST facts that cost people money You must be trained in Australia, with an AMSA-approved provider. Only AMSA can issue a CoST, and "if you completed basic safety training overseas, you cannot use it to obtain an Australian CoST."
And: "Sea service completed before your CoST is issued may not count as qualifying sea service." Get the CoST first. Not eventually.
The training programme
Engineer Class 2 requires an approved programme of study meeting STCW A-III/1 and A-III/2 — the watchkeeping engineer competences and the second engineer competences together — including advanced fire fighting, medical first aid, and security awareness.
The engineer training program short courses
- Advanced fire fighting — A-VI/3
- Medical first aid — A-VI/4 paragraphs 1–3
- Basic safety training — A-VI/1-1, A-VI/1-2, A-VI/1-3, A-VI/1-4, plus security awareness (A-VI/6 para 4)
- PSCRB — proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (A-VI/2)
CAUTION — Do not go looking for a named diploma AMSA publishes no AQF course title for the STCW engineer certificates. AMSA calls this qualification only "Engineer class 2 — STCW Reg III/2". Titles you may see quoted by third parties for the international engineer tickets are not sourced on any AMSA engineer page and are not in MO72. Ask AMSA or an AMSA-approved provider which specific approved programme satisfies A-III/1 and A-III/2 — do not go shopping on the strength of a course name someone gave you in a crew mess.
The medical
The international certificate of medical fitness is AMSA form 303, under Marine Order 76. It is not a GP job. Only an authorised Medical Inspector of Seafarers can do it, and the examinations are administered by Sonic HealthPlus on AMSA's behalf.
WARNING — Book through the central booking system or the medical is void AMSA, verbatim: "Medical examinations booked directly with an MIS, rather than via the central booking system's 1300 number, will be deemed invalid." Validity is generally 2 years — 1 year if you are under 18 or 55 or over. And the initial issue medical must be done in Australia. Only revalidation medicals may be done overseas, in an agreement country.
The oral
The last gate is the AMSA oral examination. It is a conversation with an examiner about your machinery, your systems and your judgement — not a written paper. Modules 2, 3 and 4 of this course are the ground it covers: the department you run, the machinery you overhaul, and the decisions you make when it goes wrong at three in the morning.
Revalidation
MO72 Schedule 4. Five-yearly. One of: 12 months qualifying sea service in the preceding 5 years; or 3 months in the preceding 6 months on vessels with auxiliary machinery or propulsion power ≥750 kW; or an approved revalidation course within 5 years; or equivalent duties plus approved courses; or approved short courses plus a passed final assessment within 5 years. Plus a certificate of medical fitness, and maintained PSCRB, advanced fire fighting and security awareness.