After you have completed your STCW95 Basic Training there are a number of steps to take on your career path to becoming a yacht captain. This article describes the next qualifications required leading up the the Yachtmaster.

A career in the deck department can be highly rewarding and ultimately very well paid. A career path exists for you from new deckhand all the way to Captain (Master 3000 GT). These are the first qualifications. For a complete list of deck certifications go to Deck Certification STCW 95

The qualifications required to work on the deck vary from the position that you have on board. The first qualification that you should consider if you are just starting in the yachting industry is the Yacht Rating Certificate. Vessels that are over 200 GT (private or charter) will require a minimum amount of deckhands to have a Yacht Rating Certificate - learn more

As you advance more in the career ladder there are several skippering qualifications required depending on the flag of the vessel and the distance from shore that the vessel is going to go. On British flagged vessels there are two Certificates of Competence, that would allow you to skipper boats as long as they are under 200GT. The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean. The difference between the two certificates is the distance from shore that you are allowed to take your vessel. The Yachtmaster Offshore limits you to 150 nm from shore; the Yachtmaster Ocean has no limitations. If you apply for a commercial endorsement to your RYA certificates, you will be allow to work on a charter vessel which allows you to carry up to 12 paying guests on board - learn more

These two Yachmaster Certificates of Competence are not STCW endorsed, and therefore they limit you to work on British flagged vessels. However, The MCA offers a CoC that is STCW endorsed that has similar limitations to these certificates: the Master 200GT Certificate of Competence, please refer to page 12 of this brochure for more details on requirements. This ticket would allow you to work on vessels other than British flagged (i.e. Luxembourg flagged vessels) if this ticket is recognized by the country authority. Please note that an OOW (Yacht) certificate will now automatically have a Master 200 GT endorsement with no further training.

In order to obtain any MCA endorsed CoC, you will have to submit an application so that you can prove that you have the minimum requirements to obtain MCA endorsed tickets. You will have to send an application along with proof of nationality and age, proof of sea service and a valid medical fitness certificate (ENG1) and the minimum qualifications required to apply for the CoC. You can send your application form before you complete all your modules. If your application is complete, you will receive a Notice of Eligibility (NOE) that allows you to present yourself for oral exam at an MCA office or with an MCA Examiner. Please note that if at the time you obtained you NOE you had not completed all your modules, you will have to present your original certificates to the oral examiner.

Continues the career path from Deckhand to Mate.

Call our Training Coordinators in Antibes or Palma for advice and assistance. Whether it be for career planning, training your crew or organizing onboard training for your crew or charter guests, we are always happy to help!

The Bluewater crew training centre is the longest established yacht crew training provider outside the UK with over 15 years experience, offering a full range of deck, engineering and interior courses for those just starting in the yachting industry and all the required modules to reach the highest levels of professional yachting. In addition, if you have certificates issued by a country other than the UK, Bluewater can also assist you in getting MCA certificates of Equivalent Competency.