STCW 18

Fact Sheet SEAFARER CERTIFICATIONS

Oral Examinations

Purpose

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To explain AMSAs procedures for conducting oral examinations.

Background
AMSA conducts oral examinations to assess a candidates knowledge and skills for issue of a Certificate of
Competency, Certificate of Recognition for foreign seafarers, or for the revalidation of a Certificate. The oral
examination is usually the last requirement to be passed before an AMSA certificate is issued.
Applicants are required to pass an AMSA oral examination which is applicable to the level of certificate applied for.
Information for the appropriate certificate is listed below.
Note: AMSAs oral examination charge must be paid in full at the time of booking an oral examination. AMSA will
not accept an oral examination booking without payment. See Fact Sheet Schedule of Charges for details of the
appropriate charge.

Oral Examinations Syllabus

Appendix

Syllabus for AMSA Deck Oral Examination, Certificates of Competency*

Appendix 1

Master & Chief Mate

Master and Chief Mate <3000 GT

Appendix 2

Master <500 GT & Mate <500 GT

Appendix 3

Watchkeeper Deck <500 GT, Watchkeeper Deck <500 GT

Appendix

Syllabus for AMSA Engineer Oral Examination, Certificates of Competency*

Appendix 4

Engineer Watchkeeper

Appendix 5

Engineer Class 2

Appendix 6

Engineer Class 1

Appendix

Syllabus for AMSA Deck & Engineer Oral Examination, Certificates of Recognition*

Appendix 7

Master & Chief Mate (Unlimited); Master & Chief Mate <3000 GT

Appendix 8

Watchkeeper (Deck)

Appendix 9

Engineer Class 1 and Engineer Class 2

Appendix 10

Engineer Watchkeeper

The programs of study listed above are guides only and the content of individual oral examinations may vary as the
examiner may not cover all areas listed in the syllabus.
The procedure for the conduct of the AMSA oral examination is contained in Conduct of Oral Examinations.

Scheduling of Oral examinations for Seafarers

The following weekly schedule applies for deck and engineer oral examinations and are conducted at the following
AMSA offices:

Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia - June 2014

AMSA 1581 (8/14)

Page 1 of 4

Disclaimer: This fact sheet provides summary information only. AMSA makes decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine
Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014, Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2014, Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014
and Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014. Please refer to these Marine Orders for full details of eligibility and other requirements for
certificate applications.

Brisbane

Tuesday - deck & engineer oral examinations

Wednesday - deck & engineer oral examinations

Canberra

Engineer oral examinations are conducted by SPECIAL APPOINTMENT ONLY

Devonport

Tuesday engineer oral examinations

Friday deck oral examinations (conducted at the Australian Maritime College during exam
block by appointment only)

Fremantle

Tuesday deck & engineer oral examinations

Thursday deck & engineer oral examinations

Melbourne

Tuesday deck oral examinations

Wednesday - engineer oral examinations

Newcastle

Tuesday deck oral examinations

Engineer Examinations by appointment

Sydney

Tuesday engineer oral examinations

Thursday deck oral examinations

Documents Required
Candidates wishing to sit an oral examination should complete application Form AMSA419 and lodge at a participating
Australia Post outlet and before booking the examination at an AMSA examination centre. The following documents
should accompany the application:

evidence of qualifying sea service;

evidence of completing AMSA approved STCW course(s). Refer to the guidelines on Form AMSA419;
photographic identity (i.e. valid Australian driving licence or current passport); and
any other supporting documentation that may be required by AMSA.

Next Steps
AMSA will then assess the application together with the accompanying documents.
Note: Candidates should be aware that due to high workloads AMSA may take a period of time to process an
application. Candidates are therefore advised that they should submit a complete application, with all necessary
supporting documentation, in ample time before their chosen oral examination date. If the application is incomplete
or incorrectly completed then the candidate may expect a delay in the processing time.
When AMSA has completed the assessment, the applicant will be provided with a letter of assessment of eligibility for
issue of a certificate, and advised that they may book an oral examination.
There are charges for oral examinations, and these can be found on the Schedule of Charges Fact Sheet. The charge
for the oral examination will be calculated automatically at the time of completing Form AMSA419. The charge must
be paid at the time of booking an oral examination.
At the time of the oral examination the candidate will be required to present the following to the AMSA oral examiner:

photographic identity (i.e. valid Australian driving licence or current passport);

the letter of assessment of eligibility for issue of a certificate ;
original documents proving sea service;
evidence of payment of fees (if paid at another AMSA office);
a current Certificate of Medical Fitness;
any other items (such as STCW short course certificates, course completion letters, etc.);
for Engineer Watchkeeper certificate of competency ONLY - Approved Training Record Book; and
for Certificates of Recognition, the original valid primary STCW Certificate(s) of Competency (AMSA will conduct
an independent authenticity check of the primary certificate of competency with the issuing Administration).

Candidates presenting for oral examinations should leave all bags and equipment including jackets, laptops, tablets
and phones outside the examination room. No recording devices are permitted, and if found the consequences will be
serious.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia - June 2014

AMSA 1581 (8/14)

Page 2 of 4

Disclaimer: This fact sheet provides summary information only. AMSA makes decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine
Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014, Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2014, Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014
and Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014. Please refer to these Marine Orders for full details of eligibility and other requirements for
certificate applications.

Candidates are reminded that it is a requirement of Marine Orders 71 (Schedule 4), 72 (Section 9) and 73 (Section 8)
series that they must have a working knowledge of English.
If, during the oral examination, the AMSA examiner determines that the candidate does not have a level of English to
understand a question asked or does not have an adequate English vocabulary to answer a question or understand
documents in English, AMSA will not issue that person a Certificate of Competency or Certificate of Recognition, as
applicable.

Contact details of AMSA examination centres

Listed below are the locations around Australia where candidates may sit an oral examination.
Note: Contact details for each AMSA examination centre are followed by the Qualifications Services available in that
office.
Canberra

Newcastle

82 Northbourne Avenue
Braddon ACT 2612
GPO Box 2181
Canberra City ACT 2601
Phone (02) 6279 5987

8 Cowper Street
Carrington NSW 2294
PO Box 86
Carrington NSW 2294
Phone (02) 4961 3277

or (02) 6279 5080

Email

Email

Deck Officer: all sea service assessments and oral

examinations (up to Master <500 GT and Chief Mates).

Deck Officer: not available until further notice.

Engineer Officer: all sea service assessments and oral
examinations (up to Class I Steam and Motor).

Engineer Officer: all sea service assessments and oral

examinations (up to Class I Steam and Motor).

NOTE: Oral examinations are conducted BY SPECIAL

APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Brisbane
Level 9, 410 Ann Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
PO Box 10790
Adelaide Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Phone (07) 3001 6800
Deck Officer: all sea service assessments and oral
examinations.
Engineer Officer: all sea service assessment and oral
examinations; (up to Class I (Motor) and Engineer
Watchkeeper (Steam)).

Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia - June 2014

AMSA 1581 (8/14)

Page 3 of 4

Disclaimer: This fact sheet provides summary information only. AMSA makes decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine
Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014, Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2014, Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014
and Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014. Please refer to these Marine Orders for full details of eligibility and other requirements for
certificate applications.

Sydney

Devonport

Level 5, 260 Elizabeth Street

Sydney NSW 2010
PO Box K976
Sydney NSW 1240
Phone (02) 8918 1300

First Floor
35 Oldaker Street
Devonport TAS 7310
PO Box 260
Devonport TAS 7310
Phone (03) 6424 1597

Email
Deck Officer: all sea service assessments and oral
examinations.
Engineer Officer: all sea service assessment and oral
examinations (up to Class I (Motor) and Engineer
Watchkeeper (Steam)).

Email
Deck Officer: all sea service assessments and oral
examinations.
Engineer Officer: all sea service assessment and oral
examinations (up to Class I (Motor) and Engineer
Watchkeeper (Steam)).

Melbourne

Fremantle

The Age Building

Level 3, 655 Collins Street
Docklands
Victoria 3008

Level 1 Queensgate Centre

10 William Street
Fremantle WA 6160
PO Box 1332
Fremantle WA 6959
Phone (08) 9430 2100

Phone (03) 8612 6000

Email
Deck Officer: all sea service assessments and oral
examinations.
Engineer Officer: all sea service assessments and oral
examinations (up to Class 1 Motor and Steam).

Email
Deck Officer: all sea service assessments and oral
examinations.
Engineer Officer: all sea service assessments and oral
examinations (up to Class I Motor).

Qualifications Services (i.e. sea service assessments and oral examinations) are not available at the
following AMSA offices:
Adelaide
Cairns
Darwin
Gladstone
Geraldton
Karratha
Mackay
Port Hedland
Townsville

Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia - June 2014

AMSA 1581 (8/14)

Page 4 of 4

Disclaimer: This fact sheet provides summary information only. AMSA makes decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine
Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014, Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2014, Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014
and Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014. Please refer to these Marine Orders for full details of eligibility and other requirements for
certificate applications.