Mandatory Qualification: STCW95+10

STCW 95 (Standards of Training and Certification for Watchkeepers) is an international convention that sets standards for training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers. The purpose of STCW is to ensure that all crew members have the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to operate vessels safely, and to protect the safety of ships, seafarers, and the marine environment.

To work on a superyacht, individuals must have the necessary STCW certification, which is mandatory for all crew members who work on commercial vessels, including superyachts. STCW certification is required by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and is recognized by all countries that are signatories to the convention. 

The STCW certification is valid for 5 years; it needs to be renewed and updated through the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program. This ensures that the seafarers stay updated with the latest safety and security regulations and best practices.

The STCW courses usually take up to 2 weeks (some theory and some practical) and costs approximately $2300-$3000 AUD.  

Mandatory Certificate of Medical Fitness

To work onboard a yacht everyone is required to pass a certificate of medical fitness to confirm you are medically fit to perform the duties required onboard. 

Superyacht Australia recommends getting your AMSA Medical clearance that is booked through the Sonic HealthPlus system to get an appointment with the Medical Inspector of Seamen (MIS).  An AMSA medical is a mandatory requirement for all crew employed on Australian commercial yachts.

The AMSA Medical costs approximately $650 for your initial appointment and needs to be completed in Australia.  This will need to be renewed every two years and can be renewed in Australia or overseas for a significantly reduced cost (approximately $100). 

If for some reason you are not confident in passing your medical clearance, please see your own doctor first and get them to do a pre-check before outlaying the money on the AMSA Medical. 

*There is another medical certificate used in the industry called the ENG1 medical certificate, this is issued by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).  This is cheaper but can only be obtained from very specific doctors. The ENG1 is valid for 2 years. The ENG1 also has limitations to working onboard commercially operated vessels in Australia which is why we suggest the AMSA Medical as it does not have any limitations. The AMSA medical is recognized as an equivalent to the ENG1 medical.