- Issued by
- AMSA, under the national law for domestic commercial vessels
- Governed by
- Marine Order 505
- Category
- Near coastal
- Checked
- September 2026
A certificate of competency is what authorises you to work in a particular role on a domestic commercial vessel. AMSA groups them into deck, engineer and sailing.
Deck certificates
These run from crewing up to command, with the limit set by vessel length and operating area:
- General Purpose Hand — work as a deckhand
- Coxswain Grade 3 — the entry command certificate
- Coxswain Grade 2
- Coxswain Grade 1
- Master less than 24 metres
- Master (inland waters)
- Master less than 45 metres
- Master less than 100 metres
Coxswain Grade 3 was introduced under the revised Marine Order 505 that came into force in January 2023, replacing an earlier exemption arrangement. The same revision retired Master less than 35 metres, Master less than 80 metres and Mate less than 80 metres.
Engineer certificates
- Marine Engine Driver Grade 3
- Marine Engine Driver Grade 2
- Marine Engine Driver Grade 1
- Engineer Class 3
Sailors usually meet these as a prerequisite rather than a goal: Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 is one of the accepted engine qualifications for the two sailing certificates.
Sailing certificates
- Sailing Master Coastal — sailing vessels under 24 metres, inshore waters
- Sailing Master Offshore — sailing vessels under 24 metres, within the EEZ
Both are limited to sailing vessels with propulsion power under 100 kilowatts, and both are covered in full on their own page.
What every certificate needs
Whichever certificate you are after, the supporting requirements are consistent:
- a Certificate of Medical Fitness — Domestic Seafarers
- a current first aid certificate (AMSA accepts HLTAID011 Provide first aid, or equivalent)
- a marine radio operator certificate appropriate to the certificate
- the approved training course, delivered by a registered training organisation
- documented sea service, for most certificates
The medical fitness certificate became a requirement for all new and equivalent applications from 1 January 2023.
Source: AMSA — Domestic certificates of competency, checked September 2026. Requirements change — confirm the current position with the issuing authority before you plan around anything on this page.
People also ask
Which AMSA certificate do I need?
The one that matches the vessel and the operation — its length, its propulsion power, the waters it works in and whether it carries passengers. Ask the operator you want to work for which certificate the role requires, then work backwards to the training.
Is a Coxswain certificate enough to skipper a sailing charter boat?
It depends entirely on the vessel and the operation. For a sailing vessel specifically, AMSA provides the two Sailing Master certificates; a Coxswain Grade 1 also appears as an accepted engine qualification toward them.
Where do I do the training?
Through a registered training organisation delivering the approved course for that certificate. AMSA issues the certificate; it does not deliver the training.
Still working out where to start?
Three questions — your experience, the boat you want to sail, and your goal — give you a starting course and the schools that teach it near you.