Yacht crew accumulate an impressive stack of certificates over a career — and every one has its own rules and renewal cycle. Here’s the checklist, and how to stay on top of it.
The essentials (everyone)
- STCW Basic Safety Training — the legal baseline; revalidate every 5 years
- ENG1 (or equivalent) medical — fitness certificate; typically renewed every 2 years
- Seaman’s Book / seafarer ID — your record of service
Deck crew
- RYA Powerboat Level 2 — to drive the tender
- GMDSS / GOC — radio operator certificate for officers
- Certificates of Competency — OOW, Master tickets as you progress
Advanced & senior crew
- Advanced Fire Fighting — to lead fire operations; revalidate every 5 years
- Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats (PSCRB) — revalidate every 5 years
- Proficiency in Medical First Aid / Medical Care — for designated medical roles
The hidden risk: expiry dates
The real danger isn’t earning these certificates — it’s letting one quietly lapse. A single expired ticket can make you unemployable overnight, mid-season, when there’s no time to fix it.
Your certificates are only as good as their expiry dates. One lapse and you’re ashore.
The professional habit is simple: keep a single register of every certificate and its renewal date, and act two months early. If you’d rather not track it yourself, our Renewal Tracker does it for you — logging your dates and reminding you before anything expires, so you never lose a contract to paperwork.