For crew
Superyacht Training and Certification
What you need before your first season, and what to work toward once you are on board.
Before your first job
Two things are mandatory. Without both, no yacht can legally employ you.
STCW Basic Safety Training
A five-day course covering personal survival techniques, fire prevention and fire fighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibility. Delivered at approved training centres worldwide, and revalidated every five years.
ENG1 medical
A seafarer medical examination carried out by an MCA-approved doctor. It covers general fitness, eyesight and hearing. Valid for two years, and worth booking well ahead of the season because appointments are limited.
Deck department
- Powerboat Level 2 — close to essential for any deck role involving tenders.
- PWC — jet-ski operation, expected on most yachts carrying toys.
- Efficient Deck Hand — the step toward bosun.
- Yachtmaster — offshore or ocean, the recognised progression before officer certification.
- OOW 3000GT — the first officer-level ticket, and the gateway to a bridge career.
Engineering
- AEC — Approved Engine Course, the entry point for smaller vessels.
- MCA Y4 to Y1 — the yacht engineering progression, each step tied to tonnage and engine power.
- ETO Certificate of Competency — for electro-technical officers.
Interior and galley
- Food Safety Level 2 — required for anyone handling food, which on most yachts means all interior crew.
- GUEST programme — the recognised interior training framework, with modules from junior service through to purser.
- WSET — wine qualifications, valued on charter yachts.
- Ship's Cook Certificate — required for chefs on some flags.
Is training worth the cost?
STCW and ENG1 are not optional, so the question does not really arise. Beyond that, the honest answer is that certification opens doors but does not by itself get you hired — time on board and a reputation among captains does that.
The exception is engineering, where each Y-ticket step genuinely changes what you can legally serve on, and deck officer certification, which gates progression to the bridge.
Training is delivered through our partner Seas The Day.
Frequently asked
Common questions
Which yacht crew courses are mandatory?
Only two. STCW basic safety training and a valid ENG1 medical certificate. No yacht can legally employ you without both. Everything else is optional, however it is marketed.
Should I buy a package of courses before my first season?
No. Do STCW and the ENG1, get out to a yachting hub, and add tickets once you know which department you are in. Buying six courses up front is the most common way new crew waste money.
Which course adds the most value after STCW?
Powerboat Level 2 for deck, because almost every deck role involves driving tenders. Food Safety Level 2 for interior and galley, since most interior crew handle food. Neither is required to be hired, but both remove a reason to say no.
Is training worth the cost?
For STCW and ENG1 the question does not arise — they are not optional. Beyond that, certification opens doors but does not get you hired on its own. The exceptions are engineering, where each Y-ticket changes what you can legally serve on, and deck officer certification, which gates progression to the bridge.
How long does STCW basic safety training take?
Five days, covering sea survival, fire fighting, first aid and personal safety. It is not academically difficult but it is physical, and part of it takes place in a pool.
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