Career path
The typical order officers take these certificates in — deck and engine tracks each lead from pre-sea training to command. Tap a step to see the course that promotes you to it.
Deck
Deck CadetPre-sea training (or DNS)STCW basic safety: PST · FPFF · EFA · PSSR · STSDSDThird / Second OfficerSecond Mate (FG) CoCAFF · MFA · PSCRB · ECDIS · RANSCO · GMDSS GOC · BTMChief OfficerChief Mate (FG) CoCMedical Care Aboard Ship · Ship Manoeuvring SimulatorMasterMaster (FG) CoCCommand-level sea time
Engine
Engine Cadet / TMEPre-sea training (or GME)STCW basic safety: PST · FPFF · EFA · PSSR · STSDSDFourth EngineerMEO Class IV CoCAFF · MFA · PSCRB · Engine Room Simulator · High Voltage (Operational)Second EngineerMEO Class II CoCEngine Room Resource Management · High Voltage (Management)Chief EngineerMEO Class I CoCCommand-level sea time
Course catalogue
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54 courses
Pre-sea — Degree, diploma and rating courses that get a cadet or rating ready for their first ship.
B.Sc Nautical Science3 years12 institutes
B.Tech Marine Engineering4 years12 institutes
Diploma in Nautical Science1 year + 18 months sea time4 institutes
Graduate Marine Engineering1 year12 institutes
General Purpose Rating6 months3 institutes
Certificate Course in Maritime CateringConfirm with institute1 institute
Electro-Technical Officer (Pre-sea)Confirm with institute0 institutes
Competency (CoC) — Certificate of Competency exams and courses for each rank, deck and engine.
Second Mate (Foreign-Going)Course + exam, several weeks2 institutes
Chief Mate (FG) Phase ISeveral weeks2 institutes
Chief Mate (FG) Phase IISeveral weeks1 institute
Master (Foreign-Going)Several weeks2 institutes
MEO Class IVSeveral weeks2 institutes
MEO Class IISeveral weeks2 institutes
MEO Class ISeveral weeks1 institute
Electro-Technical Officer (CoC)Several weeks0 institutes
STCW Basic Safety — The five basic safety courses every seafarer needs before their first sign-on.
Personal Survival Techniques (PST)2 days2 institutes
Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (FPFF)2 days2 institutes
Elementary First Aid (EFA)1 day0 institutes
Personal Safety & Social Responsibility (PSSR)1 day1 institute
Security Training for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties1 day0 institutes
Advanced Modular — Advanced safety, medical and security courses required for higher ranks.
Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF)3-4 days1 institute
Medical First Aid (MFA)2-3 days1 institute
Medical Care Aboard Ship5 days0 institutes
Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats (PSCRB)3-4 days2 institutes
Fast Rescue Boat (FRB)2-3 days0 institutes
Ship Security Officer (SSO)3 days1 institute
GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC)Around 3 weeks0 institutes
Tanker & Gas — Endorsements for oil, chemical and liquefied gas tankers.
Basic Training for Oil & Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations2-3 days3 institutes
Advanced Training for Oil Tanker Cargo Operations4-5 days0 institutes
Advanced Training for Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations4-5 days0 institutes
Basic Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations2-3 days1 institute
Advanced Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations4-5 days0 institutes
Training for Ships Subject to the IGF CodeBasic 2-3 days, Advanced 4-5 days0 institutes
Simulator — Bridge and engine-room training conducted on simulators.
ECDIS (Generic)5 days3 institutes
Radar Navigation, Radar Plotting & Use of ARPA5 days0 institutes
Bridge Team Management (BTM)3-4 days2 institutes
Engine Room Resource Management (ERRM)3-4 days0 institutes
Engine Room Simulator (ERS)3-5 days0 institutes
Ship Manoeuvring Simulator3-5 days0 institutes
Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator3-5 days0 institutes
Refresher & Revalidation — Keeping safety certificates and Certificates of Competency valid.
Refresher: Personal Survival Techniques1 day2 institutes
Refresher: Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting1 day2 institutes
Refresher: Advanced Fire Fighting1-2 days1 institute
Refresher: Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats1-2 days1 institute
Refresher: Medical First Aid1 day0 institutes
Certificate of Competency RevalidationA few days3 institutes
Development — Specialised and career-development courses beyond the standard ladder.
High Voltage Safety & Switchgear (Operational)3-4 days0 institutes
High Voltage Safety & Switchgear (Management)3-4 days0 institutes
Dynamic Positioning Induction5 days0 institutes
Dynamic Positioning Advanced (Simulator)5 days0 institutes
Polar Code Basic Training2-3 days0 institutes
Polar Code Advanced Training3-4 days0 institutes
Human Element, Leadership & Management (HELM)3-5 days0 institutes
Ballast Water Management1 day0 institutes
No course matches those filters.
Course names and durations follow common DG Shipping usage; exact durations, fees and eligibility vary slightly by institute — details last checked 27 Sep 2026. Browse institutes instead →