New entrants and experienced seafarers whose ship type, rank, or designated duties require specific certificates of proficiency.
Maritime SupportAgencySafety and specialised functions
STCW proficiency: match the training to the duty.
A guide to safety, survival, firefighting, medical, security, tanker, and passenger-ship proficiency evidence.
Ghana-focused working guide reviewed 22 August 2026. GMA, the issuing administration, approved institution, or medical examiner makes the official decision.
Completion of the approved training and assessment required for a particular safety or specialised function, followed by the appropriate certificate from the recognised issuer.
We can research, organise, pre-check, and coordinate. We cannot issue the certificate, declare medical fitness, guarantee eligibility, or alter an authority's decision.
Understand the route
The pathway and its requirements.
Read the branch that matches the department, capacity, and vessel limitation. Where both branches appear, they are alternatives—not a combined qualification.
01
STCW Chapter VI
Core safety competence
Personal survival, fire prevention and firefighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety responsibilities form the basic foundation for shipboard work.
- 1
Use a GMA-approved or administration-accepted training institution.
- 2
Complete the practical and knowledge assessments.
- 3
Maintain competence where the STCW Code requires five-year evidence or refresher training.
- 4
Check medical and entry prerequisites before booking.
02
Advanced / specialised
Role and ship-specific competence
Advanced firefighting, survival craft, medical care, tanker, passenger, security, high-voltage, ECDIS, and other courses apply according to duty and vessel type.
- 1
Start from the target rank and ship type—not a generic course list.
- 2
Confirm prerequisite certificates and sea service.
- 3
Check whether the course is initial, refresher, familiarisation, or management level.
- 4
Verify that the certificate will be accepted by the intended flag administration and employer.
Evidence file
What to gather for a proper pre-check.
The final list remains case-specific, but these records normally allow the route to be assessed without relying on memory or verbal assurances.
- 01Current basic-safety certificates
- 02Target rank and vessel type
- 03Existing CoC/COP and endorsements
- 04Medical fitness
- 05Sea-service evidence where a prerequisite applies
- 06Training-provider approval and course-completion records
From file to decision
A responsible working sequence.
- 01
Define the duty
Identify the job, vessel type, flag, and safety responsibilities that drive the training requirement.
- 02
Build the course matrix
Separate required, expiring, ship-specific, and optional professional-development courses.
- 03
Verify approval
Confirm provider and course acceptance before payment or attendance.
- 04
Complete and retain evidence
Keep the certificate, assessment result, receipt, and verification details in the document vault.
Check before you commit
Important watchpoints.
- A course with a similar title is not automatically STCW-approved.
- Employer requirements may be stricter than the minimum certificate framework.
- MSA does not issue or validate certificates of proficiency.
Official source desk
Confirm the current rule.
These links are provided so clients can distinguish MSA's explanation from the source that governs or administers the requirement.
Maritime requirements can change and may depend on certificate history, nationality, issuing administration, vessel flag, tonnage, propulsion power, voyage area, training route, medical findings, and accepted sea service. This page is educational preparation, not an eligibility letter or legal guarantee. Confirm the current requirements with the responsible authority before enrolling, paying, travelling, or relying on a deadline.
Turn the guide into your checklist
Let's review your actual evidence.
Tell us your department, current certificate, service history, and intended capacity. We will identify the questions that need official confirmation.
Request a pathway review