What Certificates Do I Need to Work in Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

Working in a cruise ship is an alluring job prospect for many people. Taking part in the hospitality industry while visiting some of the most beautiful locations in the world can be an incredible experience. However, there are some important qualifications that you need to possess before you can get hired as a cruise ship employee.

Certificate of Competency – Obtaining a Certificate of Competency (CoC) is essential for anyone looking to work on a cruise ship. This certificate proves that you have the necessary skills to operate safety and efficiently on board a vessel. Depending on your chosen field and the size of the vessel, you may require one or more CoC documents.

STCW Basic Safety Training – The Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) is another important certification for anyone looking to work on a cruise ship. This certification consists of four separate modules which cover personal safety, fire prevention and firefighting, elementary first aid and personal survival techniques. All these courses are mandatory for any passenger vessel over 500 gross tons and must be re-certified every five years or sooner depending on your employer’s requirements.

Medical Certificate – All seafarers must possess a valid medical certificate that has been issued by an approved medical practitioner. For those working on board ships, this certificate must be updated every two years or sooner depending upon their employer’s requirements. Additionally, they may also need to pass drug tests as well as certain medical examinations depending upon their job role onboard the vessel.

Additional Certificates – Depending upon your job role onboard the vessel, you may also require additional certificates such as food hygiene certificates or other specialized qualifications that are relevant to your specific job role. It is important to research these requirements before applying for any job aboard a cruise ship so that you can make sure that you have the necessary certifications before applying for the position.

Conclusion:

To work in a cruise ship, having all relevant certificates such as Certificate of Competency (CoC), STCW Basic Safety Training, Medical Certificate are essential along with any additional certificates required by the employer depending upon your job role onboard the vessel.