Chief Mate Preparation Courses

Container ship

We offer all the courses you need to achieve your Chief Mate Certificate of Competency

What are the Entry Requirements?

To undertake the Chief Mate Certificate of Competency, you will need to:

Have an HND/Advanced Diploma or Foundation Degree in Nautical Science
Hold an Officer of the Watch Certificate of Competency
Have completed 12 months watchkeeping service while holding an OOW unlimited, II/1, Certificate of Competency. If you don't have the sea time currently, our Blended Learning option allows you to accrue sea time while you study.

Chief Mate Certificate of Competency application requirements:

To obtain a Chief Mate certificate of competency, you must fulfil the following requirements:

1. Hold an HND (Higher National Diploma), Advanced Diploma, or Foundation Degree in Nautical Science and possess an E&T (Education and Training) letter.

2. Possess a valid NOE (Notice of Eligibility) issued by the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency).

3. Successfully complete the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) safety papers in Navigation and Stability.

4. Pass the MCA oral examination.

5. Complete all relevant short courses as specified in MSN 1865.

How we can help

HND, Advanced Diploma in Nautical Science and possess an E&T (Education and Training) letter.

We offer full time courses such as the Advanced Diploma Nautical Science that provide the necessary underpinning knowledge required for us to issue an E&T letter. This will be used for the application of the Certificate of Competency (CoC). You can also study for the Advanced Diploma Nautical Science remotely via blended learning. Find out more about the blended learning option here.

Notice of Eligibility (NOE) issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)

We can assist you with the application for the NOE. However, it is your responsibility to acquire the necessary sea time and other statutory requirements relevant for this purpose.

SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) safety papers in Navigation and Ship Stability and Structure

If you attend any of our full-time programmes e.g. the Advanced Diploma, you will receive the preparation required to sit the external safety exams in Navigation and Ship Stability and Structure. However, if have followed the Foundation Degree pathway, you will need to take an additional SQA preparation course covering both safety subjects. These courses range from three to four months of college time with us. Please call us on 01253 504800 or email maritime@blackpool.ac.uk for more information.

MCA oral examination

We offer preparation classes help you pass your MCA oral exams and have a very high success rate. These classes are conducted face to face at our campus following your external SQA safety examinations.

Relevant short courses as listed in MSN 1865

We organise all these short courses within our programmes, whether it be a full-time Advanced Diploma programme or the SQA preparation programme followed by Foundation Degree candidates. There is some flexibility in scheduling these short courses to accommodate your work rota.

cruise ship at sea

SQA preparation courses

These courses are designed to prepare you for your Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Ship Stability and Structure and Navigation external examinations, administered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

We offer three written exam preparation variants, depending on whether you need to complete Navigation and/or Ship Stability and Structure and how academically current you are. This is explained further below.

Chief Mate SQA Revision

This course is for you if in the last 12 months you have attempted the SQA exams in Ship Stability and Structure or Navigation and require further support to achieve a Pass in both subjects.

Find out more about this course - Chief Mate SQA Revision.

This course is our minimum requirement for anyone making a third or further attempt.

Chief Mate CoC SQA Exam Support

This course is for you if you require a slightly longer period of revision for the Ship Stability and Structure and/or Navigation exams and can successfully pass these following 9 weeks preparation and support.

Find out more about this course – Chief Mate CoC Written Exam Support

Need a longer period of revision?

If you are not academically current and require a longer period of preparation and support to successfully pass the Ship Stability and Structure and/or Navigation exams, we can support and provide what you need to prepare for success.

To find out more, contact us at maritime@blackpool.ac.uk. Our team will arrange for you to speak to our experienced tutors to identify a programme to meet your individual needs.