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Competency-based training

Maritime Safety Queensland and the marine training sector has established competency-based training and assessment in the workplace as the benchmark for issuing qualifications that lead to a commercial marine licence. Workplace-centred competency-based training and assessment is consistent with requirements of the Transport Distribution Maritime (TDM 07) national training package that aligns with the national initiative to harmonise processes that lead to the issuing of commercial marine licences.

From January 2009 you must enrol with a Maritime Safety Queensland authorised registered training organisation (PDF, 27 KB). You will need to:

• complete a workplace-based task book
• satisfactorily complete units of competency from the training package qualification as required by the registered training organisation
• satisfy the qualifying sea service requirements for the licence
• pass an independent assessment by a Maritime Safety Queensland marine examiner 
• satisfy all other prerequisites for licence issue.

With completion of a workplace-based task book will qualify for a 50 per cent remission in the qualifying sea service requirements relative to the licence level.

What do these developments mean if you were employed in the marine industry working towards a commercial marine licence prior to January 2009?

If you are currently in the marine industry and have been accruing qualifying sea service prior to January 2009 towards your commercial marine licence you have two options.

• Option one
  Complete all prerequisites for the issue of a commercial marine licence in accordance with previous requirements. You will need to:
  1. enrol with a Maritime Safety Queensland authorised registered training organisation for participation in a course of training for the licence required
  2. provide substantive evidence of your sea service to the registered training organisation at the time of enrolment in the course
  3. satisfactorily complete the course of training for the licence required
  4. satisfy the qualifying sea service requirements for the licence
  5. pass an independent assessment by a Maritime Safety Queensland examiner
  6. satisfy all other prerequisites for licence issue.
• Should you choose to adopt this option, remissions in qualifying sea service will only be granted on completion of a Record of Practical Experience and Sea Service (ROPES) book or if you hold an appropriate trade qualification.
  
• Those who qualify for and choose option one as the means to complete their licence requirements must complete all outstanding prerequisites for their commercial licence by 1 January 2012.
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• Option two
  Enrol with a registered training organisation authorised by Maritime Safety Queensland and have your existing knowledge and practical experience at sea assessed through recognition of prior learning. You will need to:
  1. provide the registered training organisation with substantive evidence of your sea service
  2. satisfactorily complete any outstanding units of competency from the training package as required by the registered training organisation
  3. satisfy the qualifying sea service requirements for the licence
  4. pass an independent assessment by a Maritime Safety Queensland marine examiner
  5. satisfy all other prerequisites for licence issue.
• If you complete a workplace-based task book provided by the registered training organisation you will qualify for a 50 per cent remission in the qualifying sea service requirements relative to the licence level. If you complete a ROPES book you will qualify for up to a 50 per cent remission in the qualifying sea service requirements relative to the licence level, with a sliding scale of remission for a book that is not 100 per cent complete.

What is substantive evidence of sea service?

Substantive evidence of sea service is sea service that is appropriate to the licence being sought which has been ratified or verified by Maritime Safety Queensland prior to enrolment with a registered training organisation.

If you can not provide substantive evidence of qualifying sea service accrued prior to 1 January 2009 and are enrolled or enrolling in a training course, you must complete competency-based training and assessment with a registered training organisation authorised by Maritime Safety Queensland. You will be required to complete a task book as a part of your training experience as a means to improve the quality of your practical experience at sea. You will qualify for a 50 per cent remission in the qualifying sea service if you are applying for an unrestricted licence.

Find out more information about the licence requirements

Notes for guidance of candidates cater for the training and assessment options available to those already accruing qualifying sea service towards their commercial marine licence, and those without substantive sea service who enrol for training and assessment towards a commercial marine licence both prior to and after 1 January 2009. If you are uncertain how these options apply to you, contact your nearest Maritime Safety Queensland regional office for advice.