STCW Basic Training Certifications must be periodically renewed to remain active
Students complete this renewal by attending a Refresher course. These courses feature training and assessments similar to the full STCW Basic Training course, but delivered in an abbreviated format. Sea School offers both Revalidation and Refresher courses at all of our locations where we offer STCW Basic Training. The STCW Refresher course is for mariners who do not meet the minimum sea service threshold.
The Refresher course includes online coursework, written exams, and practical assessments.
Locations
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Train from Anywhere with Sea School Courses – Learn at Your Own Pace
Train on your schedule with Sea School’s self-paced online courses. Designed for flexibility and convenience, our online programs allow you to complete key certifications and knowledge-based training from anywhere, at any time.
Call us today to get scheduled for our Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels bundle
Throughout this sixteen (16) day course, mariners will go through trainings for OUPV, Master 100 Ton upgrade, Master 200 Ton upgrade, Inland to Western Rivers and the Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels upgrade.
Upcoming Zoom Trainings
Join our courses from anywhere with our convenient Zoom sessions. Choose the dates that work best for your schedule and start your journey toward earning your next license or endorsement - without ever leaving home.
This Course Has Other Options for Learning
The Right Course for Every Seafarer
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What Our Clients Say
Outstanding staff and comfortable classroom.
One of the best instructors I had with perfect English language. I learned a lot more than I expected.
Ricardo G.
It’s a great setting with awesome staff.
The instructor is outstanding and the course is informative.
Dean D.
Great instructor, strongly recommend!
Jarrad A.
Best instructors I’ve had.
Instructor was a great teacher, and made the class fun and enjoyable.
Gavin A.
Excellent instructor.
Very adept at answering questions and ensures requirements are met. Great sea stories and experience.
James C.
Nice and very sweet office staff, I enjoyed meeting everyone.
Always an awesome time being at Sea School!
David A.
Highly recommend it.
The staff, classroom, instructors and the course is very professional.
Richard G.
Course is very informative.
Very experienced instructor, easy to talk to. Overall great experience and enjoyable.
Joseph D.
Office staff is always great.
Superb instructor and course has good material.
Kenneth G.
I loved the instructor, he is amazing.
The proctor was excellent too.
Kathleen H.
Good course and good classroom.
Loved the instructor and his knowledge.
Abigail L.
Instructor was so helpful in instructing the rules and safety of boats.
Simple class, easy to understand and loved the pictures so helpful.
Noa A.
The course is very informative.
The instructor was incredibly knowledgeable with plenty of examples and stories.
Haley D.
Instructor was amazing and very insightful to boating knowledge.
Learned a lot of information in this course.
Griffin K.
I have no complaints and I am super satisfied with my class.
Very helpful for the rules of the water. Instructor is super knowledgeable and clearly cares about the art of seamanship.
James H.
Good customer service from the staff.
Professional and knowledgeable instructor. Classroom is clean and adequate.
Arturo B.
Very good instructor.
Excellent communications from the staff.
James H.
Everything was top notch.
I found the instructor to be very knowledgeable in this course.
Donald D.
Great staff and clean classroom.
Instructor is great and also the course.
Mark D.
The course is very enjoyable.
The instructor is very nice to everyone and is knowledgeable. Clean and cool classroom and friendly staff.
Joseph G.
Office staff were very nice.
Instructor did a good job teaching and I love this course.
Mainor C.
Very good course.
Top notch instructor and very experienced instructor.
James D.
Comfortable classroom, well set up to exhibit course very well.
Very knowledgeable, helpful and courteous instructor and staff.
Gerorge B.
Instructor is friendly and very knowledgeable.
Excellent sea stories related to the subject.
Mark L.
Always helpful and accommodating staff.
Highly recommend it. Instructor is uniquely skilled at teaching. Kudos!
Patrick H.
John is very knowledgeable and informative!
Cody C.
Nice office staff.
Clean Classroom. Awesome instructor. Great course. Great food.
Cameron G.
Classroom was a great environment!
Instructor was extremely knowledgeable.
Anthony G.
John is the best teacher I’ve personally had at Sea School.
Knowledgeable and didn’t beat around the bush.
Trenton F.
Great office staff and classroom.
Lots of respect for the instructor. Taught very well!
Nicholas H.
I enjoyed John’s teaching.
Very to the point and sharp.
Cade B.
Very helpful office staff.
Great learning environment. Very knowledgeable and great instructor. Tremendous course! Delicious food!
Noah A.
Staff are professional and extremely helpful.
Instructor is extremely knowledgeable and made the painful course easy for us.
Charles G.
The very best staff.
Will return for any future class needs. Instructor is a great man with a wealth of knowledge.
Gabriel C.
Thank you.
Great job from everyone involved.
Jacob C.
Everyone was nice and very good to help with every problem that I had.
Aaron H.
Classroom is clean.
They provided everything we needed to learn the course. Instructor’s a great guy, super knowledgeable with great stories.
Jacob H.
Friendly office staff.
Instructors were very helpful.
Walter C.
Knowledgeable good instructors.
Instructors were good, reassuring and informative.
Kyle K.
Best staff I have ever met.
Classroom was nice and the course was very meaningful. Instructor is very intelligent.
Leland K.
Classroom is comfortable.
Instructor and staff were awesome and amazing.
Patrick C.
Excellent knowledge from the instructor.
She will make you learn.
Dustin B.
Instructor did not cut corners in teaching this class.
Very clear and straight to the point. Awesome teacher.
Garrison G.
Office staff is easy to deal with.
Friendly and helpful instructor.
Peter F.
Instructor was awesome.
I look forward to another class.
Dimecio D.
Office staff is a ten.
Informative course and clean classroom.
Sara H.
Amazing office staff.
Fun classroom. Awesome instructor. Fun course. Great food.
Hal E.
Great sea stories.
Excellent instruction.
Christopher M.
Instructor is very knowledgeable and passionate about teaching.
Thank you for all the help and for putting up with me.
Phillip C.
Instructor is very helpful and very good at teaching and knowing how to get you to understand.
Jarrett F.
Helpful and friendly staff.
Instructor did a good job and also an eye opening course.
Robert F.
Instructor is informative and the course is very detailed.
Helpful staff and clean classroom.
Carlos K.
Friendly and professional staff.
Instructor is knowledgeable and very willing to assist. I have enjoyed this experience and will be back for upgrades.
Darien H.
Excellent class.
All information was covered and a great instructor.
Jim C.
Pat is a great instructor!
John C.
Accommodations were perfect.
The cleaning staff do an amazing job.
Robert D.
Awesome office staff.
Awesome classroom. Awesome instructor. Awesome course. Awesome food. Awesome accommodations.
Ryan A.
Great office staff!
Instructor is a funny guy. Knows his stuff!
Austin C.
Thank you! I appreciate everything.
Trevan B.
Everything was excellent.
Dylan B.
Nice & helpful office staff.
Very helpful instructor. Excellent accommodations.
Alfonso L.
Well done!
David C.
Very good experience.
George J.
Office staff went above & beyond.
Instructor has relevant and real life experiences or storeis told.
Jacob H.
Amazing!!!
Drake B.
Office staff was great.
Pat did an excellent job and I loved his stories. As always, eggs were fantastic.
John C.
Food is delicious and prepared on time!
Pat is the best instructor to walk the earth and sail the 7 seas, he deserves a red porsche for a company vehicle.
David R.
Awesome office staff.
Nice and cool classroom. Awesome food!
Ryan A.
Instructor was helpful & stayed until our questions got answered.
Timothy H.
I enjoyed just about everything.
Instructor was super knowledgeable and I really enjoyed hearing all his sea stories.
John G.
Super sweet office staff.
Instructor stories keep you entertained and he knows his stuff! Chef is great. More cookies!
Austin C.
Excellent office staff. Awesome instructor!
Demetrios D.
Amazing across the board!
Shone H.
Great food!
Great stories and very knowledgeable instructor.
Ben C.
People are great!
Awesome classroom. Instructor really inspired me. Food was great.
Justin M.
Learned a lot - thanks guys!!!
Everyone from the Sea School personnel are very nice and knowledgeable. Classroom was very neat and clean.
Allen C.
Enjoyed having Capt. John as my instructor. Meals provided were good and enough!
David D.
Excellent instruction from experience.
Jeremy H.
Office staff was friendly and accommodating.
Classroom was clean, in a good state, comfortable. Instructor was experienced, approachable, friendly, and helpful.
Jonathan A.
Great, knowledgeable instructor, good stories.
Food was wonderful and unexpected!
Charles G.
John is amazing at what he does and I greatly appreciate him being my instructor!
Devin H.
Very helpful office staff.
Classroom was clean and organized. Instructor was a good guy. Overall, the course was good and I learned a lot about ships.
Amar A.
Office staff were very nice & helpful!
The course had good information and was easy to understand. Good instructor. Helps any way he can.
Steven J.
Gave clear instructions and presented the material in a relatable manner.
Ian M.
All excellent! Thank you!
Ramon H.
Great, very friendly and helpful office staff.
Instructor was very engaged in the course. Overall, great course!
Grant D.
Welcoming staff! Great instructor.
Hayes E.
Great knowledge & brought real world knowledge to class.
Christopher D.
Thank you!
Instructor was great and didn’t mind me asking any of my questions. I was nervous, but he made me feel comfortable.
Jayme H.
Great office staff!
Awesome classroom. Awesome instructor. Very good course.
Jason E.
Great instructor!
Very knowledgeable.
Ryan M.
I highly recommend!
Pat did a fine job.
Michael G.
Very enlightening course.
Great folks! Awesome instructors.
Aaron H.
Amazing people.
Course is straightforward and very informative.
Brendon K.
Informative course and instructor is very good as his experience teaches us knowledge.
Kevin D.
Instructor made the class very understandable.
This is my third time attending this school and the staff are always helpful and nice.
Dave C.
Great staff and instructor worked hard to help me in every way possible.
Gorki H.
Great instructors take the time to actually teach and help you learn everything that's needed.
Elijah C.
Thank you!
Office staff went out of their way to help me out.
Jonathan B.
Everything was good and the instructor was excellent.
Jaequavius J.
Why Thousands of Mariners Choose Sea School?
Each year, over 7,500 students choose Sea School for their maritime training. We offer 30+ USCG-approved courses across in-person, online, and satellite formats, with training available at 6 locations nationwide. Team training is also available on-site or via satellite to meet company needs.
We’ve developed comprehensive, engaging, and practical curriculum to set you up for success on the water
While the curriculum represented on the Sea School website is a general layout of course information, it is not the exact order in which lessons are taught.
Online coursework, assessments, and written exams for Personal Survival Techniques, Basic Firefighting, CPR & First Aid, and Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities.
Online coursework, assessments, and written exams for Personal Survival Techniques, Basic Firefighting, CPR & First Aid, and Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities.
Team Trainings
Sea School provides comprehensive team training solutions designed to meet your organization's unique requirements. Our certified instructors are available for on-site training at your location, or your team can utilize our dedicated training facilities. Please contact us for further details regarding our corporate training opportunities.
Online Trainings
Looking to obtain your next license at your own pace? Sea School offers a selection of immersive online courses designed to provide you with convenient access to our high-quality course material. Explore our online options and contact us with any questions you may have.
A Simple 3-Step Process to Get Certified and Start Your Maritime Career
Choose Your Course
Pick the course that fits your experience level and sea time and select the available format that works for you (in-person, Zoom, or online).
Enroll & Prepare
Register online or at a Sea School location. Ensure you meet eligibility requirements and start reviewing the provided study materials.
Get Certified
After finishing the course, you will need to submit your application to the Coast Guard to receive your Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC).
Advance your Maritime Career
What Our Clients Say
Very enlightening course.
Great folks! Awesome instructors.
Aaron H.
I highly recommend!
Pat did a fine job.
Michael G.
Great instructor!
Very knowledgeable.
Ryan M.
Great office staff!
Awesome classroom. Awesome instructor. Very good course.
Jason E.
Thank you!
Instructor was great and didn’t mind me asking any of my questions. I was nervous, but he made me feel comfortable.
Jayme H.
Great knowledge & brought real world knowledge to class.
Christopher D.
Welcoming staff! Great instructor.
Hayes E.
Great, very friendly and helpful office staff.
Instructor was very engaged in the course. Overall, great course!
Grant D.
All excellent! Thank you!
Ramon H.
Gave clear instructions and presented the material in a relatable manner.
Ian M.
Course Comparison
STCW Refresher Requirements: Everything You Need to Get Certified
STCW Renewal Requirements
Sea Service Requirement (for mariners without sea service)
- No sea service required
Training Requirements within the last 5 years (either of the following):
- A USCG-approved STCW Basic Training Refresher Course
- Valid Basic Training course(s) for all four elements of STCW Basic Training
All the answers you’ll need before enrolling in the STCW Basic Training Revalidation & Refresher course
STCW stands for the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. The standards are set by the International Convention on STCW. Many of the standards have been incorporated into the United States Regulation and Policy for certain personnel.
The STCW Basic Training certification is necessary for mariners sailing beyond the U.S. Territorial Boundary Line (3 miles off the Atlantic/Pacific Coasts, 12 miles off the Gulf of America). While mariners on U.S. vessels under 200 GRT operating only on domestic voyages are not required to comply with STCW Basic Training, they are strongly encouraged to go through the training and certification process.
- Vessels over 500 GRT - STCW required
- Vessels 200-500 GRT - may require STCW, especially for international voyages
- Vessels under 200 GRT - generally exempt UNLESS operating internationally
- International Voyages - STCW required for all crew on commercial vessels
- Domestic Waters - U.S. vessels may follow 46 CFR regulations instead, but STCW is strongly encouraged
The Sea School offers STCW Basic Training courses at several of our brick and mortar locations. You can register here for an STCW Basic Training course that works best with your schedule. Upon completion of the course, mariners receive a Course Completion Certificate that they must submit alongside a USCG application for official STCW Basic Training certification. It is important to note that a Course Completion Certification is NOT a substitute for the official USCG STCW Basic Training credential.
STCW certificates are valid for 5 years and must be renewed when your MMC expires.
- Have 360 days of sea service in any capacity aboard a vessel that is required to hold regular fire, emergency, and abandon ship drills AND;
- Have taken ONE of the following:
- A USCG Approved STCW Basic Training Revalidation course dated within the last 5 years
- Basic Training Course for: Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting and Personal Survival Techniques within the last 5 years
- Refresher Course(s) for all 4 elements of Basic Training dated within the last 5 years
- If you do not have 360 days of sea service in the last 5 years you must have:
- A USCG Approved STCW Basic Training Refresher Course taken within the last 5 years OR
- Valid Basic Training courses for all 4 elements within the last 5 years
As with many requirements and certifications in the maritime industry, the renewal process for the STCW certification depends primarily on sea time.
Revalidation: If a mariner has completed an STCW Basic Training course in the past and HAS 360 days of sea time in the last 5 years, they can take a shortened version of the Basic Training Course.
Refresher: If a mariner has completed an STCW Basic Training course in the past but does NOT have 360 days of sea time in the last 5 years, they must take a Basic Training Refresher Course OR valid Basic Training Course for all 4 elements.
The four elements of STCW Basic Training are:
- Personal Safety & Social Responsibility (PSSR)
- Personal Survival Techniques (PST)
- CPR & First Aid (CPR/FA)
- Basic Firefighting (BFF)
If you’re applying for entry-level merchant mariner credentials or a National License, you are NOT required to get your STCW Basic Training endorsement. Mariners are encouraged to go through the STCW Basic Training and certification process, though, as it will enable them to serve on larger vessels and in international waters as they advance in their career.
While the STCW endorsement does not officially require a separate drug test, you’ll likely need to take one or belong to a drug testing consortium when applying for or renewing your Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMCs). If you already have your MMC and are looking to add an STCW certificate, you will NOT need to take an additional drug test.
No. Only the USCG can issue official documentation and certifications. To obtain an official STCW Basic Training certification, mariners must:
- Complete the necessary USCG application form.
- Submit both the Sea School Course Completion Certificate and USCG application form to the USCG.
The USCG then processes the application and issues the official STCW Basic Training certification. An STCW Basic Training course certificate is a document proving you have completed a specific training course that meets the international standards set by the "Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers" (STCW) convention, while an MMC (Merchant Mariner Credential) is a credential issued by the US Coast Guard that signifies you are qualified to work as a mariner on US flagged vessels, and includes endorsements based on your completed STCW Basic Training courses and other qualifications; essentially, an STCW Basic Training certificate is a piece of training completion documentation, while an MMC is a comprehensive license to work at sea as a US mariner, which incorporates STCW Basic Training as a necessary component.
It’s Time to Start Your Maritime Career!
Helping thousands of mariners every year, Sea School is a leader in the maritime education space. Whether you are new to the industry or looking to add onto your Merchant Mariner Credential, find the courses right for you at Sea School.
