Course Overview
Want to work on a super yacht, cruise ship, oil rig, merchant vessel or in the commercial maritime industry? You'll need industry certification first as it's an international safety requirement.
There's no sea time involved and if you do all five courses it takes just a week to complete. This is the amended version of STCW-78.
Upon successful completion of each topic you will receive the relevant certificate of competency in:
- STCW Basic Firefighting
- STCW Elementary First Aid
- STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
- STCW Personal Survival
- STCW Security Awareness
(Please note your STCW certificates may take 10 days to be issued to you upon the successful completion of the course)
| Locations | Tauranga |
|---|---|
| Next intake | Dec 2024 View more details |
| Study options |
1 week full-time, including holidays (if applicable) Part-time study available |
| Total credits | 10 |
| Indicative Fees | Fees vary from $195-$2,435 for domestic students View full fees information |
| Eligibility | View entry criteria |
To see the information for international students change your location using the button at the top right of the screen.
Career opportunities
This is a Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) accredited certification which meets international requirements to help safeguard the lives of crews and passengers.
Potential employers include:
- cruise ships
- fishing vessels
- super yachts
- oil rigs
- commercial vessels
Topics you'll cover
This internationally recognised course is required for any supervisor of crew members on board a commercial ship or ocean liner.
There are five topics, which can be completed individually, so if you don't need all five, you can elect to complete only the ones you need.
The five topics are:
- STCW Personal Survival
- STCW Security Awareness
- STCW Basic Firefighting
- STCW Elementary First Aid
- STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (compulsory online study and one half day on-campus. Refer to STCW course information and timetables below for further details)
Refresher Training
If you are already qualified, from 1 January 2017 you may require refresher training as your current certification is only valid for five years. The following refresher topics are available:
- STCW Refresher in Personal Survival
- STCW Refresher in Basic Firefighting
The refresher training is run in conjunction with our main STCW delivery and the same timetable applies however you may be eligible for a refresher training discount.
Course Fees
| Indicative Fees * | Fees vary from $195-$2,435 for domestic students |
|---|
2024 fees
- STCW Security Awareness - $300
- STCW Personal Survival Techniques - $661
- STCW Basic Firefighting - $1,000
- STCW Elementary First Aid - $279
- STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibility - $195
Refresher Fees
- STCW Personal Survival Refresher - $442
- STCW Basic Firefighting Refresher - $772
All fees include the student levy.
2025 fees
- STCW Security Awareness - $318
- STCW Personal Survival Techniques - $700
- STCW Basic Firefighting - $1,060
- STCW Elementary First Aid - $296
- STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibility - $206
Refresher Fees
- STCW Personal Survival Refresher - $468
- STCW Basic Firefighting Refresher - $818
All fees include the student levy.
Your final fee may vary if:
- you have a choice of topics/papers to study
- the qualification excludes GST
- there are extra course materials to purchase
- student levies apply
We’ll let you know if any of these apply to you.
* Important fee information, and hints and tips
Help with fees
Are you Eligible for Free Fees?
There are several ways to take advantage of free study at Toi Ohomai. Find out how on our Fees Free FAQ page.
Student Loans and Allowances
This course does NOT meet the requirements for student loan or allowance applications through StudyLink.
Find out more at studylink.govt.nz
Course Entry Information
Entry criteria
Full STCW Training
- You must be fit and capable of undertaking training for sea survival and fire-fighting.
- You'll be required to swim in a pool with and without a lifejacket and stay afloat (tread water) while wearing clothing.
- Students are required to provide as part of their enrolment:
- A student medical declaration
- A medical certificate. Please take along this information sheet to your medical practitioner
- Toi Ohomai will for the purpose of STCW training accept a current Dive medical certificate, or a Maritime New Zealand Seafarers Medical certificate, or a MCA ENG 1 medical certificate.
Refresher Training
All Seafarers who intend to enrol into STCW Refresher Training must provide Toi Ohomai with a letter on company letterhead confirming;
- That the applicant has actively participated in the mandatory abandon ship and fire drills while completing approved seagoing service performing functions appropriate to the certificate they hold for a period of at least:
- 12 months in total during the preceding 5 years, or;
- 3 months in total during the preceding 6 months.
- Download the Sea Service letter template (pdf, 139kb). This must be provided on enrolment for a Refresher discount to be applied.
Seafarers will also need to provide Toi Ohomai with:
- Copies of their original Basic STCW Firefighting and Personal Survival Techniques certificates
- A current medical certificate
- A completed student medical declaration
STCW Information and Enrolment Pack
- Full STCW training enrolment pack - 2024 intakes (pdf, 601KB)
- Full STCW training enrolment pack - 2025 intakes (pdf, 507KB)
IMPORTANT: to complete the fillable pdf forms you'll need to open it in Adobe Acrobat which is a paid service but offers a free trial. Otherwise, please download and print the forms. Once you've completed the forms you can email to [email protected].
Standard Entry Criteria
Admission, entry, selection, and enrolment into programmes will be in accordance with the Academic Regulations and/or, where approved, specific programme regulations.
English language requirements
Students are able to converse, read and write in English sufficiently well to perform the functions and duties required of a person who holds the certificate or endorsement in accordance with the relevant competency and training standard.
Return to course overview
Course Locations and Intake Information
| Location | Campus | Start Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 2 Dec 2024 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 10 Feb 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 24 Feb 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 10 Mar 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 24 Mar 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 7 Apr 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 28 Apr 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 19 May 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 23 Jun 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 28 Jul 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 22 Sep 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 13 Oct 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 3 Nov 2025 | |
| Tauranga | Windermere Campus | 1 Dec 2025 |
Study options
- 1 week full-time, including holidays (if applicable)
- Part-time study available
