Before you can legally step onto a yacht as paid crew, there’s a specific, non-negotiable list of certificates you need — and getting even one of them wrong or missing costs you the job before you’re even considered. The short answer: every crew member needs STCW Basic Safety and an ENG1 medical certificate, full stop. Beyond that, which certificates you need depends on your department. Here’s the complete breakdown.

STCW Basic Safety Training — The One Certificate Nobody Skips

STCW stands for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping. It’s a 4–5 day course covering firefighting, sea survival, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibility. No commercial yacht will consider you without it — this is the industry’s actual floor, not a recommendation.

For a full breakdown of what each module actually involves day by day, read our complete STCW & ENG1 guide.

ENG1 Medical Certificate — Proving You’re Fit to Work at Sea

The ENG1 is a straightforward medical exam confirming you’re physically fit for life at sea — vision, hearing, general cardiovascular health, no disqualifying conditions. It takes 20–30 minutes with an approved doctor and is valid for two years. You’ll walk out with a paper certificate the same day.

Book it early, especially in high season — approved doctors get booked up fast, and you cannot apply seriously without this in hand. You can find MCA-approved doctors through the official UK government list.

Powerboat Level 2 — Worth It If You’re Going Deck

This certificate lets you legally drive tenders under 10 metres. It’s not mandatory for every entry-level deck job, but plenty of yachts prefer — or explicitly ask for — crew who already have it. A 1–2 day course, no previous experience needed, and it’s widely recognised through the RYA. If you’re going for a deckhand role, this is one of the cheapest ways to look more employable than the next green candidate.

Food Hygiene Level 2 — Essential for Interior Crew

If you’re working in guest service or handling food and drinks in any capacity, this one is often required, not just recommended. It’s a short online or one-day classroom course covering proper hygiene, storage, and food handling — required for galley stews, service stews, and junior stews across most charter yachts.

Security Awareness (ISPS)

A short module often bundled directly into an STCW course. It covers basic maritime security — how to spot and respond to threats, and how to help keep guests safe. Not every yacht requires it, but most commercial and charter vessels do, so it’s worth confirming it’s included when you book your STCW rather than discovering the gap later.

Seaman’s Discharge Book

Not strictly mandatory for your first contract, but worth applying for once you’re serious about the career — it’s an official record of your sea service and makes visa and immigration processes considerably smoother down the line.

Keep Digital Copies of Everything

Scan every certificate the day you get it and store copies somewhere you can access from your phone. Agencies and yachts routinely ask for them during hiring — at a marina, with patchy wifi, digging through a suitcase for a paper original is a bad way to make a first impression.

What This Actually Means for Your Job Search

These certificates aren’t a bureaucratic formality — they’re your entire proof of readiness before anyone’s met you in person. Once you have them, you’re legally qualified to start applying. For what happens next, see our guides on landing your first deckhand job and getting hired as a stewardess with no experience, or our general step-by-step first job guide.

Written by Ivana — Chief Stewardess on 55m superyachts, who coordinates onboarding and checks certificates for every new crew member before they set foot on board. Writes here so you don’t find out what’s missing at the worst possible moment.