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Application process

In line with MIN 655, if you are applying for your first UK Certificate of Competency (CoC), you must post your application and original documents (except passport which must be an attested copy) at both NOE and CoC stages to:

For all other applications, please email your application and scanned documents to engineering@mcga.gov.uk

Please ensure your documents are included as attachments or within a .zip folder. Unfortunately, we cannot open .rar extensions or links to file-sharing services (e.g. OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox etc).

Fast track requests

It is unlikely we will consider expediting a NOE (including Resit) or Rating application within our service standard of 28 days, or within 14 days for all other applications.

If you have been waiting longer than this and need us to assess your application on an urgent basis, please ask your company to email engineering@mcga.gov.uk directly with your full name, date of birth and a compelling reason (including the vessel joining date).

For NOE applications, your company must also confirm to us that you meet all of the certificate requirements i.e. the only barrier to gaining the certificate is you need to sit the MCA oral exam.

For NOE resits, it is unlikely we will be able to consider a fast-track request if youve already had 3 attempts or more.

Booking your MCA oral exam

Information about how to book your oral exam will be emailed to you when you have met the requirements for an NOE.

Oral exam syllabuses

It is recommended that you review the relevant oral exam syllabus before sitting your MCA oral exam.

CoC requirements

If you pass your MCA oral exam, please see our guidance on the requirements for an engineering CoC application.

NOE resits

If you fail your MCA oral exam and wish to resit it, please email the NOE Fail to engineering@mcga.gov.uk. The fee is currently 159 and should be paid for online to prevent delays.

This process also applies if you passed your oral exam more than 3 years ago.

Additional requirements for a third MCA Oral Exam attempt (or more)

From 3 July 2023, we will not be in a position to issue your NOE resit until we have received documentary evidence that you meet all of the CoC requirements (as per section 4.2 of MIN 690). Please send scanned copies of these documents by email to engineering@mcga.gov.uk when you apply for your NOE resit.

Unused NOE

If you were issued with a NOE over 5 years ago but did not sit the exam, the fee is reduced (currently 90). Well also need to see two forms of evidence showing 6 months seagoing service in the last 5 years.

Exemptions

All applicants will need to supply sufficient detailed evidence of their course content for a 70% match to be obtained between their qualification and the MCAs syllabuses. In addition applicants will be required to have obtained a pass mark of at least 50% in each of the individual subjects, within their qualification, being presented for the audit.

Copies of certificates, marking transcripts and photo ID, will need to be signed by a notary confirming the true likeness to the original.

Merchant Engineering Officer of the Watch Unlimited

For Science A and B, and Control Engineering:

• UK graduates (HNC and higher) and experienced seafarers should contact their MCA-approved nautical training centre
• non-UK graduates should contact IAMI for course exemptions only (i.e. exam exemptions are not available)

For Workshop Skills, a skills test can be used if you have workshop qualifications; please contact your MCA-approved nautical training centre.

Merchant Second/Chief Engineer Unlimited

Holders of UK/EU qualifications (HND and higher) should contact IAMI for course and exam exemptions from Naval Architecture, Applied Mechanics, Applied Heat, Electro-technology, Mathematics and Engineering, Systems & Ships Drawings.

Holders of non-UK/EU Engineering degrees should first contact UK ENIC for recognition and evaluation of international qualifications and skills, and then IAMI for course exemptions only (i.e. exam exemptions are not available).

University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)

Please email your UTT e-transcript to engineering@mcga.gov.uk for the attention of an Engineering Examiner.

Small vessels

Please do not apply for exemptions before obtaining an action plan from a MCA-approved Small Vessel Engineering training provider.

For General Engineering Science I & II, 2 weeks Workshop Skills (also known as Yacht Skills Test) and AEC1, please contact IAMI.

There is generally no exemption available for AEC2, however, MCA/MNTB-approved FD/SPD, HND or HNC holders should email engineering@mcga.gov.uk the course completion letter.

ETO

For finding a match to the AMERC Electronic Principles course, you will need to hold the minimum of a Higher National Certificate (Academic level 4/Scotland level 7) to be considered for the IAMI exemption service.

For finding a match to the management level Electrotechnology SQA qualification, you will need to hold the minimum of a Higher National Diploma (Academic level 5/Scotland level 8) to be considered for the IAMI exemption service.

Merchant Navy

For guidance on the certificate requirements, please see MSN 1857 Amendment 1

• Engineer Officer of the Watch Unlimited III/1: sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4
• Second Engineer Unlimited III/2: section 3.5
• Chief Engineer Unlimited III/2: section 3.6
• To obtain both motor and steam endorsements: Annex A
• MEOL (serve as Chief Engineer on motorships <750 kW in UK near coastal area): section 10.2

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