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Certificate I · national qualification

Certificate I in Maritime Operations (General Purpose Hand Near Coastal)

This is the entry qualification for working as a general purpose hand, the deckhand or engine room hand who keeps a commercial vessel running under the master's or engineer's direction.

Compare 6 providers
Illustration of a person working as deckhand
How long it takes
0 to 6 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $865
Subsidised at TAFE Queensland, full fee up to $3,340
How you can study
Online or on campus
Main job
Deckhand
$89,400 median pay
Taught by
6 providers
5 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate I in Maritime Operations (General Purpose Hand Near Coastal) asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • a willingness to work under direction and learn on the job
  • a practical, hands-on approach to routine tasks
  • an interest in working on the water and staying safe
  • the ability to work as part of a crew

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Where this course can take you

Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Deckhand

    Deckhands handle the lines, cargo and maintenance that keep a commercial vessel running, working under the direction of the master and officers.

    What else you need

    AMSA requires this Certificate I to apply for the General Purpose Hand Near Coastal certificate, which allows work as a deckhand. The award alone does not confer the certificate: you also need sea service, an approved first aid certificate and to meet medical standards.

    Median pay$89,400

If you study further

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $865

at TAFE Queensland. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$2,360 to $3,340

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Full fee
    $3,340
    How long
    0 to 6 months

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Subsidised
    $865
    Concession
    $500
    Full fee
    $2,360

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.

Where you can study this course

There are 6 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

8 units, and everyone takes all of them.

  • Deck and engine room duties
  • Routine vessel maintenance
  • Firefighting on board
  • Sea survival and abandonment
  • First aid at sea
  • Work health and safety
See all 8 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

  • Loading the details for HLTAID011…

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It prepares you for an entry level job as a general purpose hand, the deckhand or engine room hand on a commercial vessel. You work under the general supervision of the master or engineer.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

The qualification itself has no entry requirements. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose before you enrol.

Is a licence, registration or check required to work in this area?

Yes. AMSA certification as a General Purpose Hand Near Coastal requires this qualification, qualifying sea service on a commercial vessel, and a current First Aid Certificate, as specified in Marine Order 505. Check with AMSA before you enrol.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.