Maritime courses
5 maritime qualifications in Australia, from certificates to the degree, compared side by side: cost, duration, providers and where each one leads.
- Qualifications
- 5
on this page
- Providers
- 72
across all qualifications
Which of these is right for you?
We don't recommend one provider over another, but four things usually decide which qualification is the right one to start with.
- How much time can you give it?
- A certificate usually runs months, not years, and gets you working sooner. A degree is a multi-year commitment, but it's the only route into a registered profession like pharmacist.
- Do you want to study online, on campus, or both?
- Check each qualification's study modes below. Some are online only, some require placements or on-campus units even in a mostly online course.
- What's your entry point?
- If you're starting from school leaver or career change with no background in the field, the lowest rung on the ladder is usually the realistic start, not the top qualification.
- Which role are you aiming for?
- Some roles need one specific qualification. Others accept several. The roles section below says which qualification on this page actually gets you there.
The maritime qualifications
5 qualifications, from certificates through to a degree. Each links through to cost, duration and the providers that teach it.
Certificates and diplomas
Certificate I in Maritime Operations (General Purpose Hand Near Coastal)
29 providersThis 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.
Certificate IView qualification →Certificate III in Marine Craft Construction
9 providersThis is the trade qualification for people who build and repair boats, working mostly through an apprenticeship.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Certificate III in Maritime Operations
27 providersThis qualification is the training behind an AMSA certificate of competency as master of a commercial vessel up to 24 metres, working within the exclusive economic zone.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Diploma of Maritime Operations
5 providersThis diploma is the qualification the Australian Maritime Safety Authority expects before it issues a certificate of competency to a master or deck watchkeeper on a commercial vessel.
DiplomaView qualification →