How to revalidate an MCA certificate of competency

Every 5 years, on MSF 4201

A UK certificate of competency is valid for 5 years and is revalidated on form MSF 4201 (MSN 1861 (M) Amendment 1).

The sea service the MCA wants

One of these:

• at least 12 months of seagoing service in the last 5 years;
• at least 3 months in the last 6 months;
• 3 months as a supernumerary immediately before;
• 30 months in the last 5 years in an occupation the MCA accepts as equivalent.

For a yacht restricted deck certificate the service is onboard yacht service as master or deck officer on yachts of more than 15 metres, so stand-by and yard time count there. A code vessel certificate needs 6 months of seagoing service on code vessels in the last 5 years. Engineer and ETO service is on ships of at least 750 kW. Masters back their service with a company letter unless it is in a PYA or similar MCA approved service record book.

Refresher training and the ENG1

You also need refresher training within the last 5 years for the safety courses the certificate was issued on (Personal Survival Techniques and Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting for every deck certificate; Survival Craft and Rescue Boats and Advanced Fire Fighting where the certificate required them), and a valid ENG1. See which courses expire.

ECDIS and High Voltage

These are not conditions. Without them the certificate is still revalidated but carries a limitation, which can be removed later by submitting the course or, for an EOOW, 6 months of service on high voltage vessels in the last 5 years.

Without enough sea service

The alternative route (MSF 4258): an oral exam at the lower rank gives a temporary certificate, and 3 months of service then revalidates it in full. An OOW or EOOW may instead sit the full oral and be revalidated at once. A certificate expired for more than 10 years needs the lower exam, service and the original exam again, and after 15 years a NAEST course.

When to apply

An application received in the 6 months before expiry keeps the old anniversary; one received earlier or later runs 5 years from the revalidation. Deck officers send the GMDSS certificate with it so its endorsement expiry lines up.