If you want to work on a yacht, the first thing anyone will tell you is that you need an ENG1. If you are not from the UK, you have probably never heard of it and have no idea what it means. Here is the simple version: the ENG1 is just the UK name for a medical certificate that proves you are healthy enough to work at sea. Every country in Europe — and Australia, the US, and most of the world — has their own version of the exact same certificate. You do not need the UK one. You get it from a maritime-approved doctor in your own country, and it is accepted on every yacht in the world. That is the most important thing to understand before anything else on this page.
Why Do You Need a Medical Certificate to Work on a Yacht?
Yachts that carry paying guests or employ paid crew are commercial vessels. There is an international law — called the Maritime Labour Convention — that says every single person working as paid crew on a commercial vessel must have a valid medical certificate. The certificate confirms that a doctor has checked you over and found you fit to do the job safely. Without it, a Captain cannot legally put you on the crew list. It does not matter whether you are a deckhand, a stewardess, a chef, or an engineer — every paid crew member needs one, no exceptions.
This is not a formality that some yachts enforce and others don’t. Port authorities can inspect yachts and ask to see crew documentation. If you are on board without a valid medical certificate, it creates a legal problem for the Captain and the vessel. Getting it sorted before you start looking for work is the right order of things — and it is genuinely easy to do.
ENG1 Is the UK Name — Every Country Has Their Own Version
The ENG1 is what the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency calls their seafarer medical certificate. Every EU country, Australia, the United States, and most other countries issue an equivalent certificate through their own maritime authority. The standard they are all issued to is the same — the Maritime Labour Convention — which means they are all accepted on all commercial yachts, regardless of where the yacht is registered or which flag it flies.
This is the part that confuses a lot of people who are not from the UK. They hear “you need an ENG1” and assume they have to fly to England and see a British doctor. You do not. Here is what the main countries call their version of the same certificate:
- United Kingdom: ENG1 — issued by an MCA-approved doctor
- Australia: Seafarer Medical Certificate — issued by an AMSA-approved doctor
- United States: STCW Medical Certificate — issued by a USCG-approved doctor
- EU countries (France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Netherlands, Germany etc): Maritime Medical Certificate — issued by a nationally approved maritime doctor
- All other countries: Certificate of Medical Fitness — issued to the MLC standard by an approved doctor
All of these are the same thing with different names. All are accepted on all yachts. Get the one issued in your own country by an approved maritime doctor, and you are good to go worldwide.
What Happens at the Medical Appointment?
The appointment is with a maritime-approved doctor — not your regular GP, but a doctor who is specifically approved to issue seafarer medical certificates. The appointment takes about 30 to 40 minutes and is completely straightforward. Most people find it far less daunting than they expected. The doctor is checking that you are in good general health and physically capable of doing the work involved in being a crew member at sea.
The check covers the following:
- Height and weight
- Vision test — including a colour blindness check
- Hearing test
- Blood pressure and heart rate
- Urine sample — checking for diabetes and kidney function
- General physical examination
- Questions about your medical history and any medications you take
If you pass — and the vast majority of people do — you receive your certificate on the same day. You do not wait for results to come back in the post. The doctor signs it at the end of the appointment and you walk out with it in hand. The certificate is valid for two years.
What Do You Need to Bring?
Before you go to your appointment, make sure you have the following with you:
- Photo ID — your passport or driver’s licence
- Your GP’s name and contact details
- Any prescription medication you are currently taking
- Glasses or contact lenses if you wear them
- Your previous certificate if you already have one and are renewing
How Much Does It Cost and How Long Is It Valid?
In the UK the ENG1 costs around £115. In other countries the cost is similar — in Australia it is typically AUD $150–$250 depending on the provider. The certificate is valid for two years from the date of issue, at which point you renew it with another appointment. It is a cost you will have every two years throughout your career at sea, so factor it into your planning.
Do You Need It Before STCW Training?
In most cases yes — or at least at the same time. Many STCW training providers require you to confirm medical fitness before starting practical training, since the course involves physical activities like firefighting drills and sea survival exercises. Getting your medical certificate sorted before you book your STCW is the cleanest approach. When you train with Yachtiecareers in Split, the medical certificate is included in your package — we arrange it through an approved maritime doctor during your training week so you do not have to organise it separately.
What If You Have a Medical Condition?
Having a medical condition does not automatically disqualify you. The doctor assesses whether the condition affects your ability to safely perform duties at sea. Many conditions are manageable and do not prevent you from getting certified. If you are concerned about a specific condition, it is worth having an honest conversation with your GP first so you know what to expect before the maritime medical appointment. For complex conditions, the maritime authority in your country can provide guidance on the relevant standards before you book.
Does Yachtiecareers Include the Medical Certificate?
Yes. When you train with us, the seafarer medical certificate is included as part of the package. We work with approved maritime doctors so your medical is arranged alongside your STCW and other training — not as a separate task you have to figure out on your own. You complete your training week in Split with your medical, your STCW Basic Safety, your PDSD, your CV, and job search support all in one place. That is the point of doing it with us — everything is handled so you can focus on getting ready for your first job.
View our deckhand training packages or stewardess training packages. If you want to talk through your specific situation first, book a free call with our team — no obligation, just a straightforward conversation about how to get started. You can also read what our students say on our reviews page.
For the full list of everything you need before joining your first yacht, see our qualifications checklist for yacht crew. For everything about STCW training, read our STCW guide.
