When people first ask us what they need to get started in yachting, we always say the same thing: the list is shorter than you think, and we will help you get through every step of it. Yes, there are certificates, documents, and training courses to sort out — but none of it is complicated when you know the right order and have someone guiding you. This is the full checklist of qualifications you need to become yacht crew, explained simply so you know exactly what to do and why. For a deeper breakdown of the training itself, read our full STCW guide for yacht crew.
Mandatory Qualifications for All Yacht Crew
These are non-negotiable. Every captain on every commercial yacht in the world needs to see these before you can join as paid crew. The good news is that most of these are sorted in a single week of training with us.
1. Passport
You need a valid passport to work on board — not just to travel, but as your primary identity document on a commercial vessel. Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity remaining from the date you plan to join your first yacht. We always recommend having two or three years of remaining validity before you start your career — renewing mid-contract or mid-job search creates unnecessary stress. If you are applying for a Seamans Discharge Book (which we recommend), your passport is the base document for that application too.
2. Medical Certificate for Seafarers (ENG1 or Equivalent)
The medical certificate confirms you are physically fit for sea service. The UK version is called the ENG1, but equivalent certificates issued to the same Maritime Labour Convention standard are accepted worldwide — including Australian AMSA certificates and US USCG certificates. It is issued by a maritime-approved doctor, takes 30–40 minutes, and is valid for two years. You need this before you can legally join any commercial yacht as paid crew. When you train with us in Split, we include the medical certificate as part of your package — you do not have to find a separate maritime doctor yourself. Read our full ENG1 guide for everything you need to know about the examination.
3. STCW Basic Safety Training
STCW Basic Safety is the foundation qualification for every person working on a commercial vessel. It is required by international law — the Maritime Labour Convention — and no captain can hire you without it. The training covers four core areas, each of which results in its own certificate that rolls up into the full STCW Basic Safety certificate:
- Elementary First Aid — treating injuries and medical emergencies on board
- Basic Firefighting and Fire Prevention — managing and suppressing fires at sea
- Personal Survival Techniques — sea survival, life rafts, EPIRB, abandoning ship
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities — safety culture, watchkeeping, crew conduct
- STCW Security Awareness
The course takes five days of practical training. With Yachtiecareers, you complete it in Split, Croatia — with an examination at the end and a worldwide-approved certificate issued digitally, with a physical copy sent to your address. The same course is available in Florida for US-based crew. Once you have this, you are legally cleared to work on commercial vessels globally.
Additional Qualifications That Make You More Hireable
These certificates are not mandatory for every position, but they significantly improve your chances of getting hired and give you more options once you are on board.
5. STCW Personal Designated Security Duties (PDSD)
PDSD is a step above Security Awareness — it is required for crew who have specific security responsibilities on board, including gangway watch and exterior security rounds. All deck crew are expected to hold it. Drazen requires it of all deckhand students because in his experience as Chief Officer, every Captain expects it of deck crew. It is an online course resulting in an MCA worldwide-approved certificate. We include it in our Deckhand and Premium packages. Read our full PDSD guide for more detail.
6. Food Hygiene Level 2
Required for anyone handling food on board — primarily stewardesses and interior crew. It covers food safety, temperature control, hygiene standards, and legal requirements. It is an online course resulting in a CPD EU-approved certificate. We include it in all our training packages because most yachts will ask for it regardless of your role. Read our Food Hygiene guide for yacht crew.
7. STCW Crowd and Crisis Management
Required for crew on large yachts carrying more than 12 passengers. If you plan to work on yachts over 24m in the charter market, this will be needed eventually. It is a USCG-approved worldwide certificate, delivered online. We include it in our Premium packages. It is a certificate that signals you are ready for the larger vessel market, which is where the best salaries are.
8. RYA Powerboat Level 2
A significant advantage for deckhand applicants. This qualifies you to legally operate tender vessels — the RIBs and tenders used to run guests ashore on charter yachts. In the Mediterranean it is a legal requirement for tender operations. Most Bosuns and Senior Deckhands hold it. Junior deckhands do not always need it before their first contract, but getting it within the first month on board is strongly recommended. We can add it to your training week in Split on request. Read our full RYA Powerboat Level 2 guide.
Documents and Paperwork You Need
9. Seamans Discharge Book
The Discharge Book is an official document that records your sea service and proves to port authorities and immigration that you are working crew rather than a tourist. It is your legal entitlement to work and transit internationally without standard visa requirements applying. With Yachtiecareers, we help you apply for a Cayman Islands Discharge Book — one of the most widely accepted flag states globally. You must have your STCW completed before applying.
10. Visas and Travel Documents
The yacht itself handles most visa situations through its Captain and port agent — you do not generally need visas sorted before joining. The key things to understand:
- Mediterranean: EU passport holders have no restrictions. US, UK, Australian, and most other passport holders get 90 days visa-free in the Schengen zone — once you sign onto a yacht, your days stop counting. Read our full visa guide for yacht crew in Europe.
- USA/Florida: A B1/B2 visa may be required for some yachts based in or transiting through US waters. US and Canadian passport holders are exempt. We can provide a supporting letter for the application if needed.
11. Superyacht Reference Letter
For your job search, reference letters from previous employers or instructors carry real weight. When you complete your training with us, you receive a Yachtiecareers instructor reference letter to use in your applications. Over time, you will build references from Captains and Chief Officers you work for — three good references make a significant difference to how quickly you get hired.
12. Professional Crew CV
A superyacht CV is different from a standard CV — the format, the order of information, and the way certifications are presented all matter to the hiring captains who review dozens of applications. We write your CV as part of every training package. It is formatted specifically for yacht applications and updated every time you add a new certificate or sea service. A well-written CV with the right credentials is what turns your application from a pile into an interview.
How to Get All of This Sorted in One Week
If you go through this list and feel like it is a lot to organise — that is exactly why we built our training packages the way we did. When you train with Yachtiecareers in Split, you complete your STCW, PDSD, Security Awareness, Food Hygiene, and medical certificate in a single week. We write your CV, take your crew photo, help you apply for your Discharge Book, and start the job search with you from day one. You leave with everything on this checklist ticked, a professional CV in hand, and a team behind you. View our deckhand training packages or stewardess training packages, or book a free call and we will talk you through which package fits your situation.
