Second/Chief Engineer - Training Programme Options
Warsash Maritime Academy offers training programmes leading to Second Engineer and Chief Engineer Certificates of Competency under the governance of the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Candidates are now required to follow an approved training programme (minimum of 80% course attendance) before undertaking either academic or professional knowledge subject examinations for a Certificate of Competency.
Candidates must have good Mathematical ability, and a good understanding of written and spoken technical English.
In advance of booking a course at WMA, candidates must determine their eligibility for exemptions from academic subjects (if applicable), or to undertake MCA Oral Examination.
Candidates should allow at least six weeks for the NOE application to be processed by the MCA. The NOE returned to a candidate by the MCA will identify the requirements that have to be met by the candidate to achieve Second Engineer or Chief Engineer certification.
Candidates will not be able to undertake either the external SQA/MCA written examinations in professional engineering knowledge subjects or the external MCA Oral Examination without having first obtained an NOE.
While some candidates may be granted exemption by the MCA from some or all of the academic subjects on the basis of previous academic achievement, all candidates must undertake the external professional knowledge subjects and associated examinations conducted by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) on behalf of the MCA, and the MCA Oral Examination. Candidates may undertake their required academic examinations at any time. However, MCA Oral examination and Engineering Knowledge examinations must be passed within three years of each other.
Candidates holding an STCW '95 EOOW Certificate of Competency who are returning for a Second Engineer training programme may study the academic subjects to Chief Engineer standard and then undertake the associated examinations at Chief Engineer level if they wish. This enables candidates to avoid having to retake academic subject examinations when they return for a Chief Engineer training programme.
However, candidates will be required to undertake professional engineering knowledge training programmes and examination at Second Engineer level for Second Engineer certification, and at Chief Engineer level for Chief Engineer certification, after achieving the requisite sea service for each certificate.