Marine Advisory: 04/2022 - Requirements for Seafarers (Officer’s Level) Eligibility to Take the Liberian Examination Online
04 February 2022
Marine Advisory 04/2022
01 February 2022
Marine Advisory: 04/2022
SUBJECT: Requirements for Seafarers (Officer’s Level) Eligibility to Take the Liberian Examination Online
Dear Shipowners/Operators/SRPS/Seafarers:
The purpose of this Marine Advisory is to provide seafarers, seafarers’ recruitment and placement services (SRPS), shipowners and operators, information on a newly introduced examination portal for taking the Liberian examination online. The portal is available at https://seafarerexam.liscr.com.
If a seafarer (also referred to as an ‘applicant’ or a ‘candidate’ for the purpose of this document) does not hold a current and valid certificate of competence issued by a foreign government eligible for endorsement, a national certificate (license) may be issued to an applicant who has satisfactorily met the requirements for service, age, medical fitness, training, qualification and examination in accordance with STCW. This certificate may be endorsed by another flag-state for use on their flag vessels subject to the required Memorandum of Understanding of recognition being in place.
Original Liberian certificate therefore may be obtained for the positions indicated below by passing an online exam administered by the Liberian Registry subject to meeting all STCW requirements. In the event the applicant wishes to upgrade the certificate of competency, the applicant shall first pass an examination to confirm his/her competence in relation to current grade and then apply for the examination for the upgraded position.
Please note the following important information about the examinations online at https://seafarerexam.liscr.com.
- Examinations are processed through an authorized training center (referred herein as the “Training Center”). The list of the Training Centers authorized to process examination can be downloaded at Exam Centers List.
- All the examinations are available in the English language only.
TYPES OF EXAMINATION
The following types of examination are available at this time (exams for other positions will be added in the future):
Ocean-Going:
- Master Unlimited (STCW, Regulation II/2)
- Chief Officer (Chief Mate) – Management Level (STCW, Regulation II/2)
- Deck Navigation Officer – Operational Level (STCW, Regulation II/1)
- Chief Engineer – Management Level (STCW, Regulation III/2)
- 2nd Engineering Officer – Management Level (STCW, Regulation III/2)
- Engineering Officer of the Watch - Operational Level (STCW, Regulation III/1)
REQUIREMENTS AND ELIGIBILITY: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
All applications for licenses shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions of the publication Requirements for Merchant Marine Personnel Certification (RLM-118). Please note the following requirements which will assist the applicant to understand eligibility criteria:
(1) Nationality or Citizenship Requirement
Any nationality or citizenship or residence (except candidates who are residents, nationals or citizens of sanctioned countries). If you fall under the exception category, please contact us at exams@liscr.com with the subject matter “Eligibility Request – Excepted Category”.
(2) Age Requirement
Certain positions require specific minimum age. An officer must be 21 years of age to qualify for Liberian license certification. Age can be confirmed by passport, birth certificate, certificate of naturalization or other acceptable proof of birth date.
(3) Physical Requirement
Every candidate for a license shall be required to submit satisfactory evidence of a physical examination completed within the 12 months immediately preceding application. The report of examination shall establish that the candidate is in good physical condition and in possession of all body faculties necessary to fulfill the requirements of the seafaring profession. The report shall specifically indicate that the candidate was examined as to hearing, vision and general physical and mental condition and state that he/she is fit for duty. It must be signed by the medical practitioner that has been approved in the country where the medical exam has been conducted and the examinee. Physical Examination Report Form can be downloaded here.
(4) Service (Seatime) Requirement
Every candidate shall provide satisfactory proof of sea service and experience covering at least the period required for eligibility to sit that examination as outlined in the table below (see specific requirements for each applicable position).
Liberian Seafarer's Identification and Record Book, or a certificate of service in accordance with Liberian Maritime Regulation 10.325(5), seafarer's books issued by foreign administrations, forms of discharge and other documents certifying the amount and character of experience, and identifying the vessels on which served, subject to their verification will be acceptable as a proof of service.
A candidate claiming graduation from a recognized naval, nautical, marine engineering or radio school in lieu of sea service shall be required to submit a copy of the candidate's certificate of graduation or of course completion, and a certified translation into English if such certificate is in a foreign language.
A candidate who holds a foreign certificate and who is applying for examination for a Liberian Certificate in a higher grade is required to submit with the application satisfactory proof of the foreign certificate.
Such proof may be the original foreign certificate, an official duplicate, or a copy that can be authenticated.
(5) Other Requirements
- Fees (as will be advised by the Training Center)
- 2 photos: every applicant for a license shall submit two (2) passport-size color photographs of himself, taken within the 12 months preceding the date of application, and shall affix his legible signature on the reverse side of each. The photographs must show a facial front view of the applicant, and be 1.75" x 1.75" (45 mm x 45 mm) in size; the photographs must be in color
- Copy of national passport
SPECIFIC DOCUMENTAL AND SERVICE REQUIREMENTS FOR OFFICER’S LICENSE EXAMINATION
All applicants for the Officer’s License shall submit the following:
- Basic Training Course Completion Certificate obtained within the last 5 years
- Advanced Firefighting Course Completion Certificate obtained within the last 5 years
- Advanced First Aid Course Completion Certificate
- Survival Craft/Rescue Boat Course Completion Certificate obtained within the last 5 years • Training Record Book
English Language Proficiency - candidates must demonstrate competence in the use and understanding of English in written and oral form through examination and assessment of evidence obtained from practical instruction administered by the proctor for the examination.
Masters and Navigational Officers must also submit the following:
- GMDSS Certificate
- Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA) Course Completion Certificate
- Bridge Resource Management Training Course Completion Certificate
- Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS)
- Medical Care Course Completion Certificate (required for Master and Chief Mate only) • Security Awareness Training
Engineering Officers must also submit the following:
- High Voltage Training Certificate
- Engine Room Resource Management
- Security Awareness Training
For easy reference please refer to the tables below:
Training Certificates | Master | C/M | NWO* | C/E | 2ENG* | EOOW* |
Basic Training | • | • | • | • | • | • |
Radar Observer / ARPA | • | • | • | |||
Adv. Firefighter | • | • | • | • | • | • |
First Aid Provider | • | • | • | • | • | • |
Medical Care Person | • | • | ||||
Proficient in Survival Craft | • | • | • | • | • | • |
GMDSS General Operator | • | • | • | |||
Bridge Resource | • | • | • | |||
Engine Resource | • | • | • | |||
ECDIS | • | • | • | |||
Security Awareness | • | • | • | • | • | • |
High Voltage | • | • | • |
*NWO equals to 2nd Mate and 3rd Mate
2nd Engineer equals to 1st Assistant Engineer
EOOW equals to 2nd Assistant Engineer, 3rd Assistant Engineer, 3rd Engineer and 4th Engineer
All proof of training certificates must be valid and up to date, when submitted with application. Advanced Firefighter training must be completed within the last five years.
In addition, the applicants shall be guided by service requirements below:
Position | Service Requirement |
Deck Officer: All Grades | Service shall have been aboard ocean-going vessels of 500 gross tons or over. At least one year of the total service required shall have been within 5 years preceding the date of application. |
Deck Navigation Officer | At least 3 years of service in the deck department, or graduation from a recognized naval or nautical school whose program and standards of training are in accordance with STCW. Full or partial credit for attendance at such naval or nautical school may be allowed, up to a maximum of 2 years sea time. At least one year of sea service must have been accomplished while the applicant was enrolled in a program, which integrates shore-based training with on board ship structured, supervised training for at least 6 months in bridge watch keeping and other duties specified in STCW, Section B-II/1, with recording of such training in the approved record-book. |
Chief Officer (Chief Mate) | At least 2 years of service as Navigational Watch Officer while holding a Liberian Certificate as Navigational Watch Officer, or a foreign certificate in equivalent grade. |
Master | At least 1 year of service as Chief Mate while holding a Liberian License as Chief Mate, or a foreign certificate in equivalent grade. |
Engineer Officer (Motor) Examinations - For Service on Vessels of Over 750kW: All Grades | Service shall have been aboard vessels of over 750 kW (1,000 h.p.) propulsion power. At least one year of the total service required shall have been within five 5 years preceding the date of application. At least six 6 months of the total service required shall at some time have been served in the mode of propulsion applied for. |
Engineering Officer of the Watch (Motor) | Approved education and training course of at least 30 months duration. This training program must coordinate shore based and sea going training as stated in STCW Section A-III/1, including structured, supervised training for at least 6 months in engine room watch keeping with recording of all such training in an approved record-book. |
Second Engineering Officer (Motor) | While holding a Liberian License as Third Engineer or a foreign certificate in equivalent grade - at least 2 years of service as Engineering Watch Officer. |
Chief Engineer (Motor) | While holding a Liberian License as Second Engineer or a foreign certificate in equivalent grade - at least 1 year of service as Second Engineer. |
VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY, ACCESS TO EXAMINATION AND FILING APPLICATION FOR ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE
Verification of documentation submitted by the applicant for the purpose of taking examination online and of meeting other requirements is vested with the Training Center. Upon successful verifying of the applicant’s eligibility, the Training Center will liaise with the applicant directly to agree the date and provide access to the examination portal. The Training Center will arrange processing of examination and provide the applicant with the results.
If the Training Center is also authorized to act as a filing agent and submit the applicant’s documents for further certification to the Liberian Registry, the applicant shall expect receipt of a Liberian certificate from the same Training Center. In the event the Training Center is in charge of processing of online examination only, the applicant shall contact its authorized filing agent to proceed with application for certification. Information about the specific Training Center authorization as a filing agent is available at Exam Centers List.
If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact exams@liscr.com.
* * * * *
