After you’ve completed your maritime training, the next step is to apply for validation of your certificate of proficiency, or COP for short. This is so you can be eligible to be a seafarer as part of the courses you’ve taken. It also means that you are competent to handle what the job has to offer.
That being said, it’s in your best interest to apply for your COP as soon as you finish. Preferably, you have to do it within six months after you complete the training. As per STCW Advisory No. 2020 – 01, there are certain protocols to follow if you’ve applied for it within the six months and more than six months after.
Within six months after
If a seafarer applies for their COP within six months after taking programs such as fast rescue boat training, they get the full five year validity. The date in which their new COP expires is based on their issuance date. See below.
| End of training | Date of issuance of COP |
Expiry |
|
March 15, 2020 |
April 2, 2020 |
April 2, 2025 |
This also applies for those who are filing for revalidation after taking STCW refresher courses, only they must also do it within six months before their old certification expires.
| End of training | Expiry of previous COP | Date of issuance of new COP |
Expiry of new COP |
|
March 15, 2020 |
April 10, 2020 | April 2, 2020 |
April 2, 2025 |
If one should apply more than six months before expiry, the end date of their new issuance would be based on the end of their training, regardless of applying within six months after their courses.
|
End of training |
Expiry of previous COP | Date of issuance of new COP |
Expiry of new COP |
|
March 15, 2020 |
December 23, 2020 | April 2, 2020 |
March 15, 2025 |
Beyond six months after
On the other hand, if a seafarer were to apply more than six months after their training has passed, the expiry of their COP would be based on the end date of their courses, cutting the five years short.
| End of training | Date of issuance of COP |
Expiry |
| March 15, 2020 | October 24, 2020 |
March 15, 2025 |
This also applies for those seeking revalidation, even if you fulfilled the other condition of applying within six months before the expiry date of their previous certification. The fact that your new COP was issued more than 6 months after your training will still cut the five years short.
|
End of training |
Expiry of previous COP | Date of issuance of new COP |
Expiry of new COP |
|
March 15, 2020 |
December 23, 2020 | December 21, 2020 |
March 15, 2025 |
In short, a seafarer seeking to revalidate has to apply both within six months after training is done and at most six months before the expiry of their previous COP to get the full five years.
Ineligibility
Typically, you can go beyond six months of not applying after your training has completed. But do note that once you go past three years after your initial completion, you cannot apply for a COP anymore, thus, needing to take the course again.
|
End of training |
Date of application for COP |
Expiry |
|
March 15, 2020 |
January 26, 2024 |
Application has exceeded the three year limit. Must retake the course again. |
It’s important to take note of these guidelines the next time you want to be certified as a maritime professional. Find the right time to train and apply, as it isn’t just a simple condition of filing for a COP. If you’re applying for a reissue, you must also time it perfectly based on your existing COP’s dates so you can be certified for five years.