How to Choose an STCW Training Provider (Without Overspending)
What to check before you pay for STCW Basic Safety Training, and which add-on courses you can safely skip for now.
Short answer: pick a provider whose STCW Basic Safety Training certificate is recognised by the flag states you are aiming for, compare the full price including accommodation and travel, and do not buy extra courses until you have chosen a department.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
What STCW Basic Safety Training is
STCW is the International Maritime Organization's convention on standards of training for seafarers (IMO overview). For yacht crew, the entry requirement is Basic Safety Training, usually five elements delivered over about five days. Most yachts will also ask for an ENG1 medical (our ENG1 guide).
Five checks before you pay
- Approval. Ask which maritime authority approves the course (for example the MCA in the UK or SAMSA in South Africa) and get it in writing.
- The full course. Confirm all five elements are included, not just some of them.
- Total cost. Compare course fee plus accommodation, food and travel. A cheaper course far from home can cost more overall.
- Dates and class size. Popular schools fill up before each season. Book early, but do not pay for dates you might not make.
- Refund and rebooking terms. Read them before paying.
Courses you can usually leave for later
- Department-specific courses (interior, food safety, powerboat, tender driving) are useful once you know where you are heading.
- "Package" bundles of many courses are not always better value. Price each item separately.
Some courses can help a deck or interior CV. Which ones is a question of your target role, not a general rule. See the deckhand and chief stew career paths.
A note on independence
We compare providers for clients based on their situation. Training choices and course bookings are part of our course help. If you are unsure which courses fit your plan, the Personal Career Roadmap includes training advice in the right order.