Entry & progression
Governing: 46 CFR 12.619, 12.621; officer training lists in 11.305–11.321; 11.201(i). Builds on: L2.1. Content: MCA Medical First Aid and MCA Proficiency in Medical Care in the xplor library.
Three levels of first aid
| Level | Where it comes from | STCW |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary first aid | Part of Basic Training | A-VI/1-3 |
| Medical First-aid Provider | 12.619 | A-VI/4-1 |
| Person in Charge of Medical Care | 12.621 | A-VI/4-2 |
The elementary first aid element of BT does not give you the Medical First-aid Provider endorsement.
Medical First-aid Provider (12.619)
“To qualify … an applicant must (1) Provide evidence of successful completion of an approved course in medical first aid; and (2) Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Table A-VI/4-1 of the STCW Code”.
Person in Charge of Medical Care (12.621)
An approved course “that leads to an endorsement for seafarers designated to take charge of medical care onboard a ship”, and the standard in Table A-VI/4-2.
The professional-licence route
Both sections give a direct route (12.619(b), 12.621(b)) for an applicant holding:
- a valid professional licence listed in 11.807(a)(5) or (a)(6), “without restriction or limitation placed upon it by the issuing State”; or
- a rating listed in 11.807(a)(7) or (a)(8).
11.807 sets the experience requirements for registry of medical staff. A yacht nurse or paramedic crew member should check whether her qualification is on those lists before booking a course.
Which officers need which
| STCW officer endorsement | Medical training required |
|---|---|
| OICNW 500 GT or more (11.309) | Medical First-aid Provider |
| OICNW less than 500 GT (11.319); near-coastal (11.321) | Medical First-aid Provider |
| Master less than 500 GT near-coastal (11.317) | Medical First-aid Provider |
| Master less than 500 GT (11.315) | Management of medical care |
| Master and Chief Mate 500–3,000 GT (11.311, 11.313) | Management of medical care |
| Master and Chief Mate 3,000 GT or more (11.305, 11.307) | Management of medical care |
The management-level item is phrased “management of medical care”. It is commonly met by the Person in Charge of Medical Care course. Confirm with the course approval that it is accepted for that line.
CAUTION – First aid and CPR for original officer endorsements Separate from STCW, 11.201(i) requires first aid and CPR evidence for an original officer endorsement: either BT continued competence, or approved first aid and CPR certificates not more than 1 year old. Covered in USCG The MMC Application.
Renewal
Neither 12.619 nor 12.621 sets a 5-year refresher in the way 12.602 and 12.613 do. The endorsement runs with the MMC (10.205(b)). Check employer and flag requirements before assuming no refresher is needed.
The yacht angle
- On a yacht the master is usually the designated person in charge of medical care, with the mate as first-aid provider.
- Remote medical advice services and the ship’s medical chest are part of the A-VI/4-2 syllabus. Choose a course that uses the chest your yacht actually carries.
WARNING – Courses are not interchangeable A shore first-aid card, even an advanced one, is not an approved course in medical first aid for 12.619 unless the Coast Guard has approved it for that purpose.
TIP – Take the higher course early A mate who expects to command should take Person in Charge of Medical Care while still OICNW. It is required for every Master endorsement except the smallest near-coastal one.