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Chapter 2 - Administration of Examinations and Eligibility

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Application for Examination

2.1 Reference to regulations

Before applying for an examination, applicants should refer to sections 110 and 111 of the Marine Personnel Regulations in order to become familiar with the general conditions of eligibility.

2.2 General

  1. Certain training courses may have a limited period of validity, as provided in section 103 of the Marine Personnel Regulations.
  2. In order to avoid delays, applicants should ensure that their sea service testimonial and discharge book are duly completed before leaving their vessel. The dates on all documents used to authenticate sea service must coincide.
  3. An application should be made as early as possible to allow time for checking and assessing documents that are submitted in support of the application.

Provisions for Direct Examination

2.3 Certificates issued by an authority other than the Minister

1) Section 119 of the Marine Personnel Regulations describes the process of direct examination, whereby a Canadian citizen or permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act will be assessed on the basis of the qualifications described in section 119 for the purpose of obtaining a Canadian certificate issued under the Regulations.

2) A certificate of service issued by the Minister, or a certificate of competency issued by a foreign government or by a Canadian authority other than the Minister, has no direct equivalency expressly provided for under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. Applicants holding such a certificate must apply under section 119 of the Marine Personnel Regulations and produce all the documents listed in subsection (2) of section 2.5.

3) On the basis of the provisions of the Marine Personnel Regulations that apply to the certificate sought, the Director, Marine Personnel Standards and Pilotage (AMSP), determines the level at which a lawful holder of one of the certificates referred to in subsection (2) will be accepted for direct examination.

2.4 Conditions of eligibility

  1. An applicant must meet the requirements of section 2.7 or 2.8, depending on whether the certificate applied for is a nautical or an engineering certificate, and:
    1. hold one of the certificates referred to in section 119 of the Marine Personnel Regulations;
    2. have qualifying service not less than that required for the certificate for which the application is being made.
  2. An applicant who meets the conditions listed in subsection (1) may choose to be examined at any certificate level in a given discipline, up to the level at which acceptance was initially granted under subsection (3) of section 2.3.

2.5 Assessment process

  1. The onus is on the applicant to provide the required documentation in English or French. If an original document is not in English or French, the original of a certified translation into one of these languages must be provided.
  2. The applicant must submit:
    1. a completed application for a certificate (Form EXN-3);
    2. the original certificate of competency;
    3. proof of citizenship or permanent resident status;
    4. a completed record of sea service (Form EXN-2);
    5. proof of qualifying service ashore, if any; and
    6. transcripts of pertinent academic training.
  3. The examiner will calculate the applicant’s sea service and forward a photocopy of the documents to AMSP for verification and assessment under the Regulations.
  4. AMSP will verify the authenticity and validity of the certificate by contacting the issuing foreign government or Canadian authority.
  5. To evaluate credits towards academic subjects, the number of hours of instruction in a particular subject will be compared with the Canadian standard set out in the TP applicable to that subject.
  6. Exemptions from examination may be granted only up to the level of the certificate held by the applicant at the time of application, even if he/she has acquired sufficient qualifying service to write examinations at a higher level.
  7. AMSP will determine the highest certification level for which the applicant is eligible, identify any exemption from examination in accordance with section 2.7 or 2.8, and inform the examiner accordingly.
  8. The examiner will issue a letter to the applicant indicating the level of acceptance and any exemptions, for the period of validity referred to in subsection110 (3) of the Marine Personnel Regulations.
  9. Once the eligibility of an applicant has been determined and the applicant subsequently obtains a Canadian certificate of competency, he/she is considered to be in the Canadian system and will not be assessed again for additional exemptions unless it was stated at the time that the assessment was temporary, pending submission of supplementary documentation.
  10. After obtaining a Canadian certificate of competency, an applicant who obtains a higher-ranking certificate from an authority in another country will not be granted exemptions based on examinations passed in that country.
  11. An applicant who has failed an examination cannot be considered for an exemption in that subject, regardless of any diploma he may submit thereafter.

2.6 Regulatory requirements

  1. Unless otherwise specified in the sections that follow, no exemption from a regulatory requirement to take an examination or to successfully complete an approved training course will be granted to an applicant for completing a course that has not been approved by Transport Canada, or for possessing a qualification that has no equivalent under the Marine Personnel Regulations.
  2. Any exemption from a requirement to take an examination or to successfully complete an approved course may be granted only on the basis of original transcripts or original authenticated communications from the authority or government that issued a certificate, testimonial, transcript or other document.

2.7 Nautical certificates

1. An applicant must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for direct examination:

  1. the eligibility criteria set out in Table I;
  2. the qualifying service requirements set out in Table II; and
  3. the examinations, training courses and ancillary certificates set out in Table III.

Table I – Eligibility for Direct Examination

Certificate applied for An applicant holding a non restricted STCW endorsed certificate in this column may apply for direct examination for the certificate indicated to its left, or a lower-ranking certificate
Master Mariner STCW II/2 Master
Chief Mate STCW II/2 Chief Mate
Watchkeeping Mate STCW II/1, OOW on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more
Fishing Master, First Class Master, Fishing vessel
Fishing Master, Second Class Officer, Fishing vessel

Table II - Qualifying Service Requirements

Certificate applied for Regulatory requirement
Master Mariner Refer to subsection 123 (2) of the Marine Personnel Regulations
Chief Mate Refer to subsection 132 (2) of the Marine Personnel Regulations
Watchkeeping Mate Refer to subsection 134 (2) of the Marine Personnel Regulations
Fishing Master, First Class Refer to section 139 of the Marine Personnel Regulations
Fishing Master, Second Class Refer to section 140 of the Marine Personnel Regulations

Table III - Required Examinations and Training Courses

Master Mariner Chief Mate Watchkeeping Mate Fishing Master, First Class Fishing Master, Second Class
NS 2 NS 2 NS 1 NS 2 NS 1
SM 4 SM 3 CG 2 GSK 2 SM 1
SCS 5 NS/I GSK 3 SM 1 SCS 2
- - SCS 4 SCS 2 GSK 1
Oral MM Oral CM Oral OOW Oral FM1 Oral FM 2
SIM II SIM II SIM I SIM II SIM I
MED BST MED BST MED BST MED BST MED BST
MED SC MED SC MED SC MED SC MED SC
MED AFFOC MED AFFOC MED AFFOC MED AFFOC MED AFFOC
MED D MED D   MED D MED D
SEN II SEN II SEN I A & B SEN II SEN 1B
ECDIS ECDIS ECDIS    
ROC-MC ROC-MC ROC-MC ROC-MC ROC-MC
MAFA MAFA MAFA MAFA MAFA

NS - Navigation Safety examination
SM - Ship Management examination
SCS - Ship Construction and Stability examination
CG - Cargo examination
SIM - Simulated Electronic Navigation examination
ASTRO - Celestial Navigation examination
C/P - Chartwork and Pilotage examination
MET - Meteorology examination
COM - Communication examination
GSK - General Ship Knowledge examination
Oral - Oral examination
ROC-MC - Restricted Operator’s Certificate (Commercial Maritime) issued under the Radiocommunication Act
SEN - Simulated Electronic Navigation training certificate
ECDIS - Electronic Chart Display and Information System training certificate
MED BST - STCW Basic Safety training certificate (STCW table A-VI/1-1, 2, 3, 4)
MED SC - Training certificate for proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (STCW table A-VI/2-1)
MED AFFOC - Advanced Fire Fighting training certificate (STCW table A-VI/3)
MAFA - Marine Advanced First Aid training certificate (STCW table A-VI/4-1)

2. An applicant who holds a qualification issued by the Department of National Defence will receive exemptions as follows:

  1. Table IV identifies, by the letter “x”, exemptions applicable to holders of certificates issued by the Department of National Defence.
  2. The holder of a Canadian Forces (Naval) Certificate of Service as Master, issued under section 119 of the Canada Shipping Act (1985) between August 25, 1961, and September 1, 1974, may be accepted without proof of qualifying service.
  3. Note: The holder of a qualification issued by the Department of National Defence does not generally have proof in the form of a certificate the can be produced on demand. Although a certificate is presented when an Upper Deck Watchkeeping qualification is obtained, any other qualification is generally promulgated in message form. This message may be the only proof that a serving officer will have in his/her possession. There are no exemptions for the partial completion of the requirements for a qualification. The requirements must have been completed in their entirety, including any oral examination before a board, and the results must have been promulgated.

Table IV – Exemptions and Certificates Granted for Department of National Defence Qualifications

  Upper Deck Watch-keeping Destroyer Navigating Officer Surface Ship Command Reserve Upper Deck Watch-keeping Patrol Vessel Command Bridge Watch-keeping Certificate Deep Draught or Fleet Navigation Officer Minor War Vessel or Surface Ship Command (after 1997)
COM 1

x

x x x x      
COM 2 x x x x x      
C/P 2 x x x   x x x x
ASTRO 2 x x x   x   x x
NS/I   x x          
NS1   x after 1991 x after 1991   x after 1991     x
NS 2   x after 1991 x after 1991   x after 1991      
MET 1   x x   x   x x
MET 2   x x   x     x
EK 2   x x   x     x
SEN1   x x          
SEN2   x x          
BWR (see Note)           x x x

Note: Bridge Watch Rating certificate will be issued on request to holders of the qualifications identified by the letter “X” in this row.

3. An applicant who holds a Canadian Coast Guard Watchkeeping or Command Certificate will receive the exemptions listed in Table V. The applicant must produce appropriate certificates and a graduation diploma indicating year of graduation.

Table V – Exemptions for Canadian Coast Guard (Fleet) Qualifications

Year of Graduation from the Canadian Coast Guard College
By virtue of graduation or certificate held A. 1969-1982 B. 1983-1987 C. 1989 -1998 (There were no graduates in 1988)
1. Upon Graduation MET 1, MET 2, SCS 4, EK 1 and EK 2 Exemptions are not subject to limitations on their period of validity COM 1, COM 2, ASTRO 2, MET 1, MET 2, SCS 4 and EK 2 Passes credited are not subject to limitations on their period of validity COM 1, COM 2, ASTRO 2, MET 1, MET 2, SCS 4, EK 1 and EK 2 Exemptions are not subject to limitations on their period of validity
2. MOT Watchkeeping Mate (issued between 1983 and 1997), or MOT Watchkeeping Mate, Ship (first issued 1998)   Exemptions in cell 1.B and C/P 2, NS 1, CG 2, GSK 3, SIM I and Oral OOW (if examinations were passed) (Exemptions and passes credited are not subject to limitations on their period of validity, unless the MOT Watchkeeping Mate with a Fleet Systems Operations Endorsement was not completed within 30 months of graduation) Exemptions in cell 1.C and C/P 2, NS 1, CG 2, GSK 3, SIM 1 and Oral OOW (if examinations were passed) (Note that for these years of graduation, the CCG Fleet Systems endorsement is not a Marine Safety requirement and is therefore not required to obtain the exemptions)
3. Coast Guard (Fleet) Watchkeeping Exemptions in cell 1.A and COM 1, COM 2, C/P 2, NS 1 and SIM I    
4. Coast Guard (Fleet) Command completed in the year stated in this row A. 1972 - 1976: Exemptions in cells 1.A and 3.A and ASTRO 2 and SCS 5 1977 - 1979: Credits in cells 1.A and 3.A and SIM II, ASTRO 2, NS/I and SCS 5 1980 - 1982: Credits in cells 1.A and 3.A and SIM II, ASTRO 2, NS/I, SM 3, SM 4 and SCS 5 B. Other MOT examinations passed after 1982 have been recorded in the usual manner in MOT records on an individual applicant basis, and are therefore not part of this table of exemptions

2.8 Engineering certificates

1. An applicant must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for direct examination:

  1. complete marine emergency duties training courses appropriate to the certificate applied for; and
  2. complete propulsion plant simulator training at the appropriate level for the certificate applied for.

2. Regardless of section 2.5, no exemptions will be allowed for examinations in general engineering knowledge, engineering knowledge of motor vessels, engineering knowledge of steamships, or general engineering knowledge of small vessels, or for the written examination on the duties of an engine-room rating or for oral examinations.

3. Credit will be given, in accordance with Table VI, to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) naval personnel who apply for a marine engineer certificate. CAF personnel applying for a marine engineer examination must supply the following information, substantiated with the proper documentation (Reference: Forms CFP-245 and CF-1110):

  1. Date of joining and leaving the CAF;
  2. Technical certificates issued and their dates of issue; and
  3. Sea service testimonials, giving details of the vessels’ main propulsion machinery, the nature of the duties performed by the applicant and the number of days spent at sea.

Table VI

CAF Certificate Credit
Certificate 1 Remission of 15 months’ qualifying service toward Fourth-Class Engineer certificate, Motor Ship or Steamship. Also qualifies as having completed the requirements of TP-13721 (Training Record Book Requirements for Applicants to the Fourth-Class Engineer Certificate)
Certificate 1 and 21 months’ sea service while holding Certificate 1 Qualifies to write examinations for Fourth-Class Engineer certificate, Motor Ship or Steamship, depending on sea service
Certificate 1 and 24 months’ sea service while holding Certificate 1 Qualifies to write examinations for Fourth-Class Engineer certificate, Motor Ship and Steamship (4M-4S), provided that a minimum of three months’ sea service was acquired on a motor vessel and three months’ service on a steamship
Certificate 2A Qualifies to write examinations for Fourth-Class Engineer, Steamship certificate
Certificate 2B or 2C or 2D or 2E Qualifies to write examinations for Fourth-Class Engineer, Motor Ship certificate
Certificate 2A and 12 months’ sea service on a steamship while holding Certificate 2A Qualifies to write examinations for Third-Class Engineer, Steamship certificate
Certificate 2B or 2C or 2D or 2E, and 12 months’ sea service on a motor vessel or gas turbine vessel while holding any of these certificates Qualifies to write examinations for Third-Class Engineer, Motor Ship certificate
Certificate 2A and 2B, 2C, 2D or 2E, and 15 months’ sea service while holding any of these certificates Qualifies to write examinations for Third-Class Engineer certificate, Motor Ship or Steamship, provided a minimum of six months’ sea service was acquired on a motor or gas turbine vessel and six months’ service on a steamship
Certificate 3A Qualifies to write examinations for Third-Class Engineer, Steamship certificate
Certificate 3B or 3C or 3D or 3E Qualifies to write examinations for Third-Class Engineer, Motor Ship certificate
Certificate 3A and 12 months’ sea service on a steamship while holding Certificate 3A Qualifies to write examinations for Second-Class Engineer, Steamship certificate
Certificate 3B or 3C or 3D or 3E and 12 months’ sea service on a motor or gas turbine ship while holding any of these certificates Qualifies to write examinations for Second-Class Engineer, Motor Ship certificate
Certificate 3A and 3B or 3C or 3D or 3E and 15 months’ sea service while holding these certificates Qualifies to write examinations for Second-Class Engineer certificate, Motor Ship or Steamship, provided a minimum of six months’ sea service was acquired on a motor or gas turbine vessel and six months’ service on a steamship
Certificate 4 Qualifies to write examinations for Second-Class Engineer certificate, Motor Ship or Steamship, provided a minimum of six months’ sea service was acquired on a motor or gas turbine vessel and six months’ service on a steamship

Certificate 1 - Auxiliary Machinery Operator
Certificate 2A - Boiler Room Watchkeeper
Certificate 2B - Diesel Engine Room Watchkeeper
Certificate 2C - Submarine Engine Room Watchkeeper (Diesel Electric Propulsion)
Certificate 2D - Combined Gas and Gas Turbine (COGOG) Control Console Watchkeeper
Certificate 2E - Combined Diesel and Gas Turbine (COGOG) Control Console Watchkeeper
Certificate 3A - Steam Turbine Watchkeeper
Certificate 3C - Submarine Machinery Certificate (Diesel Electric Propulsion)
Certificate 3D - Combined Gas and Gas Turbine (COGOG) Watchkeeper
Certificate 3E - Combined Diesel and Gas Turbine (COGOG) Watchkeeper
Certificate 4 - Marine Engineer Certificate

4. Applicants from the CAF may be exempted from certain examination subjects required for the purpose of obtaining a certificate on the basis of their qualification level in the following Marine Engineering Technician and Marine Engineering Artificer occupations: 312 (Apprentice), 313 (Journeyman), and 314 (Supervisor/Manager) (Ref. Forms CFP-245 and CF1110). The exemptions are shown on Table VII.

Table VII

Qualification Level Exempted from
Occupational Qualification QL-5 or
Occupational Qualification QL-6 		Applied Mathematics, Applied Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Electrotechnology examinations at the third-class engineer level; Applied Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Electrotechnology examinations at the second-class engineer level
Occupational Qualification QL-7 Applied Mathematics, Applied Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Electrotechnology examinations at the third-class engineer level; Applied Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electrotechnology and Naval Architecture examinations at the second-class engineer level

Note 1 – The above CAF Naval qualifications do not exempt any applicant from the Technical Drawing examination at the second-class engineer level.
Note 2 – Exemption from the second-class engineer examination in Naval Architecture is granted only to holders of the QL-7 qualification.
Note 3 – Applicants who have a CAF certificate of qualification at level 2, or can prove successful completion of the QL-5 academic training program and the workshop skills application course, are exempt from the training requirement set out in section 147 of the Marine Personnel Regulations and described in TP-13720 (Practical Skills for Marine Engineers Training Course)

5. Applicants who were commissioned engineering officers of the CAF (former Royal Canadian Navy division) must submit full documentation regarding qualifying service ashore and at sea as well as transcripts of marks obtained in naval examination subjects. All such documentation will be forwarded to headquarters in Ottawa, which will be responsible for assessing it and ruling on the basis of the general criteria set out in this chapter for the assessment of other service, and the current requirements set out in the Marine Personnel Regulations. Each case will be treated on its own merits.

6. Applicants from the Reserve or Regular Forces who do not have any of the certificates listed in CFP-245 will not be granted any credit for their training in the CAF, and the assessment of their qualifying service will be carried out in accordance with the general provisions of the Marine Personnel Regulations.

Form CFP-245 (Large Version)

Form CFP-245

Marine Engineering Technicians Certificate (Large version)

marine engineering technicians certificate form

Administration of Examinations

2.9 Punctuality

  1. Applicants must appear at the examination centre on time. In order to provide quiet for all applicants who are writing an examination at the same time, an applicant who is more than 30 minutes late will not be admitted to the examination room.
  2. The fees paid by an applicant to whom access to the examination room was refused under (1) above will not be reimbursed. However, the examination will not be recorded as a failure and the applicant may apply without penalty for the next scheduled examination, as set out in Chapter 4.

2.10 Rules

  1. Any books, notes, dictionaries or other documents that an applicant brings to the examination must be handed to the examiner for inspection upon entering the examination room.
  2. An applicant using books or information other than what is supplied or permitted by the examiner during the examination will be failed.
  3. An applicant who receives information from or gives information to another applicant, or communicates with another applicant in any way while the examination is in progress will be failed.
  4. An applicant who is failed for not observing rule 2 or 3 will not be allowed to sit for examination again for a period of six months.
  5. Silence is to be observed during the examination.
  6. Each problem must be worked out on a separate page. The question need not be copied, but the question number must be given.
  7. Applicants must return all examination booklets to the examiner.
  8. Applicants must not take away from the examination room any question papers, work sheets or other notes.
  9. The question cards or papers must not be marked or defaced.
  10. Applicants must not leave the examination room without the examiner’s permission.
  11. Electronic means of communication (cell phone, pager or other similar devices) are prohibited in the examination room.
  12. Except for an examination in applied mathematics, applicants may use a non-programmable calculator to answer mathematical questions. However, all mathematical operations and formulae used are to be clearly shown, as well as the values substituted for variables in such formulae. If none of the steps of a solution are shown, the answer will receive a mark of zero.
  13. The number of questions to be answered will be stated on each question paper.
  14. Mathematical tables, engineering formulae and steam tables will be supplied for engineering examinations when required.
  15. With the exception of multiple-choice examinations, applicants writing an engineering examination must answer six (6) out of the nine (9) questions given.
  16. If more than the required number of questions is answered, all the answers will be marked and those awarded the lowest marks, up to the required number, will be used to determine the overall result.
  17. Examination problems may be solved by any method provided it is correct in principle and all steps are shown in the answer.
  18. All work must be shown in the examination booklet provided by the examiner. No work whatsoever may be done on waste paper or blotting paper.
  19. The applicant must clearly identify the answer for each subpart of each question.

2.11 Oral examination

  1. The oral examination is an important part of the overall assessment of competence. Its purpose is to:
    1. Measure the applicant's suitability by presenting practical situations to determine whether a level of competency has been attained that is acceptable for the grade and type of certificate applied for; and
    2. Measure the applicant's ability to communicate ideas, commands and actions and to understand the spoken language used at sea and on board vessels.
  2. Oral examination questions concentrate on the practical nature of duties the applicant is expected to perform and the applicable regulations, with due attention to the certificate for which the applicant is being examined and any weaknesses apparent from the written examinations.
  3. The subjects to be covered during the oral examination are established using the syllabus for the certificate in question, as set out in the present TP.
  4. An individual question sheet, with an assigned number of marks for each subject, will be prepared for each applicant.
  5. Questions and answers will be noted down in a form that is understandable by a third party.

2.12 Waiting period to retake an examination

Where an applicant fails to pass a written examination, the waiting period to retake the examination in the same subject and at the same level will be as shown on Table VIII or Table IX, pursuant to paragraph 16(2)(b) of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.

Table VIII – Waiting Period, examinations requiring a 70% pass mark

Mark obtained From 61% to 69% From 51% to 60% From 41% to 50% From 31% to 40% From 21% to 30% From 10% to 20% Less than 10%
Waiting Period None 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months

Table IX – Waiting Period, examinations requiring a 60% pass mark

Mark obtained From 51% to 59% From 41% to 50% From 31% to 40% From 21% to 30% From 11% to 20% From 5% to 10% Less than 5%
Waiting Period None 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months

2.13 Request for review

Within five days of receiving the results of an examination, applicants may request a review by the examiner who marked it and a meeting with the examiner. For this purpose the applicant fills out the Request for Review form provided with the examination paper.

2.14 Appeals

If, after meeting with the examiner, the applicant is still not satisfied, a formal written appeal may be submitted to the Director, Marine Personnel Standards and Pilotage, Ottawa. The examination will then be marked independently by two reviewing examiners at Headquarters, neither of whom is the original examiner. An average of the two marks will be taken, and the Director will inform the applicant in writing of the result.

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Date modified:
2010-01-22