which can be simplified as
Every candidate for certification shall:
(a) be not less than 18 years of age
(b) satisfy the Administration as to Medical fitness, particularly regarding eyesight and hearing;
(c) have approved seagoing service in the deck department of not less than three years which shall include at least six months of bridge watchkeeping duties under the supervision of a qualified officer; however an Administration may allow the substitution of a period of special training for not more than two years of this approved sea-going service(IMO Model Course 7.03), provided the Administration is satisfied that such training is at least equivalent in value to the period of seagoing service it replaces;
(d) satisfy the Administration by passing an appropriate examination that he possesses adequate theoretical and practical knowledge appropriate to this duties.
In preparing IMO Model Course 7.03 it has been assumed that the entrants will have successfully completed a minimum period of full-time general education of about 10 or 11 years. For example in U.K. full-time general education starts at the age of 4, and is mandatory for 11 years which means one can satisfy the entry standards to the profession at the age of 15.
2. STCW 95 - Chapter II - Master and Deck Department- Regulation II/2
Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of masters and chief mates on ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or more
Paragraph 2 in Regulation II/2 of the STCW 95(Ref. 1) convention states
Every candidate for certification shall;
.1 meet the requirements for certification as an officer in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more and have approved seagoing service in that capacity
.1.1. for certification as chief mate, not less than 12 months, and
.1.2. for certification as master, not less than 36 months; however, this period may be reduced to not less than 24 months if not less than 12 months of such seagoing service has been served as chief mate, and
