• One must hold or obtain a VHF Radio Operators Certificate.
  • One must hold or obtain all four STCW'95 Basic Safety Training Certificates.  If STCW Safety Training is taken after January 1st, 2014 the new Proficiency in Maritime Security Awareness is also required.
  • One must hold the IYT Maritime Business & Law Elearning Course Completion certificate OR book and take the course an approved IYT partner school that offers Master of Yachts Limited.  Schools will determine the fee for this course if you choose to take the course at an approved school and not take the IYT online elearning course. 
  • Candidates must provide documented evidence of boating experience as stated below:
    • Logged 50 days on board a yacht at sea as an active crew member. For the purpose of this requirement, a day is defined as a period of 24 consecutive hours. Parts of a day may be included in this total, but a day is not invalidated by a candidate leaving the yacht for a few hours during a cruise. The term "at sea" is defined as being on a vessel outside of any harbor - natural or artificial - in which a cruising yacht could secure or anchor for a prolonged period of time.
    • Logged 3,000 miles in a yacht while cruising at sea (power or sail). This must be on genuine cruises or passages, not short day trips. At least 2,000 of this must be on coastal voyages and not ocean crossings.  The candidate must have considerable time of actual vessel handling. *Note - prerequisite seatime experience must have been obtained within the last 5 years.
    • Thirty hours on watch at night underway as an active member of a yacht's crew. For at least six hours of this night experience, the candidate must have been acting as the vessel's captain/watch leader. "Night," in this context, is defined as the time between sunset and sunrise.
  • A current medical fitness examination and a colour blindness eyesight examination which allows the participant to safely perform the relevant duties on a yacht. Medical/Eyesight examinations are valid for a period of two years. Click here to download a medical exam form: eyesight_medical_fitness_standard_form.pdf

“Critical Information – Please do not disregard this note - MCA/IYT no longer certifying candidates who are color blind”

The MCA are no longer allowing Deckhands, Officers of the Watch, Mates or Masters who have color blindness to hold MCA certification. In the past, those who were diagnosed with color blindness were issued certificates with the endorsement” no solo watch” or “dual watch only”.

Because the IYT/MCA Master of Yachts certificates are commercial in nature, IYT will be complying with the same MCA requirements and will be unable to issue any commercial certificates to those who have color blindness.  It is imperative that students undertake a color blindness test BEFORE they enroll in any IYT/MCA commercial courses as we will not be able to certify them.

Also, it is important to note that a ‘lantern test’ for color blindness is no longer accepted.  The test must be an Ishihara or CAD test. 

Those who already hold IYT/MCA commercial certificates with a color blindness endorsement “no solo watch” will be able to renew with the same endorsement”.  

For candidates who are hearing impaired, hearing loss should not exceed 20 decibels for the frequencies of 500Hz, and 1000Hz and 2000Hz. When hearing level does not meet these standards, hearing aids may be accepted providing the above standards can be reached when using the aid and watch keeping duties at sea can be adequately performed.

Candidates with Type 1 Diabetes may receive the IYT Master of Yachts Coastal/Mate and Limited Certificates of Competency.  However, please know that the MCA may not allow you to progress to the OOW or 500 and > Master Certification. 

Please note that the MCA will not issue an STCW qualification to candidates who do not pass the “ENG1 Medical Fitness Examination”.  The MCA will not allow you to progress to the OOW or 500 and > Master Certification.