Getting into yachting costs less than most careers with this kind of earning potential, but it is not free, and the numbers online are all over the place. Below is a clear, honest breakdown of what you actually need to spend to become work-ready, and what it costs to progress afterwards. Every price is indicative and drawn from real courses listed in the YachtSync training directory, but they vary by school, country and vessel, so always confirm the current price before you book.
The short version. The bare minimum to be legally work-ready is your STCW Basic Safety Training and an ENG1 medical, which together run an indicative £800 to £1,100. Most people spend more, taking a role-specific entry package at an indicative £3,320 to £4,600, because it builds a far stronger first CV. Then there is the cost of getting yourself to a hiring hub like Antibes or Palma and living there while you job-hunt.
The two things you cannot skip
Whatever department you choose, two certificates are non-negotiable. No professional yacht will employ you without both. These are the price of admission and where every budget starts.
- STCW Basic Safety Training. A five-day course covering sea survival, fire fighting, first aid and personal safety. Indicative £700 to £1,000 course-only in the UK. As a reference, UKSA in Cowes lists it around £850 course-only and £1,050 residential; schools abroad quote in a similar band in dollars or euros.
- ENG1 seafarer medical. A mandatory medical fitness certificate from an MCA-approved doctor, indicative £115, valid up to two years. Covered in full in our ENG1 guide.
That is the legal minimum: an indicative £800 to £1,100 to hold the two tickets every captain asks for first.
The cost breakdown
Here is the full picture, from the bare minimum to a fuller entry package, in one table. Each line is an indicative range, not a fixed quote.
| Item | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| STCW Basic Safety Training (5 days) | £700 to £1,000 |
| ENG1 seafarer medical | ~£115 |
| RYA Powerboat Level 2 (deck) | ~£250 to £350 |
| Role-specific entry package (deck or interior, STCW often included) | £3,320 to £4,600 |
| Yacht CV photo and printing | £20 to £100 |
| Flights and crew-house rent during the job hunt | £600 to £1,500+ |
Indicative figures drawn from real courses in the YachtSync training directory and standard market ranges. Entry packages usually include STCW within the price, so do not double-count it. All prices vary by school, country and vessel; confirm the current price before booking.
The minimum route vs the package route
There are two sensible ways to start, and the right one depends on your budget and how confident you feel job-hunting alone.
The minimum route
Get your STCW and ENG1, build a sharp yacht CV, and head to a hub to find work. Cheapest upfront at an indicative £800 to £1,100 in certificates, plus your travel and living costs. It works, but you arrive with the bare tickets and have to prove yourself entirely on the dock.
The entry package route
A bundled deck or interior course, indicative £3,320 to £4,600, that wraps STCW together with role-specific training and often extra RYA tickets. As a real example, the directory lists a 14-day Superyacht Deckhand Course in Southampton at £2,399, or £1,795 for holders of existing STCW, combining Powerboat Level 2, Tender Operator, the STCW week, PDSD, VHF and more. You pay more upfront but arrive with practical skills, a stronger CV and, at residential schools, accommodation and crew contacts during your hunt.
Compare real course prices in one place.
Before you spend a penny, compare STCW, ENG1 and entry packages by provider, date, location and price in the YachtSync training directory. Then keep every certificate you earn on your phone with the free app.
Free forever for crew. 50 MB, 3 AI scans, 20 certs, renewal reminders. No card required. iOS only.
What it costs to progress
Getting in is the cheap part. Climbing the ladder, and the pay bands in our salary guide, means stacking more qualifications, each with its own cost. A rough sense of the road ahead:
- RYA Yachtmaster route (deck officers). Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster practical courses run from several hundred to over a thousand pounds each. UKSA, for instance, lists the Day Skipper practical around £790.
- Engineering tickets. An AEC2 course sits around £990, and the longer Engineer Deckhand training package can run to around £6,500, before the higher MEOL and CoC routes.
- Officer CoC courses and orals prep. The OOW, Chief Mate and Master Certificates of Competency each involve college modules and exam prep costing several thousand pounds as you progress.
- Renewals. Your STCW needs a refresher every five years and your ENG1 renews roughly every two, so factor recurring costs in too.
The encouraging part is that once you are earning, employers sometimes contribute to courses, and the salaries at each rung comfortably outpace the cost of the certificate that unlocks them. Work out which department fits first using the career pathways, then plan the spend around it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to become yacht crew?
The legal minimum is an indicative £800 to £1,100 for STCW Basic Safety Training plus an ENG1 medical. Many people instead take a role-specific entry package bundling STCW with deck or interior training, at an indicative £3,320 to £4,600. All figures are indicative and vary by school and country.
How much does an STCW course cost?
STCW Basic Safety Training costs an indicative £700 to £1,000 course-only in the UK, with residential options costing more. UKSA in Cowes lists the five-day course around £850 course-only and £1,050 residential, and other schools quote similarly. Confirm the current price and whether accommodation is included before booking.
How much is the ENG1 medical?
The ENG1 seafarer medical typically costs around £115 at an MCA-approved doctor in the UK, though prices vary by clinic. It is mandatory for all professional yacht crew and is valid for up to two years, so it is a recurring cost across your career.
Is it worth paying for an entry package?
An entry package bundles STCW with role-specific deck or interior training, at an indicative £3,320 to £4,600. It costs more upfront than STCW alone but gives you a stronger CV, practical skills and often accommodation and crew contacts during your job hunt. Whether it is worth it depends on your budget and confidence job-hunting alone.
Related guides: Yacht crew salary guide → · How to get your STCW → · The ENG1 medical explained → · Get a superyacht job with no experience →