Intensive tuition preparing experienced deck officers to pass the MCA oral examination — the final step to the Master (Unlimited) Certificate of Competency.
Masters Orals preparation is an intensive tuition course for experienced deck officers who hold a Chief Mate (Unlimited) II/2 Certificate of Competency and are ready to sit the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) oral examination for the Master (Unlimited) Certificate of Competency. The course is not a qualification in itself — it is structured preparation to help candidates pass the MCA's externally administered oral exam, which is the final gateway to the Master Mariner (Class 1) licence. There is no regulatory requirement to attend a preparatory course, but the breadth and rigour of the examination means the overwhelming majority of candidates do so.
The course is anchored to the STCW Convention, specifically Regulation II/2 (Master and Chief Mate on ships of 500 GT or more). The MCA administers the resulting Certificate of Competency under UK domestic law (Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and MSN 1856 (M+F) Amendment 1). The MCA oral examination itself is governed by MIN 653 Amendment 1 (November 2024). The exam has two parts: Part A is an online, computer-based proctored examination; Part B is a live oral examination conducted via Microsoft Teams with an MCA examiner, typically lasting approximately 1.5 hours. Part A must be passed before Part B can be booked.
Before attending, candidates must obtain a Notice of Eligibility (NoE) from the MCA (application form MSF 4274). The MCA advises allowing up to six weeks for NoE processing; once the oral examination is passed, the result is valid for three years within which the Certificate of Competency must be issued. Instruction methods on preparatory courses typically include formal lectures, group discussion, question-and-answer sessions, examination practice, and directed self-study using on-site library resources and training software.
The Master (Unlimited) CoC is the apex of the UK deck officer licence structure. Holding it opens the full range of senior maritime careers: shipmaster roles on large commercial vessels, marine superintendency, port state control officer, maritime surveyor (including MCA Surveyor), marine pilot, harbour master, maritime law, maritime education and training, and corporate maritime management. Some Masters progress into Commodore roles on passenger vessels or into class survey and flag state administration.
Revalidation: The preparation course itself is a one-time tuition event with no expiry. The resulting Master (Unlimited) Certificate of Competency carries a five-year validity and must be revalidated under MSN 1861 (M). Revalidation requires at least 12 months' sea service as master or deck officer on vessels over 80 GT or 24 m in length within the previous five years (or an approved sea service equivalent), evidence of STCW updating training within the previous five years, an Advanced Fire Fighting refresher, and all ancillary certificates (HELM, Medical Care, GMDSS, etc.) kept current. The MCA oral examination fee is charged separately by the MCA and is not included in course fees.
Multiple providers across the UK offer this course, including Warsash Maritime School (Solent University), East Coast Training Academy, Fleetwood Nautical Campus, South Shields Marine School, and Glasgow Maritime Academy. Contact providers directly to confirm current intake dates, availability, and fees before booking.