How Many Types of Seafarer Certificate Are There? CoC, CoE and CoP: Applying, Exams and Renewal
In brief
- Most people say "seafarer licence", but the Marine Department's documents use 3 formal groups: Certificate of Competency (CoC), Certificate of Endorsement (CoE) and Certificate of Proficiency (CoP).
- CoC and CoP under Chapters 2 and 3 of the regulation are valid for 5 years from the date of issue, under Marine Department Notice 256/2565.
- You can renew with a valid health certificate plus at least 12 months of sea service in your rank within 5 years (or 3 months in the 6 months before expiry), or by taking an exam or course instead.
- Exam and renewal fees differ by rank. For example, Chief Mate or Master on larger ships pays 5,000 baht to sit the exam and 2,500 baht to renew, according to the Marine Department fee table.
- This article does not state the sea service years needed for each CoC grade the first time, because that information sits in a regulation we have not read in full. Check with the Seafarers Standard Division.
When people talk about a seafarer licence, those preparing to become deck or engine officers often get confused about which document is which. This article draws on the guide pages of the Marine Department's Seafarers Standard Division and Marine Department Notice 256/2565, published in the Royal Gazette, to separate the document types, their validity, renewal and fees. Information checked on 2 November 2026.
The correct names: CoC, CoE and CoP
Marine Department Notice 256/2565 defines "certificate" as these three types, issued under the Marine Department regulation on examinations for persons serving on coastal and international seagoing ships, B.E. 2565 (2022).
| Thai name | English name | Related examples |
|---|---|---|
| ประกาศนียบัตรแสดงความรู้ความสามารถ | Certificate of Competency (CoC) | By deck officer and marine engineer grade |
| ประกาศนียบัตรรับรอง | Certificate of Endorsement (CoE) | For example, endorsing a certificate issued by another state under Article 48 of the regulation (valid for no more than 1 year) |
| ประกาศนียบัตรแสดงความรู้ความชำนาญ | Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) | Specific courses such as Basic Safety Training; see the STCW article |
So in everyday speech a "licence" can mean any of the documents above. In this article we use the Marine Department's official names, and the search term people use appears only in the headings. A "dispensation" (ใบอนุญาตยกเว้นประกาศนียบัตร) is another type; the notice limits it to no later than the CoC expiry date and no more than 6 months from issue.
Four groups of seafarer documents
| Group | Examples | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Seafarer's book (seaman's book) | Apply at the Marine Department |
| Training | Basic Safety Training, Security Awareness, Advanced Fire Fighting (CoP) | What is STCW |
| Competency by rank | CoC for deck officers and engineers, and CoE | This article |
| Health | Health certificate (คร.5), which must be valid when you apply and renew | Marine Department guide |
Ranks listed in the Marine Department fee table
The Seafarers Standard Division's fee table groups ranks by the 2022 regulation, which reflects the ranks for which certificates can be issued. The table below shows only international seagoing ranks.
| Rank | Exam fee | Renewal fee |
|---|---|---|
| Master, 3,000 GT or more | 5,000 | 2,500 |
| Chief Mate, 3,000 GT or more | 5,000 | 2,500 |
| Chief Mate, 500–3,000 GT | 4,000 | 2,000 |
| Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW), 500 GT or more | 3,500 | 1,750 |
| Chief Engineer, 3,000 kW or more | 5,000 | 2,500 |
| Chief Engineer, 750–3,000 kW | 4,000 | 2,000 |
| Second Engineer, 3,000 kW or more | 4,500 | 2,250 |
| Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch, 750 kW or more | 3,000 | 1,500 |
| Electro-technical Officer (ETO) | 3,000 | 1,500 |
| Able Seafarer, deck | 800 | 400 |
| Able Seafarer, engine | 800 | 400 |
Ship size (GT) and engine power (kW) are the units the Marine Department uses to define ranks. We have not opened the original sources for the scope of duties at each grade under Tables A-II and A-III of the STCW Code, so we do not elaborate.
How to apply for a certificate
-
Prepare the health certificate and a photo
A formal photo on a white background, no glasses, no smile, taken within 6 months, as a .jpg file named with your 13-digit ID card number, and a health certificate (คร.5) that has not expired.
-
Get a sea service verification (if required)
Some applications must attach a verification of sea service issued by the Marine Department. You can request it through the E285 PLUS app.
-
Submit the online form
Submit through the Google Form linked in the certificate application guide. The Marine Department uses email as its main contact channel.
-
Pay and follow up
When the Marine Department approves your documents it sends a QR code by email. You must pay by 23:59 on the day you receive it or the application is cancelled (per the renewal guide).
If you must sit a knowledge exam for a CoC, or renew by exam, see the exam guide and the 2026 exam schedule at ssd.md.go.th/knowledge-test-schedule. The exam guide page does not state sea service or education requirements; see the Marine Department regulation B.E. 2565, which that page links to.
Validity and renewal
Certificate validity under Notice 256/2565
- CoC and CoP (Chapters 2 and 3)5 years from the date of issue
- CoE for a certificate issued by another stateNo later than the expiry date of the original, and no more than 1 year from issue
- DispensationNo later than the CoC expiry date, and no more than 6 months from issue
To renew a CoC or CoP under Chapters 2 and 3, under Clause 5.1 of the notice you must hold a valid health certificate and have served at sea in the rank shown on the certificate for at least 12 months in the previous 5 years, or at least 3 months in the 6 months before the expiry date. If you do not have enough sea service, one of the alternatives applies.
| Category | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Able Seafarer (engine), ETO, electro-technical rating | A theory assessment by electronic exam at the grade being renewed |
| Other ranks | An interview assessment at the grade being renewed |
| All categories (the other route) | Pass a renewal course at that grade from a school approved by the Marine Department |
The renewal guide summarises similar conditions: 12 months in the same rank on international or coastal ships within 5 years allows renewal; service in a different rank counts at half; and for shore-based work you need at least 2 years of related work in 5 years. The guide and the notice do not give identical figures in every case, so rely on the text of the notice and check with the Seafarers Standard Division before applying.
Working on foreign ships: Certificate of Endorsement (CoE) and flag state
Foreign ships often require your certificate to be endorsed by the flag state. Notice 256/2565 limits the validity of a CoE endorsing a certificate issued by another party state to no more than 1 year. We have not checked the application steps and fees of individual flag states (for example Panama, Liberia and the Marshall Islands) with those countries' authorities, so we give no details. Ask the employer or a licensed seafarer recruitment company.
Fake certificates and how to verify
The Marine Department has a system for verifying certificates and seafarer's books at verify.md.go.th. Shipowners and recruiters use it to check applicants' documents, and you can use it to check your own. Buying a "certificate" without completing the training and exam is a legal risk and a safety risk onboard.
Frequently asked questions
When does a seafarer certificate expire?
CoC and CoP issued under Chapters 2 and 3 are valid for 5 years from the date of issue under Marine Department Notice 256/2565. A CoE for a certificate issued by another state is valid for no more than 1 year.
Where do I renew?
At the Marine Department's Seafarers Standard Division, through the online form in the guide. Contact the knowledge exam section on 02-2374150-7 ext. 1202 or email SEAFARERS@MD.GO.TH.
How much sea service do I need to renew?
At least 12 months in the previous 5 years, or at least 3 months in the 6 months before expiry, in the rank shown on the certificate. If you do not have enough, you can use an exam or renewal course instead.
How much is the renewal fee?
It depends on the rank. For example, 2,000 baht for Chief Mate on 500–3,000 GT ships, 2,500 baht for Master on 3,000 GT or more, and 400 baht for an able seafarer, according to the Marine Department fee table.
Do I need anything extra to work on foreign ships?
Foreign ships may require endorsement from the flag state and other documents set by the employer. Ask the employer or a licensed recruiter before you apply.
Can an old certificate be changed to the new format?
The Seafarers Standard Division's home page carries a notice about revised CoP and COE formats dated 30 June 2026. We have not read the details; check that notice and ask the Division.
Read more
References
- Marine Department. Marine Department Notice 256/2565 on certificate validity, certificate exemption permits and renewal (Thai) (Royal Gazette, 3 Jan 2023) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Marine Department (Seafarers Standard Division). How to apply for COP, COE, GOC, COR certificates (Thai) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Marine Department (Seafarers Standard Division). Public guide: certificate renewal (Thai) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Marine Department (Seafarers Standard Division). Public guide: knowledge examination (Thai) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Marine Department (Seafarers Standard Division). Fee table (Thai) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Marine Department (Seafarers Standard Division). Certificate and seafarer's book verification system · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Royal Gazette. Maritime Labour Act B.E. 2558 (2015), Section 35 (Thai) (8 Oct 2015) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- ILO. Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (amended 2022) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
- Department of Employment. Register of licensed recruiters placing job seekers as seafarers, fiscal year 2567 (Thai) (Data as of 25 Sep 2024) · Checked 2 Nov 2026
The information in this article is general guidance. Regulations, fees and company requirements can change. Please check with the official authority before paying any money or signing any document.