Iran Deck Officer (STCW II/2) Certificate of Competency Examination exam-day guide
Iran Deck Officer (STCW II/2) Certificate of Competency Examination · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring the original national identity document (birth certificate or national ID card) plus a valid passport
Iranian examination centres and the Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) generally require photo identity that matches the name on your application exactly. Bring originals, not photocopies, and check that the passport is not expired. Confirm with the provider which identity documents are accepted for the specific sitting.
Bring your STCW basic safety training and advanced fire-fighting certificates (originals)
These are prerequisite evidence for the II/2 oral and written examinations. If any certificate is still being processed, bring the official receipt or a letter from the issuing training institute. Whether provisional documents are accepted is a provider decision - confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Bring your sea service testimonials / discharge book and record of training
The examiner may ask you to justify your eligibility (approved seagoing service, watchkeeping time, bridge watch rating). Your discharge book, CDC, or company testimonials should be organised in date order so you can answer questions about your own service history quickly.
Bring your GMDSS General Operator's Certificate and ECDIS/ARPA course certificates if held
These support the practical and oral questions on communications, electronic chart display, and collision avoidance. Keep certificates in a single folder in the order listed on the application form.
Bring the admission card / exam entry slip issued by the examination authority
Print it in advance if it was issued electronically. If you have not received an admission card, contact the provider well before the exam date rather than on the morning of the examination.
Bring the medical fitness certificate (ENG1-equivalent) required for seafarers
A valid medical certificate is normally required for certificate of competency issuance and may be checked at the examination. Check the validity date; if it expires close to the exam date, renew it beforehand. Confirm with the provider whether it must be presented on exam day or only at certificate issuance.
Bring a non-programmable scientific calculator
You will need it for stability, cargo, and navigation calculations. Programmable or graphing calculators, smart watches, and phone calculators are typically not allowed. Confirm the permitted calculator type with the provider.
Bring plotting instruments: parallel rulers, dividers, and a soft pencil with eraser
Practical chartwork and passage planning questions may require plotting courses, bearings, and fixes. A sharp pencil, eraser, and a clean set of instruments reduce errors and save time.
Bring the current editions of the publications you use for study (not for use in the exam unless permitted)
COLREGs, buoyage, and bridge procedures references are useful for last-minute revision in the waiting area. Leave them outside the examination room unless the provider explicitly allows reference material for a particular paper.
Know the exact venue, gate, and reporting time, and plan your route
Iranian examination centres may be in Tehran or in provincial maritime offices. Do a route check the day before, allow extra time for traffic and security checks, and identify a nearby place to wait. Arrive early rather than exactly on time.
Dress neatly and professionally, as for a shipboard interview
The oral examination is partly an assessment of professional bearing. A clean shirt, tidy appearance, and calm, respectful manner support a good impression. Avoid strong perfume or anything that could distract in a small examination room.
Bring water and a light snack for breaks between papers
Written papers can be long. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the waiting area and whether there will be a scheduled break.
Plan the day
Confirm your admission details: venue address, reporting time, paper schedule, and which documents must be presented. Re-read the examination notice and your application form so the documents you bring match exactly what was declared. Resolve any mismatch (name spelling, certificate dates) with the provider now, not on the day.
Do a final revision pass focused on high-yield areas: COLREGs Rules 5–19 and Annexes, IALA buoyage Region A, stability basics (GZ curves, free surface effect, angle of loll), cargo operations and lashing, passage planning and ECDIS, GMDSS distress/urgency/safety procedures, and MARPOL Annexes. Work through past-style oral questions aloud, because the oral examination tests spoken explanation, not silent recall.
Practise chartwork under time pressure: plot a three-bearing fix, a running fix, a course to steer with set and drift, and a passage plan with waypoints and no-go areas. Check your instrument set and calculator batteries. Replace anything worn out.
Prepare the document folder in the exact order of the checklist and place it by the door. Photocopy nothing that must be original. Check the medical certificate and passport expiry dates. Lay out clothing and confirm transport arrangements, including a backup plan if the primary route fails.
Do light revision only: review your own summary sheets, the COLREGs lights and shapes, and the standard bridge checklist sequence. Stop studying early enough to sleep properly. Avoid learning new material the night before; it displaces consolidated knowledge and increases anxiety.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive at the venue with time to spare, and present your documents calmly at the registration desk. Keep your phone switched off and stored as instructed. Use the waiting time for a brief review of lights, shapes, and sound signals - not for cramming new topics.
Read the whole paper first, allocate time per question according to marks, and answer the questions you know best first. Show working for calculations (stability, compass error, tide, cargo) because method often earns partial credit. Leave time to check units, signs, and whether the question asks for true or magnetic bearings.
Listen to the full question before answering. If a question is ambiguous, ask for clarification politely. Structure answers as: what the rule or procedure is, why it exists, and what you would actually do on the bridge. If you do not know, say so and explain how you would find the answer (for example, consult the relevant publication or the master) rather than guessing.
Note down the questions you found difficult while they are fresh, and confirm with the provider the results timeline and the procedure for any appeal or re-sit. If any document was marked as pending, follow up in writing the same week.
Rules to check
Bring original identity documents that exactly match the name on your application. Photocopies, expired documents, and names with unexplained differences are commonly grounds for refusing admission. If your documents have a name variant, confirm with the provider in advance what supporting evidence is required.
Electronic devices - phones, smart watches, and programmable calculators - must be switched off and stored as instructed. Unauthorised devices in the examination room are typically treated as a conduct violation. Confirm with the provider which calculators are permitted.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, starting and stopping writing, and leaving the room. Writing after the instruction to stop, or communicating with other candidates during the paper, can lead to cancellation of your paper.
If you need to leave the room during a written paper, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Whether toilet breaks are permitted and whether you are escorted or timed is set by the examination centre - confirm with the provider.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the examination authority and may differ between written papers and the oral examination. Do not rely on hearsay about pass marks; confirm the current scheme with the provider.
In the oral examination, answer honestly. Claiming experience or knowledge you do not have is usually exposed by follow-up questions and damages your assessment. Demonstrating sound judgement and knowing your limitations is part of the competence being tested.
Do not discuss or disclose examination content with other candidates during the examination period. Attempting to obtain questions in advance, or sharing them afterwards, is a conduct matter that can affect your certificate.
If illness or an emergency prevents you from attending, contact the provider as early as possible and ask about the procedure for withdrawal, deferral, or a medical certificate. Do not simply fail to appear, as this may affect your eligibility for the next sitting.