STCW Basic Safety Training exam-day guide
STCW Basic Safety Training · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring a passport or government-issued photo ID. Accepted document types can vary by provider and location, so confirm the exact ID requirement with the provider before the course.
Booking confirmation and joining instructions
Bring your booking confirmation and the provider’s joining instructions, printed or saved offline on your phone. Check the venue address, start time, and any pre-course requirements.
Swimwear and towel
Personal Survival Techniques includes water-based practical work at many providers. Bring swimwear and a towel, and confirm with the provider whether a pool session is included and what swimwear is acceptable.
Change of clothes and a plastic bag
Pack a full change of clothes and a bag for wet items. You may be wet after pool drills or practical exercises.
Footwear and clothing for fire training
Bring sturdy closed-toe footwear and suitable clothing for practical fire-fighting exercises. The provider may issue coveralls and personal protective equipment, so confirm the required dress code and what is supplied.
Personal medication and toiletries
Bring any prescribed medication you may need, such as an inhaler. Declare relevant medical conditions to the instructor before practical work, and confirm the provider’s medical declaration policy.
Food and water
Eat a proper breakfast and bring water. Practical sessions can be physically demanding; confirm break and lunch arrangements with the provider.
Notepad and pen
Bring a small notepad and pen for notes or any written elements. Confirm with the provider whether any specific materials are required.
Safe personal presentation
Remove jewelry, tie back long hair, and avoid loose synthetic clothing and flammable products around fire exercises. Follow the instructor’s direction on what to remove or wear.
Travel and arrival plan
Plan to arrive early enough to sign in, change, and attend the safety brief. Confirm the provider’s arrival time and late-arrival policy.
Plan the day
Confirm the booking, venue, start time, ID requirements, kit list, and any pre-course e-learning or medical/fitness declaration with the provider. Read the joining instructions carefully.
Check your physical readiness for pool and fire-fighting drills. If you have an injury, illness, pregnancy, or condition that may affect participation, contact the provider for guidance before the course day.
Pack your kit: ID, booking documents, swimwear, towel, change of clothes, suitable footwear, medication, notepad, and water bottle. Confirm any provider-specific clothing rules.
Confirm travel arrangements and check the weather and transport disruptions. Charge your phone and save the provider’s contact details and venue address offline.
Avoid alcohol, get a good night’s sleep, and eat normally. Light revision of the theory elements is useful, but do not stay up late cramming.
Place your packed bag by the door and re-check that your ID and any required paperwork are inside.
Eat breakfast and hydrate. Arrive early, present your ID, sign in, and attend the safety brief. Store belongings as directed and change into appropriate clothing.
Tell the instructor about any injury, illness, medication, or condition that could affect your safety or performance before practical work begins.
Listen carefully to each instruction, ask for clarification if anything is unclear, and follow all safety orders immediately. Demonstrate each required element calmly and fully; do not rush.
Work safely and as part of the team. Report injuries, damaged equipment, or distress to the instructor at once. Use breaks as scheduled and return on time.
Maintain professional conduct, keep phones and recording devices out of practical areas unless the provider permits them, and follow the provider’s assessment and reassessment rules.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID. The exact accepted documents can vary, so confirm the provider’s ID policy before the course day.
Attendance at all practical sessions is normally mandatory. Late arrival or a missed session may prevent assessment; confirm the provider’s attendance and lateness policy.
Do not attend under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Declare any prescription medication that could affect your safety or performance.
Obey all safety instructions and wear the personal protective equipment required for each exercise. Unsafe acts or horseplay can lead to removal from the course.
Use mobile phones and recording devices only where the provider permits. Confirm the provider’s policy on phones in practical areas.
Breaks are set by the provider. Return promptly when the session resumes.
Assessment is against the relevant STCW competence criteria, and you must demonstrate all required elements satisfactorily. Confirm the provider’s reassessment policy in advance.
Tell the instructor immediately about any injury, illness, pregnancy, or condition that may affect your participation in practical exercises.