SAMSA Skipper Category B (Coastal, up to 40 nm) Exam (South Africa) exam-day guide
SAMSA Skipper Category B (Coastal, up to 40 nm) Exam (South Africa) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo identification
Bring your original passport or South African ID card. Confirm with the provider which ID forms they accept and whether a copy is sufficient.
Examiner appointment or booking confirmation
Carry your booking reference and any confirmation letter or email from the training provider or SAMSA-accredited examiner.
Logbook / sea-time record
Bring your completed logbook or sea-time record if the provider requires it at the practical assessment. Confirm with the provider exactly what sea-time evidence they want to see.
Required certificates and course completion documents
Bring any certificates the provider has told you to present (for example, completed theory or short-course certificates). Confirm the exact list with the provider in advance.
Prescription eyewear or hearing aids
If you need glasses, contact lenses, or a hearing aid, bring them. Confirm with the provider how any medical restrictions are handled on the day.
Weather-appropriate clothing and non-slip footwear
Dress for the conditions and wear shoes with good grip for moving around a vessel. Bring a waterproof layer and sun protection.
Sun protection, water, and a snack
Practical days can be long and exposed. Bring water, a hat, sunscreen, and something to eat.
Seasickness precautions
If you are prone to motion sickness, plan ahead. Confirm with the provider whether any medication is permitted and how it might affect your assessment.
Know the meeting point and arrival time
Confirm the exact location, gate or jetty, and reporting time with the provider the day before. Allow extra time for traffic and parking.
Know the vessel and assessment format
Confirm with the provider what type of vessel will be used and roughly what the practical will cover, so there are no surprises.
Emergency contact and phone
Keep a charged phone and an emergency contact number, but confirm with the provider whether phones must be stowed during the assessment.
Payment or outstanding fees
Confirm with the provider whether any balance is due on the day and what payment methods they accept.
Plan the day
Reconfirm your booking, reporting time, and meeting point with the provider. Check the marine weather forecast and plan clothing and travel accordingly. Re-read your provider's joining instructions for any document list.
Assemble your ID, logbook, certificates, and any other documents in one folder. Confirm with the provider if anything is missing or unclear.
Get good sleep over these nights and avoid heavy alcohol. Practical assessments reward a clear head.
Lay out clothing, footwear, sun protection, water, snacks, and documents. Charge your phone and any devices.
Check the forecast again and confirm with the provider that the assessment is going ahead if conditions look marginal.
Review the practical areas the provider has told you will be assessed, and mentally rehearse key routines such as crew briefings, man-overboard drills, and mooring.
Eat a proper breakfast and stay hydrated. Take any permitted seasickness medication early enough to work, if you use it.
Arrive with time to spare, report to the meeting point, and present your documents when asked.
Listen carefully to the examiner's briefing, including safety instructions, the plan for the day, and what is expected of you.
Speak clearly and narrate your actions where appropriate. Ask for clarification if an instruction is unclear; the examiner is assessing your competence, not your ability to guess.
Follow all safety instructions, wear any required personal flotation device, and keep the vessel tidy and secure.
Stay calm if you make a mistake. Acknowledge it, correct it, and carry on; examiners generally assess the overall picture.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo identification and present it when asked. Confirm with the provider in advance which forms of ID are acceptable.
Arrive at the confirmed reporting time. If you are running late, phone the provider immediately. Confirm with the provider how lateness is handled.
Follow every safety instruction from the examiner and crew, including wearing a personal flotation device when directed.
Treat the examiner, crew, and other candidates with courtesy and professionalism. The practical is partly an assessment of your conduct as a skipper.
Do not use unauthorised aids, notes, or electronic devices during the assessment unless the examiner has explicitly permitted them. Confirm with the provider what is allowed.
Ask the examiner before leaving the vessel or the assessment area, and confirm with the provider how breaks are handled during the day.
If you are unwell, injured, or unfit to take part, tell the examiner before the assessment begins. Confirm with the provider how this affects your booking.
Scoring and pass criteria are set by the provider and SAMSA requirements. Ask the provider directly how you will be assessed and what the pass standard is rather than relying on second-hand information.