All aspiring seafarers must meet certain medical and eyesight requirements - see detailed information on the 'apply' pages.
To train as a rating you will need to be able to meet the seafarers medical and eyesight requirements. Whilst there are no set minimum academic requirements for joining as a rating, you would usually need to have 3 GCSE's/Scottish standard grades or their equivalent and to have the potential to obtain your professional rating qualifications.
As a Deck rating Grade 2 ("Ordinary Seaman") you will undertake safety and professional training, serve the required seatime and obtain your Navigational Watch Rating certificate.
You can then progress to becoming a Deck rating Grade 1 ("Able Seaman") by obtaining your Able Seaman's Certificate, having served the required seatime, acquired your Efficient Deck Hand Certificate and undertaken further professional and safety training. Some ratings in specialist roles such as the pumpman serving on tanker ships will need to have additional training and vocational qualifications.
Engineer ratings can obtain the Engine-Room Watch Rating Certificate after undertaking the required seatime, professional and safety training.
Catering rating qualifications are those associated with food preparation, cooking and serving. Cooks can obtain the MCA Certificate of Competency as Ship's Cook and other ratings may obtain suitable qualifications issued by the catering industry in general.