How to Obtain a Certificate of Proficiency

Marine Radio Operators Certificates

There are three certificates in regards to marine radio operator qualification:
 

The examination for these certificates comprises the following:

Ways to Obtain Your Operators Certificate of Proficiency or Endorsement
 

For the MROVP and MROCP, there are two ways to prepare for the exam. You may choose to study independently or to attend a course offered by a training provider.

The MSCCE certification requires the candidate to be the holder of a vaild MROVCP, MROCP or equivalent, prior to gaining the MSCCE qualification. A candidate must attend a course with a GMDSS (or higher) qualified trainer. Access to a fully operational Inmarsat-C terminal and a computer with Inmarsat-C software is also required.

However, all examinations are supervised by OMC registered invigilators (invigilators are people who supervise exams).

Independent Study

Should you choose to study independently for your certificate examination we recommend that you obtain a current edition of the Marine Radio Operators Handbook. The examination questions are based on material contained in that handbook. The handbook includes the recommended syllabi for each of the certificates and icons throughout the book indicate relevant areas of study for each qualification. Once you have studied the handbook and feel that you are ready to be examined, you must contact an invigilator in your area and arrange a suitable time, date and place to sit the examination.

Attend a Course

Should you choose to attend a course, your first step will be to make enquiries about training courses available in your area. Training courses vary markedly in terms of scope and cost. Do your homework before committing yourself to attend and pay for any particular course. For example, will there be an OMC registered invigilator conducting the examination at the completion of the course? Are the costs of the handbook and examination marking included in the course fee?

Contact an Invigilator

On our web site is a list of all our registered invigilators. Click on ‘Invigilator Search’ then click on your State or Territory and scroll through the list to find a registered invigilator in your area.

Some invigilators work independently, whilst others are associated with organisations such as TAFE colleges, maritime training organisations, and volunteer groups.

Independent invigilators supervise examinations on a voluntary basis and therefore do not charge for this service, although there may be reimbursement of costs incurred. An invigilator associated with an organisation may charge an administration fee. In both instances you should discuss this matter with the invigilator.

Once you have contacted an invigilator, the invigilator will request an examination package from the Office of Maritime Communications (OMC). After you have completed the examination the invigilator will return the package to the OMC for marking.

Examinations

A candidate must must have obtained a minimum age of 16 years prior to sitting the marine radio examination.

You are required to complete an application form with your details this will be issued by the invigilator. You are also required to provide a current, passport-size colour photo of yourself, with your name clearly printed on the reverse. The photograph must be presented to your invigilator when you attend your examination for his or her endorsement.

The examination fee is as per the fee structure detailed in OMC Fees. Your payment may be made by: Visa or MasterCard (the application has provision for these payment details), or by cheque or money order. If you are preparing for the examination through an organisation, it may make payment on your behalf.

The examination is  multi choice, closed book, no aides and no communication is allowed. Duration is either an hour for the MROCP qualification or half an hour for the MROVPC and MCSSE qualifications. A pass rate of 70% must be obtained. Therefore, apart from your payment and photograph, only a pencil or pen, and eraser may be taken into the examination room.

Once you have completed your examination, insert the question paper, your signed photo, the signed and completed Application/Answer sheet together with your payment (unless made by the organisation), into the examination envelope. Your invigilator will then dispatch the examination pack to the OMC for marking.

On receiving a completed (as noted in previous paragraph) examination pack the OMC has a target of 15 working days to process your Application/Examination paper and issue notification of success or failure. If the examination pack received is incomplete, contact will be made with you to request the missing information. Processing of the Examination paper will not occur until all information has been received. Your examination may also be cancelled and your fee forfeited if the missing information is not received by OMC as directed.

On successfully completing the examination your Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate will be dispatched to your nominated address. The certificate is a laminated card which includes your photograph, it is the size of a business card. This certficate is not required to be renewed, consequently it is suggested that you protect the card against abrasion and other damage. A replacement fee applies to damaged, broken and lost cards.

Should you receive a letter of failure to gain your certificate, you may resit the examination. Resits are limited to three per 12 month period, after your third resit, if you have failed to reach the 70% pass mark your examination results will be referred the the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for a final decision on whether to grant or refuse a certificate. The ACMA will contact you regarding the outcome.

The resit process is exactly the same as the initial process:

  1. decide your method of study (independently or through a course, you may change your method);
  2. contact an invigilator; and
  3. resit the examination – another photograph and full payment are also required.

The OMC staff are available to apprise you on your examination answers, please ring the office 1300 365 262.  

 

When lodging an application to sit a marine radio operators examination you will be required to sign a declaration stating that:

Declaration

I certify that I do not suffer an incapacity that would prevent me from correctly sending and receiving messages by radiotelephony. To the best of my knowledge, the information given by me on this application is true and correct in every detail.

 

Signature of Applicant                                                Date

 

If you have special needs that require some form of extra assistance to study and/or sit the examination please discuss it with your invigilator or contact our office.  If required, the ACMA may conduct a special examination. For further information on special examinations please contact our office on 1300 365 262 or email amcom@amc.edu.au.  You may need to provide  ACMA with a medical certificate, from your doctor, explaining your needs and the form of assistance required.

 

Marine Radio Operators Handbook

The Marine Radio Operators Handbook may be purchased from the OMC, or downloaded in 'read only' format. The cost of a handbook is as per the fee structure detailed in OMC Fees. Postage and handling for a single book and handling for multiple books are also listed on the OMC Fees page. Should you require more than one copy of the handbook, please telephone us for a quote for the postage and handling component (this reduces as the number of books ordered increases) on 1300 365 262.

OMC also has available for purchase the Marine VHF Radio Operators Handbook. The VHF information in the Marine Radio Operators Handbook has been extracted and compiled into a small book for those people studying for the VHF qualification. A set of revision questions have been included and an order form (OMC005) is available to be down loaded from the Handbook section of the website.

If you have credit card facility you can order the handbook by telephoning 1300 365 262. Alternatively you can download the Marine Radio Operators Handbook order form (OMC005) and fax the completed form to 03 6324 9885, or post the handbook order form and your cheque or money order to the address provided on the form.

 

Resolving Issues

Issues that have occurred during the examination and certificate issuing process (not training) should first be bought to the attention of the OMC office staff who will endeavour to resolve your concerns. Should you be unsatisfied with the resolution you may apply (within 30 days) for an independent review by a delegate nominated by the Australian Maritime College (AMC), refer ‘Resolving Issues’ under the ‘Current Student’ tab on the AMC website. After receiving the independent decision should you still have major unresolved concerns you may apply to the ACMA  for a final determination.

 

Australian Communications and Media Authority

PO Box 13112

Law Courts

Melbourne Vic 8010