In order to qualify for such a certificate, you need to be at least 18 years of age, and satisfy three requirements:

  • have passed the exam for masters of Pleasure Craft taken at a course provider approved by the Norwegian Maritime Authority;
  • have a valid medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner; and
  • have documentation of approved seagoing service.

You may also be issued a Certificate for Deck Officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft if you are or have been a holder of a Deck Officer certificate in accordance with the STCW Convention, or have passed an examination covering Annex III table A-II/3 of the Qualification Regulations.

Course and examination

The course for masters of Pleasure Craft is a subject-based course meant to cover the theoretical and practical training required in order to operate a pleasure craft of up to 24 metres in the Great Coasting trade area.

The course consists of 120 hours of lessons divided between eight modules, with a written or practical final exam for each module:

  1. navigation
  2. navigational aids
  3. rules of the road at sea and navigational watch requirements
  4. ship studies
  5. safety and security
  6. technology/machinery studies
  7. navigational aids in practice
  8. handling the craft

See the overview of approved course providers.

Medical certificate

A valid medical certificate confirming satisfactory eyesight, hearing and colour vision as well as medical fitness is required.

The certificate shall not be older than two years unless other period of validity is indicated.

A restricted certificate can be issued if you do not fulfil the requirement for colour vision. Read more about this in circular RSV 05-2019

 Read more about the health requirements here.

Form for medical certificate for Deck Officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft (D5L/A) can be found here.

Medical certificate for employees on ship will also be accepted.

Seagoing service

You need to satisfy one of the alternatives for approved seagoing service in order to be issued the Certificate for Deck Officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft :

  1. You have had the disposal of and regularly used a vessel of more than 8 metres (up to 15 metres) for at least 3 years. This means that you must have had ownership of or full and continuous right of disposal to the vessel. You also have to document that you have used the vessel regularly.
  2. You have passed a practical final evaluation at an approved course centre.
  3. You have at least 12 months of effective seagoing service on a seagoing vessel of more than 15 metres.

Worldwide (D5LA)

You can extend the trade area of your Certificate for Deck Officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft by taking a 45-hour supplementary course. Successful completion of the course will give you the right to operate a pleasure craft with a hull length of up to 24 metres in unrestricted trade (all waters).

Cost and issue of a certificate

An application for a Certificate for Deck Officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft shall be sent to the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA). The NMA recommends applying online for quicker processing of the application.

You have to pay a non-recurrent fee in order to be issued a Certificate for Deck Officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft . The size of the fee is laid down in the Regulations on fees for the issue of certificates, etc. to maritime personnel, etc.