Some near coastal competency certificates require applicants to pass an oral exam before their certificate can be issued.
To help fishers with this, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has developed new guidance and resources to help candidates prepare for oral exams for their domestic and international qualifications.
Oral exams are not a memory test, but are used to assess how candidates apply their knowledge and make safe, practical decisions in situations they may face at sea.
During the oral exam, an examiner will ask questions based on the knowledge and skills required for your certificate.
For example, applicants may be asked to:
- explain how they would apply knowledge safely in real situations
- describe examples from their sea service
- explain why they made particular decisions
- refer to relevant legislation, procedures or guidance.
Before booking an oral exam, fishers should make sure they have:
- gathered resources for their study
- used the examiner checklist to plan their study
- studied the syllabus and standards for competence
- prepared examples from their at-sea service
- practiced clear spoken answers.
As noted, the examiner is assessing how applicants apply ther knowledge, not whether they can memorise information.
You can find out more about how to book, what to expect and how to prepare here.