STCW Basic Safety Training
Non-negotiable. Five days, ~€650 in Antibes / Palma. Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, and Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities.
ENG1 Medical
€90–€120 from an MCA-approved doctor. Renewable every 2 years. No yacht will hire you without it.
MLC familiarisation
Usually included with STCW or run as a half-day add-on. Free in many programs.
Skip these in year one
- Yachtmaster Offshore (€2,500+) — useful when you're going for Bosun, not as a deckhand starter.
- Powerboat Level 2 (€350) — captains will train you in-house.
- Specialised firefighting / advanced first aid — only matters above 200GT.
Put the saved €3,000 toward dock-walking expenses or a STCW refresher in 5 years.