Course Benefits

Whichever way you choose to take the course, you will receive:

Certified Digital badge

Digital badges are web-enabled versions of a credential, certification or learning outcome that can provide valid verification of your credential. They protect the integrity of your credential by providing a link to the verified data from USMA that cannot be falsified. Earners can share their credentials in their email signature, resumes and across various social media platforms, with their contacts, and the greater community enhancing their profile visibility and recognition.

Tutors Gateway

Our tutors are renowned trainers and managers with strong academic and industry backgrounds, with sector-specific skills and practical experience. They are therefore able to bring a wealth of up to date experience and competency.

High Quality Learning Materials

All participants in this course will be provided with a wealth of documentation, including slide presentations, case studies and exercises. The course material is current and accurate and is regarded as the most comprehensive study material of its kind at this level.

Career and Employability service (3 Months)

Participation in this course will entitle you to have your CV inserted in the USMA database and distributed to companies, organizations and head hunters of the USMA’s international network. With our certificates, the student has the chance to apply with leading companies in the shipping industry and gain access to work-experience placement opportunities. After you finish your course, you can get help, advice, and support for up to 3 months from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

Registration in the USMA Alumni Portal

Participation in the Advanced Diploma’s course entitles you to be enrolled in the USMA Alumni Association, the international network through which students of the USMA can share ideas, experiences, and projects.

IAMCS Affiliate Professional Membership

As a direct benefit of our accreditation from the International Association of Marine Consultants and Surveyors, students will receive exemptions from the academic requirements for Affiliate membership level of IAMCS

Duration

Each module is expected to involve 6 hours of learning time each week, making a total of 52 hours per 2 months period and the associated tests might be completed in less than 2 hours.
The training sections don’t have to be completed in one session, you may return to it as often as you like, the system will bookmark your last page so you are returned directly to where you exited the program.

Timeframe

This course will remain open for 2 months for completion or revision starting from the date of course uploading on the student portal.
One or more extensions of study totaling not more than 2 months may be requested by a student and authorised by the Course Director. The request should be made at least one day prior to the end of the period of study.
Further extensions are used where exceptional circumstances necessitate an extension of the normal period of study in order to complete the final test. An agreed extension may involve the payment of small additional fees.

Teaching Methods

In line with the USMA’s general approach and the best international standards, the course is designed with the aim of providing excellent training with an emphasis on its concrete application in the job, professional and company principal related activities.
The training include a course framework (detailing the scope, objective, entry standards, and other information about the course), a course outline (timetable), a detailed teaching syllabus (including the learning objectives that should have been achieved when the course has been completed by students), guidance notes and summary of how the students will be evaluated.
The course involves mainly independent study with the assistance of the educational team; study time, in general, is to be spent on activities such as studying the lecture course material and textbooks and preparing your coursework in order to be ready to take the final test.
Your progress in the subjects taught will be tested and consolidated through exercises related to actual STCW-IMO cases.

Modes of attendance

This course can be attended only:
Online, via a cutting-edge web platform.

Compliance with regulations

United States Maritime Academy is an accredited training institution by the International Association of Marine Consultants and Surveyors. The USMA methodology and tools are based upon long-term experience in development of training programs and best practices while ensuring compliance with maritime codes, conventions and regulations in the shipping industry.
This course is intended to facilitate access to the knowledge and skills demanded by increasingly sophisticated maritime technology, it is also designed to meet the requirements of:

RPL & Skills Recognition

Sometimes an experience is more valuable than a qualification. Thanks to Recognition of Prior Learning or, RPL, now your previous skills, experience and working knowledge can lessen the time it takes you to complete a course and get you working towards your career goals faster. It can be difficult to find the time and effort to fit an entire course into our lives, especially for those already working and juggling other commitments. Despite the convenience of online courses, there can still be an issue with time. This is where Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) comes into play, where your previous skills, experience or qualifications can shorten the time it takes to undergo a course and allow you to become eligible for qualifications you may not otherwise be able to do. For instance, you can use RPL to claim some but not all credits on a level of the course (for example, to avoid completing a module that covers the knowledge you already have).

Sources of RPL

RPL can come from previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. RPL is also known as prior learning assessment (PLA) and prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR).

Types of RPL

There are 3 types of RPL you can put towards a qualification:
1. Credit transfer
2. Prior certificated learning
3. Prior experiential learning
You can put more than one of these types of RPL towards a qualification.

1. Credit transfer

Credit transfer is when you put credits from a previous higher education qualification towards a new qualification. We can accept credits from qualifications you've completed in the last 10 years.
Higher education qualifications include Professional Certificates, Professional Diplomas, Foundation and Bachelor's degrees, HNC and HNDs, and Master's degrees issued after the successful achievement of either web-based distance learning programs or traditional classroom education.
If you started but didn't complete a higher education course or you have a higher education qualification or credits from an educational institution, you may be able to use prior certified learning (see below) instead of credit transfer.

2. Prior certificated learning

Prior certificated learning is a higher level learning that didn't result in a higher education qualification or credits.
This can include professional development and employment-based awards, qualifications awarded by professional bodies, non-university higher education, unaccredited institutions of higher education, and university courses you didn't complete.

3. Prior experiential learning

Prior experiential learning relates to knowledge and skills you've gained through previous marine industry experience. For example, through employment or voluntary work.

Applying for RPL

The way you apply for RPL depends on the type of RPL you want to put towards your qualification.
Before you apply for RPL, you need to have applied for your course or be registered on it. Details of how to apply will be confirmed by the course's RPL advisor.

Applying for credit transfer RPL

To transfer credits from a previous higher education level qualification towards a new qualification, complete this form RPL Application Form and send it to usma@usmacademy.com.

Applying for prior certificated learning and prior experiential learning RPL

To convert prior certificated learning and prior experiential learning into credits you can put towards a qualification, you'll need to put together a portfolio of evidence with your application.
To do this, complete this form RPL Application Form and send it with your portfolio of evidence to usma@usmacademy.com. We'll put you in touch with your course's RPL advisor. Defence forces training and experience:
Some defence forces training and experience have standard RPL credit ratings and won't need a portfolio of evidence.

Getting a decision

You'll get a decision on your application for RPL within 3 working days of submitting your form.
If you don't agree with the decision, you can appeal it by emailing usma@usmacademy.com.

How much does RPL cost?

Applying for RPL is free for all of our courses.

Assessment

This Certificate units are assessed by:

• Coursework, dissertations
• Analysis of topical case studies
• Written reports
• Online examination.

In addition to supervising the student’s homework assignments completion and training progress closely against the giving deadlines, we provide the following services:

• Helping students in course selection and program planning.
• Consulting and advising students on long-term career goals.
• Consulting and supervising online coursework related to subjects we provide training in.
• Helping students with questions through email or over the phone at a convenient time.
• We often provide students with extra eBooks, free study resources, and extra practice sheets.
• Students are encouraged to contact the education support team, who strive to address learning needs creatively and with care while you are completing the course.
• Enhanced workers prospect for career advancement in the shipping industry through a structured progression program and pathway.
• Provide the trained workforce with skills and industry recognised formal qualifications

Certification

On successful completion of the course, you will be rewarded with a Certificate of Competance in STCW-IMO. Those participants who could not complete the training will be rewarded depending on their current achievements with either Certificate of Competence on the completed subjects or Certificates of Participation on all studied subjects.