This apprenticeship standard has been approved for delivery by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. However, starts on the apprenticeship will only be possible once a suitable end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) has obtained Ofqual recognition. Once the EPAO has obtained Ofqual recognition, funding for apprentice starts will be permitted and this message will be removed.
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This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the Ship's Master - Less than 500 Gross Tonnage Near Coastal apprenticeship. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering the EPA.
Ship’s master – less than 500 gross tonnage near coastal apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.
The International Convention and Code on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping (STCW) set the global standards for a Ship's Master - Less than 500 Gross Tonnage Near Coastal. This includes the provisions prescribing the mandatory minimum requirements for Masters.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport UK. It implements the UK government's maritime safety policy in the UK.
This apprenticeship leads to 'Master less than 500 GT, Near-Coastal Trading Area, STCW Convention Regulation II/3' Certificate of Competence (CoC).
The MCA's requirements for Master less than 500 GT, Near-Coastal Trading Area, STCW Convention Regulation II/3 are detailed in MIN 653, or subsequent M-Notice.
This apprenticeship has a partially integrated EPA. The EPA uses an independent EPAO assessment alongside the MCA oral examination for Master less than 500 GT, Near-Coastal Trading Area, STCW Convention Regulation II/3.
The integrated EPA is permitted because the following criteria are met:
A full-time Ship's Master - Less than 500 Gross Tonnage Near Coastal apprentice typically spends 48 months on-programme. The apprentice must spend at least 12 months on-programme and complete the required amount of off-the-job training in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.
The EPA should be completed within an EPA period lasting typically 6 months.
The apprentice must complete their training and meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA. The EPA will assess occupational competence.
An approved EPAO must conduct the EPA for this apprenticeship. Employers must work with the training provider to select an approved EPAO from the apprenticeship providers and assessment register (APAR).
This EPA has 2 assessment methods.
The grades available for each assessment method are below.
Assessment method 1 - Project report and presentation with questions:
Assessment method 2 - MCA oral examination for Master Ships less than 500GT engaged on Near Coastal Voyages STCW Code II/3 from MIN 653:
The result from each assessment method is combined to decide the overall apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the apprenticeship:
The EPA is taken in the EPA period. The EPA period starts when the EPAO confirms the gateway requirements have been met and is typically 6 months.
The EPAO should confirm the gateway requirements have been met and start the EPA as quickly as possible.
The apprentice’s employer must be content that the apprentice is occupationally competent. That is, they are deemed to be working at or above the level set out in the apprenticeship standard and ready to undertake the EPA. The employer may take advice from the apprentice's training provider, but the employer must make the decision. The apprentice will then enter the gateway.
The apprentice must meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA.
They must:
To ensure the project allows the apprentice to meet the KSBs mapped to this EPA method to the highest available grade, the EPAO should sign-off the project's title and scope at the gateway to confirm it is suitable. A brief project summary must be submitted to the EPAO. It should be no more than 500 words. This needs to show that the project will provide the opportunity for the apprentice to cover the KSBs mapped to this EPA method. It is not assessed.
Gateway evidence must be submitted to the EPAO, along with any organisation specific policies and procedures requested by the EPAO.
There are other conditions that must be met in order for an applicant to apply to the MCA to take the MCA assessments. Please enquire with the MCA as to these requirements.
The assessment methods must be delivered in the following order:
Assessment method 1: project report and presentation with questions must be completed before assessment method 2: MCA oral examination for Master Ships less than 500GT engaged on Near Coastal Voyages STCW Code II/3 from MIN 653
This order is to help ensure that apprentices complete the EPA.
An apprentice is lawfully permitted to work as a Ship's Master - Less than 500 Gross Tonnage Near Coastal once they have passed assessment method 2: MCA oral examination for Master Ships less than 500GT engaged on Near Coastal Voyages STCW Code II/3 from MIN 653
Successfully completing both assessment methods affirms full occupational competence for the purposes of this apprenticeship.
It is the responsibility of the EPAO to ensure that assessment method 2 is booked with the MCA, once the apprentice has achieved a minimum of a pass in assessment method 1.
The project assessment method involves the apprentice completing a significant and defined piece of work that has a real business application and benefit. This process may include for example, research, analysis and the completion of tasks or activities to achieve the outcome. The assessment method will have an output at the end of the defined piece of work. The work completed for the project assessment method must meet the needs of the employer’s business and be relevant to the apprentice’s occupation and apprenticeship.
This assessment method has 2 components:
completion of the defined piece of work for the project with a project output
completion of the defined piece of work for the presentation with questions and answers
Together, these components give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. They are assessed by an independent assessor.
This assessment method is being used because:
The apprentice must complete a project that addresses a problem that needs to be solved. This could include, but is not limited to:
In the project and report the apprentice must utilise:
To ensure the project allows the apprentice to meet the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade, the EPAO must sign-off the project’s title and scope at the gateway to confirm it is suitable. The EPAO must refer to the grading descriptors to ensure that projects are pitched appropriately.
The project output must be in the form of a report and presentation.
The apprentice must start the project after the gateway. The employer should ensure the apprentice has the time and resources, within the project period, to plan and complete their project.
The apprentice may work as part of a team to complete the project, which could include internal colleagues or technical experts. The apprentice must however, complete their project report and presentation unaided and they must be reflective of their own role and contribution. The apprentice and their employer must confirm this when the report and any presentation materials are submitted.
The report must include at least:
The project report must have a word count of 5000 words. A tolerance of 10% above or below is allowed at the apprentice’s discretion. Appendices, references and diagrams are not included in this total. The apprentice must produce and include a mapping in an appendix, showing how the report evidences the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
The apprentice must complete and submit the report and any presentation materials to the EPAO by the end of week 16 of the EPA period.
The presentation with questions must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.
The apprentice must prepare and deliver a presentation to an independent assessor. After the presentation, the independent assessor must ask the apprentice questions about their project, report and presentation.
The presentation should cover:
The presentation with questions must last 30 minutes. This will typically include a presentation of 10 minutes and questioning lasting 20 minutes. The independent assessor must use the full time available for questioning. The independent assessor can increase the time of the presentation and questioning by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to complete their last point or respond to a question if necessary.
The independent assessor must ask at least 6 questions. They must use the questions from the EPAO’s question bank or create their own questions in line with the EPAO’s training. Follow up questions are allowed where clarification is required.
The purpose of the independent assessor's questions is:
The apprentice must submit any presentation materials to the EPAO at the same time as the report - by the end of week 16 of the EPA period. The apprentice must notify the EPAO, at that point, of any technical requirements for the presentation.
During the presentation, the apprentice must have access to:
The independent assessor must have at least 2 weeks to review the project report and any presentation materials, to allow them to prepare questions.
The apprentice must be given at least 2 weeks’ notice of the presentation with questions.
The apprentice may choose to end the presentation early. The apprentice must be confident they have demonstrated competence against the assessment requirements for the assessment method. The independent assessor or EPAO must ensure the apprentice is fully aware of all assessment requirements. The independent assessor or EPAO cannot suggest or choose to end the assessment methods early, unless in an emergency. The EPAO is responsible for ensuring the apprentice understands the implications of ending an assessment early if they choose to do so. The independent assessor may suggest the assessment continues. The independent assessor must document the apprentice’s request to end the assessment early.
The independent assessor must make the grading decision. They must assess the project components holistically when deciding the grade.
The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:
The presentation with questions must take place in a suitable venue selected by the EPAO for example, the EPAO’s or employer’s premises. It should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.
The presentation with questions can be conducted by video conferencing. The EPAO must have processes in place to verify the identity of the apprentice and ensure the apprentice is not being aided.
The EPAO must develop a purpose-built assessment specification and question bank. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO must maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting with employers. The assessment specification and question bank must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.
The assessment specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The EPAO must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this.
The EPAO must ensure that the apprentice has a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.
EPAO must produce the following materials to support the project:
The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.
In the MCA oral assessment, the apprentice is assessed verbally. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours mapped to this assessment method. Please refer to the MCA's latest guidance details for the assessment.
The MCA is responsible for discharging its statutory functions (and in order to meet international maritime regulations) by overseeing these assessments that affirm certification. The MCA must retain control over how they meet this requirement, however they are also responsible for ensuring:
The assessment methods contribute equally to the overall EPA pass grade.
Performance in the EPA determines the overall grade of:
An independent assessor must individually grade the project report and presentation with questions according to the requirements set out in this EPA plan.
An MCA assessor must assess the MCA oral examination.
The EPAO must combine the individual assessment method grades to determine the overall EPA grade.
If the apprentice fails one assessment method or more, they will be awarded an overall fail.
The apprentice must achieve at least a pass in both assessment methods to achieve an overall EPA pass. To achieve an overall EPA distinction, the apprentice must achieve a distinction in the project report and presentation with questions, and a pass in the MCA oral examination for Master Ships less than 500GT engaged on Near Coastal Voyages STCW Code II/3 from MIN 653.
Grades from individual assessment methods must be combined in the following way to determine the grade of the EPA overall.
If the apprentice fails one assessment method or more, they can take a re-sit or a re-take at their employer’s discretion. The apprentice’s employer needs to agree that a re-sit or re-take is appropriate. A re-sit does not need further learning, whereas a re-take does. The apprentice should have a supportive action plan to prepare for a re-sit or a re-take.
The employer and the EPAO should agree the timescale for a re-sit or re-take. A re-sit is typically taken within 3 months of the EPA outcome notification. The timescale for a re-take is dependent on how much re-training is required and is typically taken within 6 months of the EPA outcome notification.
Failed assessment methods must be re-sat or re-taken within a 6-month period from the EPA outcome notification, otherwise the entire EPA will need to be re-sat or re-taken in full.
If the apprentice fails the project assessment method, they will be required to amend the project output in line with the independent assessor’s feedback. The apprentice will be given 4 weeks to rework and submit the amended report.
Re-sits and re-takes are not offered to an apprentice wishing to move from pass to a higher grade.
The apprentice will get a maximum EPA grade of if pass they need to re-sit or re-take one or more assessment methods, unless the EPAO determines there are exceptional circumstances.
The EPAO must have reasonable adjustments arrangements for the EPA.
This should include:
Adjustments must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.
Special considerations
The EPAO must have special consideration arrangements for the EPA.
This should include:
Special considerations must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.
Internal quality assurance refers to the strategies, policies and procedures that an EPAO must have in place to ensure valid, consistent and reliable EPA decisions.
EPAOs for this EPA must adhere to the requirements within the roles and responsibilities table.
They must also appoint independent assessors who:
hold at least a Master less than 500 GT, Near-Coastal Trading Area, STCW Convention Regulation II/3 certificate of competency.
Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:
This apprenticeship aligns with:
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 19/02/2025 | Not set |
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