Master 500GT, Domestic Certificate

Responsibilities

A Master or Captain of a vessel is in charge of a vessel, its crew members, and passengers and/or cargo while the vessel is at sea or in the port. The Master controls and manages all aspects of the vessel’s operation and his/her responsibilities include ensuring:

  • the safe operation of the vessel at all times,
  • the vessel complies with local and international law,
  • the safety of all personnel on board,
  • the safe carriage of cargo or tow, and
  • preparing voyage plans and recording all the vessel’s activities

Accelerated Marine Certification

Did you know that at WMI, you can complete your Master, 500GT, Domestic courses in just 11 back-to-back weeks?* That means you’ll finish school faster, get back to work faster,and start earning earlier.

*Back-to-back for students who hold a Master 150GT Certificate of Competency. Students with a Watchkeeping Mate certificate can complete these courses in 5 weeks, but with breaks in between.

After successfully completing the courses at WMI and Transport Canada oral exam, you can act as:

  • Master on board a vessel that is 500 gross tonnage or less engaged on a Near Coastal Voyage, Class 2 (or class 1 if certificate is endorsed for a limited, contiguous waters, voyage),
  • Chief Mate on board a vessel of 3000 gross tonnage or less engaged on a Near Coastal Voyage, Class 2 (or class 1 if certificate is endorsed for a limited, contiguous waters, voyage), or
  • Master on board a vessel of 3000 gross tonnage or less engaged on a Sheltered Waters Voyage.

Master 500GT, Domestic applicants must hold one of the following Certificate of Competency:

The applicant for the Master 500GT, Domestic Certificate of Competency must acquire (after successfully completing one of the certificates listed above) 12 months of sea time performing watchkeeping duties on a vessel(s) of at least 25 gross tonnage while the vessel is engages on voyages outside of sheltered waters.

According to the Marine Personnel Regulations, sea service is not a pre-requisite for enrolling in any certificate courses, but students are required to have the appropriate sea service in order to sit the General Seamanship oral exam at Transport Canada as the last step leading to certification.

Transport Canada-accredited Courses

* WMI offers Cargo, Level 2, which is an acceptable alternative for Cargo, Level 1 and prepares the student for the Master, 3000GT CoC.
** If not already obtained as part of the Master, 150GT or Watchkeeping Mate, Near Coastal CoC.

The Master, 500GT Certificate of Competency is a minimum requirement for entry into the Pacific Pilotage Authority’s Marine Pilot Familiarization Program.

This program does not require approval by the Private Training Institution Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills & Training. As such, PTIB did not review this program.

Register May 5th

 

We offer the following courses towards the Master 500GT certificate

 

 

 

Courses Dates Cost
Leadership & Managerial Skills- Surrey Campus Nov. 03-07, 2025 $1,800
Engineering Knowledge Level 1– Ladysmith Campus Nov. 12-21, 2025 – in class on weekend $2,100
Cargo Level 2- in place of Cargo Level 1- Surrey Campus  Nov. 24-Dec. 16, 2025 $2,300
SEN- Management –Ladysmith Campus Feb. 17-Mar. 11, 2026 $4,250
Ship Management Level 2 – online Mar. 16-31, 2026 $2,500
Communications- Surrey Campus Apr. 09-10, 2026 $600

Start your Journey in the Marine Industry Today!