Seafarers rarely ask “Do I need STCW?”—they ask “How much will it cost me this year?”
Prices move fast. Training calendars change. Some centers bundle modules, others sell them as stand-alone courses.
This guide compares real, published price lists from recognizable maritime training providers across the US, Europe, UK, South Africa, Middle East (Dubai/UAE), Asia (India), Australia, plus Russia and Ukraine—converted into US dollars.
STCW Certificate Prices 2026: What you’re really paying for
Four certificates dominate most entry and progression pathways:
- Basic Safety (Basic Training / A-VI/1)
- Advanced Fire Fighting
- Medical First Aid
- Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats (PSCRB / “rescue rafts & boats”)
Even when the course title differs slightly, the practical outcome is the same: you pay for facility time, equipment wear, live-fire or pool sessions, instructor ratios, and flag/authority administration.
Published 2026 price snapshots by region (USD comparisons)
Below, I list one or more highly visible providers per region and only use prices that appear directly on their official pages.
United States (MITAGS – published cart pricing)
MITAGS lists course sessions with fixed prices:
- Basic Training: $1,545 (Seattle) or $2,155 (Baltimore)
- Advanced Firefighting: $1,255
- Medical Care Provider (often chosen instead of basic MFA): $2,185
- PSCRB: MITAGS shows course details, but the price was not displayed in the captured listing for Feb 2026 sessions.
US takeaway: the US market stays premium for classroom + hands-on delivery, especially on the medical side.
Europe (DHTC – Netherlands; SQE Marine – EU pricing in euros)
Two examples with clear published pricing:
- PSCRB (DHTC, Den Helder): €1,375 → ~$1,628
- Basic Safety (SQE Marine): €850 → ~$1,006
Europe takeaway: PSCRB often costs more in Northern Europe than in many other regions, mainly due to equipment time and safety ratios.
United Kingdom (UKSA – published “from” pricing)
UKSA posts prices openly:
- Advanced Fire Fighting: From £1,045 → ~$1,430
UK takeaway: UK pricing tends to sit between US and EU averages, with strong regulatory reputation baked into the cost.
South Africa (STC-SA + SSTG – published PDFs/pages)
South Africa remains a strong value region for practical training.
From STC-SA pricing prospectus (modules inside Basic Safety):
- Personal Survival Techniques (PST): R2,995 (published)
- Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (FPFF): R6,950
- Elementary First Aid (EFA): R1,995
From SSTG (clear course prices on the provider page):
- PSCRB: R10,000 → ~$626
- Advanced Fire Fighting: R11,000 → ~$689
- Medical Care: R19,000 → ~$1,190 (often chosen when operators want more than basic MFA)
South Africa takeaway: high hands-on density at a price that undercuts UK/EU for the same practical outcomes.
Middle East (Dubai / UAE – Xclusive Sea School)
Dubai pricing often reflects premium facilities and expat demand.
- Basic Safety Training: AED 5,449 → ~$1,483
Dubai takeaway: Basic Safety often costs more than in South Africa or parts of Asia, even when the certificate outcome is identical.
Asia (India – Shipping Corporation of India MTI, Mumbai)
This is one of the clearest official price pages in Asia because it lists fees line-by-line:
- Basic Safety Training: ₹13,700 → ~$149
- Advanced Fire Fighting: ₹6,000 → ~$65
- Medical First Aid: ₹3,000 → ~$33
- PSCRB: ₹5,500 → ~$60
Asia takeaway: India can look “too cheap to be true,” but these are published institutional fees. The practical question becomes recognition, scheduling speed, and seat availability—not only price.
Australia (ERGT + TAFE Queensland – published AUD costs)
- Basic Safety (CoST – ERGT): AUD 4,030 → ~$2,803
- PSCRB (ERGT): AUD 3,170 → ~$2,205
- Advanced Firefighting (TAFE Queensland): AUD 2,310 → ~$1,607
Australia takeaway: Australia is one of the most expensive regions for PSCRB and entry safety, largely because delivery aligns with strict national frameworks and high operating costs.
Russia (Admiral Makarov State University / GUMRF – published STCW price block)
GUMRF publishes a clean STCW “damage control” price list with USD equivalents:
- Basic safety training (full): USD 180
- PSCRB (full): USD 80
- Advanced Fire-fighting (full): USD 90
- First aid treatment (full): USD 85 (closest published match to “medical first care” in that block)
Russia takeaway: the listed USD costs are extremely low compared to Western markets—always confirm flag acceptance for your target employer.
Ukraine (Seafarers training centre (STC))
Posts specific course prices:
- Basic Safety Training: 27000 UAH → ~$630
- Proficiency in Survival Craft: 8500 UAH → ~$198
- Advanced Fire Fighting: 8500 UAH → ~$198
- Medical First Aid On Board Ship: 8500 UAH → ~$198
Ukraine takeaway: published prices sit among the lowest in this comparison, even after conversion.
STCW certificate prices 2026: why the same certificate costs wildly different amounts
Price differences rarely come from “better theory.” They come from:
- Live-fire logistics (fuel, safety staff, gear replacement)
- Pool time and survival craft wear
- Instructor-to-student limits
- Local wage costs and insurance
- Whether the provider bundles modules into a “week” package (common for Basic Safety)
If you need the fastest hiring outcome, price matters less than availability and document turnaround.
STCW Basic Safety course price: practical budgeting rule
Basic Safety is your biggest “starter” expense in high-cost markets.
- Expect $1,000–$2,800+ in Europe/Australia.
- Expect sub-$200 pricing in some institutional markets in Asia/Eastern Europe.
- In the US, even the same provider may vary by campus.
STCW Advanced Fire Fighting price: where it spikes and where it stays lean
Advanced Fire Fighting is heavily equipment-driven.
- UKSA sits around $1.4k for AFF.
- MITAGS lists AFF at $1,255.
- South Africa can land under $700 equivalent with SSTG pricing.
- India’s institutional pricing is dramatically lower on paper.
STCW prices in 2026 don’t follow one global curve. They follow local operating costs, national frameworks, and how each center structures hands-on training. Use the published numbers above to set your budget, then pick the region that matches your flag acceptance, timeline, and travel reality.
If you want a smarter plan—based on your current location, preferred flag, and next contract window—message SeaEmploy.com with your target role and deadlines, and build a training route that saves both money and weeks of waiting.
