Overview
The Bridge Watch Rating Associate Certificate is the foundation to beginning your career at sea. We’ll teach you all of the essential knowledge and skills related to the practice of seamanship, navigation, standards of safe working procedures, and the hazards associated with the marine environment.
This program is designed to provide entry-level personnel with base-level knowledge of seamanship to prepare you for a career at sea with BC Ferries, the Canadian Coast Guard, local companies and other Canadian companies operating ships and vessels.
The program is offered three times per year, March, September and December.
Get the skills you need for a career at sea
Bridge Watch Rating forms part of a team involved in the following activities:
- Keeping a lookout
- Steering the vessel
- Operating communication systems
- Handling ropes and chains
- Anchoring and mooring
- Responding to emergencies
- Assisting in cargo operations
The Bridge Watch Rating program
This 16-week full-time entry-level program is based on modular courses and provides you with the following training certificates:
- BCIT Recognition of Training in Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Industry Canada Radio Restricted Operator Certificate – Maritime Commercial (ROC – MC)
- Marine Basic First Aid Certificate (MBFA)
Successful completion will also make you eligible for four months of sea time remission.
Please note: this Transport Canada accredited course requires 90% attendance and an aggregated 70% passing grade. To achieve full Transport Canada certification, you must complete an additional two months of sea time.
For more information
Discover the answers to your burning questions by watching the video below, where a recent information session has been recorded:
Entrance Requirements
Due to the popularity of the Bridge Watch Rating program, only completed applications, with the required documents, will be considered.
Application processing
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Entrance requirements
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted on a first qualified basis as long as space remains. When available intakes are full, qualified applicants are wait-listed.
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements prior to applying to this program. If you are uncertain, or don’t meet the requirements, we strongly recommend you complete any applicable Trades Entry Assessments before applying.
- English language proficiency: one of:
- Category 3 – English Studies 12 (50%) or equivalent or
- BCIT English Trades Entry Assessment
- Math: one of the following:
- Pre-Calculus 11 (50%) or
- Foundations of Math 11 (50%) or
- Workplace Math 11 (50%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses or
- BCIT Math Trades Entry Assessment
- Medical certificate from a Transport Canada-approved physician*
*The Marine Medical must be for the Deck Service Occupation. Medicals for catering or other occupations are not accepted.
Recommended for success
- It is strongly recommended that applicants have high school graduation.
International applicants
This program is not available to international students. View available programs.
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
March, September and December
*Scheduled intakes are subject to change.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT email addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We will send you an email when a new message is posted. It is important to watch for these emails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
Costs & Supplies
Contact the BCIT Bookstore for information on textbooks.
| Bridge Watch Rating |
|---|
Required Text(s)
Recommended Resource(s)
Required Equipment
|
| Marine Basic First Aid Course |
| Manuals will be issued on the first day of class. |
| Radio Operators Course |
| Manual will be issued on the first day of class. |
Tuition fees
Use our tuition estimator to find tuition and fees for this program.
For more information on full-time tuition fees, visit Full-Time Studies Tuition & Fees.
Books & supplies
$500 (general estimated cost, subject to change)
Access to a computer or laptop will be required for some online courses.
Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
Courses
Students who hold valid MEDI 1510 & MEDI 1810 safety certifications are not required to re-take these safety training courses. A portion of tuition will be refunded by submitting a Student Course Fee Waiver form.
Class hours
0830-1600, Monday through Friday
Program matrix
| Required Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GMDS 1500 | Restricted Operator's Certificate - Maritime Commercial | 1.5 | |
| MEDI 1510 | STCW Basic Safety | 3.0 | |
| MEDI 1810 | STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft | 2.0 | |
| MSSM 1025 | Marine Basic First Aid | 1.0 | |
| MSSM 1030 | Bridge Watch Rating | 22.0 | |
| Total Credits: | 29.5 | ||
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
Program Details
Program length
16 weeks.
Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
Access to a computer or laptop will be required for some online courses.
Program location
Marine Campus
265 West Esplanade
North Vancouver, BC
Graduating & Jobs
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2022-2024 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2021-2023 graduates and for Degree 2020-2022 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Apply for graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.
All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.
Women & Indigenous for BWR
Enhanced Bridge Watch Rating program delivery: blended
Launch your nautical career
This Enhanced Bridge Watch Rating (BWR-E) program is accepting applications from women and Indigenous people who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. In partnership with Camosun College, training is hosted on both sides of the Salish Sea. BWR-E is funded by the Government of Canada through the Transport Canada Marine Training Oceans Protection Plan (OPP).
You will learn the essential knowledge and skills related to the practice of seamanship, navigation, standards of safe working procedures, and the hazards associated with the marine environment providing a pathway to enter rewarding marine sector careers.
Benefits
At BCIT, the program is delivered in a blended format. You attend a synchronous, virtual classroom for the first half of the program, then complete the hands-on training in-person at BCIT’s Marine Campus in North Vancouver. The program is typically offered three times per year: February, June, and October.
Over 16 to 17 weeks (depending on electives), this full-time program prepares you for a career in the marine industry. Training covers the hands-on skills and coursework required by Transport Canada for employment.
You gain hands-on skills to work as a deckhand with marine employers (ferries, tugboats, cruise ships, cargo ships, deep-sea vessels, commercial fishing and water-based ecotourism) and earn the following nationally recognized training certificates: BCIT Bridge Watch Rating Associate Certificate and Transport Canada BWR Training Certificate, Restricted Operator’s Certificate Maritime Commercial (ROC-MC), Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS 2015), Marine Basic First Aid Certificate (MBFA) and Food Safe Level 1, STCW Basic Safety Training (BST), and STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft (PSC).
Program cost
The OPP funding covers the costs for:
- Tuition, e-books, and course materials
- Lunch for each on campus, hands-on training day
- Three-zone U-Pass, valid for TransLink bus, and SkyTrain services throughout Metro Vancouver
Out-of-town students who relocate from their home community to complete their hands-on training may be eligible for funding to cover travel, meals, and lodging.
The cost of the Transport Canada Medical Certificate will be reimbursed upon acceptance into the program. Other costs such as rent, vehicle payments, groceries and day care are not covered.
Entrance requirements
Due to the popularity of the funded Bridge Watch Rating program, only completed applications, meeting all the requirements, will be considered.
Step 1: Meet the following entrance requirements
- BWR-E Application with mandatory question
- Government-issued photo ID
- English Studies 12 OR First Peoples English 12 (50%) or equivalent
- Any Math 11 (50%) or equivalent
- Canadian Maritime Candidate Document Number (CDN)
- Transport Canada Marine Medical for Deck Service
Step 2: Department assessment
Applications will be reviewed and assessed by the program coordinator when the entrance requirements are complete. Qualified applicants will be contacted to participate in an interview with program administration. Successful completion of the interview is required to be offered a seat in the program.
Find out more
Download the BWR-E application form and the Candidate Document Number (CDN) form to start the application process.
Contact the Program Coordinator for more information about funding eligibility:
Debbie Power
Program Coordinator
Bridgewatchrating_enhanced@bcit.ca
Tel: 604-456-1072
Contact Us
BCIT Student Information & Enrollment Services
604-434-1610
Interim Department Head:
Travis Tipton
Questions or comments?
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