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. Contact the BMC Admissions/Registration office at 604-453-4100 for available dates.
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 12-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, as well as STCW Basic Safety Training (MEDI 1510) and STCW Survival Craft training (MEDI 1810).
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
NOTICE TO APPLICANTS: Effective Fall 2024, BCIT will implement English Language Proficiency (ELP) categories for programs requiring a minimum of English 12 with 50%, 67%, or 73% into Categories 1,2,3, and Graduate Studies. This will allow students who have met their English Language Proficiency requirements using a method other than BC Secondary School English to easily see the equivalent option for their desired program. Applications submitted for intakes scheduled to start on or after September 1, 2024, (or received starting October 1, 2023 for programs with rolling start dates) will be evaluated using the new English Language Proficiency (ELP) categories. The ELP categories replace the previous English 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: two years of education in English in an English-speaking country with one of the following:
- English Studies 12 (50%) or
- English First Peoples 12 (50%) or
- Acceptable equivalent high school course or
- 3.0 credits of post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences (50%) from a recognized institution or
- BCIT English Trades Entry Assessment (for applicants who have two years of education in an English-speaking country only)
What if I don’t meet these English requirements? - 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 e-mail addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We'll send you an e-mail when a new message is posted. It's important to watch for these e-mails 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)
Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
Courses
Class hours
0830-1600, Monday through Friday
Program matrix
| Required Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GMDS 1500 | Restricted Operator's Certificate - Maritime Commercial | 1.5 | |
| MSSM 1025 | Marine Basic First Aid | 1.0 | |
| MSSM 1030 | Bridge Watch Rating | 22.0 | |
| Additional Courses | Credits | ||
Note: For students who do not have Basic Safety Training and Survivial Craft, the following two additional courses are mandatory to meet Transport Canada's requirements: |
|||
| MEDI 1510 | STCW Basic Safety | 3.0 | |
| MEDI 1810 | STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft | 2.0 | |
Note: Registration and payment for these additional courses are course-by-course through Part-time Studies. |
|||
| Total Credits: | 24.5 | ||
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
12 weeks
Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
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 2020-2022 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2019-2021 graduates and for Degree 2017-2019 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
Kickstart your nautical career
This Enhanced Bridge Watch Rating (BWR-E) program is accepting applications from indigenous people and women with funding from the Government of Canada through the Oceans Protection Plan.
This program will give you an opportunity to explore a marine career working on tugboats, ferries or deep sea vessels. Career opportunities also include water-based ecotourism, commercial fishing, sport fishing, travel and other recreational marine guiding roles.
Benefits
The Enhanced Bridge Watch Rating pathway is slightly different from the main pathway:
- Longer, 17-week program
- Fully-funded tuition
- All the courses you need to get Transport Canada certified
- Streamlined application process
Fully-funded tuition
Women and Indigenous people are eligible for subsidized tuition. All direct costs are covered including tuition, textbooks, lunch or lunch money, and accommodation and travel costs.*
*You may be eligible for reimbursement of travel, accommodations, meals, and a small stipend for incidentals if you are displaced from your home community to complete your hands-on training.
The cost for the Transport Canada Medical Certificate will be reimbursed upon acceptance into the program. Day care for family members is not covered at this time.
Extra courses
You’ll get all the training and marine experience you need to get full Transport Canada certification. As soon as you complete this program, you’ll be able to get entry-level employment as a deck hand with employers such as BC Ferries, Canadian Coast Guard, and Seaspan.
All the courses in the regular Bridge Watch Rating program are covered plus the Marine Emergency Duties courses as well. If your community arranges for a cohort, there are additional elective courses available.
The extra courses included are Bridge Watch Rating (Certificate requires two months additional sea time), STCW Basic Safety Training (BST), and STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft (PSC).
Study close to where you live
The program is hosted on both sides of the Salish Sea. Your options include the BCIT Marine Campus (BMC) in North Vancouver, or Camosun College Interurban Campus in Victoria, or even a remote community.
Some content must be delivered in the Lower Mainland but we strive to work closely with interested communities to offer much of this training where students live. Community consultation will allow for possible additional or alternate content to meet local need in addition to the core foundation courses.
Eligibility
You’ll need to be able to work at the level of Grade 12 English and Grade 11 Math to participate. We’ll help you if you need a refresher before starting the program.
Find out more
Download the program application form and the Candidate Document Number (CDN) form to start the application process. Contact the Bridge Watch Rating Program Coordinator for more information on the program and your funding eligibility:
Debbie Power
Program Coordinator
Bridgewatchrating_enhanced@bcit.ca
Tel: 604-456-1072
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