STCW Refresher Fort Lauderdale: 4 Schools, Prices, Dates 2026

4 Nov 2026

Where can you do an STCW refresher in Fort Lauderdale?

Four schools run an STCW refresher in Fort Lauderdale: Resolve Maritime Academy, MPT, PYT USA and Seven Seas Prep. A 1-day revalidation costs $525–$795, but only if you have a year of sea time in the last five years. Without it, you'll need MPT's 3-day refresher at $799–$899. Which one counts depends on your sea time and the flag you work under.

This post covers refreshers only. If you've never done STCW, see our STCW course Fort Lauderdale guide for the full 5-day course.

What is an STCW refresher course?

An STCW refresher course updates two of your four Basic Training modules every five years: Personal Survival Techniques (PST) and Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF). Elementary First Aid and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR) never need refreshing.

The UK MCA says PST and FPFF "do not expire as such", but to work on STCW-compliant vessels they must have been done or refreshed in the last five years (MIN 643, section 5.1; current until 30 November 2026). Yacht agencies and management companies check those dates when they hire.

Fire day on a refresher is live fire in full kit and breathing apparatus, not a classroom video. Bring long trousers and closed-toe shoes. Photo: Johans Chavarro, U.S. Navy, public domain.

Fort Lauderdale is confusing because most schools here are US Coast Guard-approved, and the USCG uses different words from the MCA:

• USCG revalidation (1 day): for mariners with at least 1 year (360 days) of sea service in the last 5 years. It's an assessment day: immersion suit, jumping in, righting a raft, swimming in a lifejacket, fire fighting and breathing apparatus. 46 CFR 11.302 accepts the sea time but still requires those practicals to be assessed ashore.
• USCG Basic Training refresher (3 days): for mariners without that sea time. This is the "approved or accepted refresher training" route in the same rule, with training as well as assessments.
• MCA "updating" course: the UK term. The MCA splits it into Route 1 (shorter, if you sign a declaration that you've done onboard drills in the last five years) and Route 2 (longer, if you haven't). Our UK refresher guide explains the routes.

How much is an STCW refresher course in Fort Lauderdale?

An STCW refresher course in Fort Lauderdale costs $525–$795 for a 1-day revalidation and $799–$899 for MPT's 3-day refresher. Prices were checked on 4 November 2026. Where a school's own page shows no price, the table says where the figure comes from.

A few things the table doesn't show:

• Resolve is the cheapest and publishes the most dates. The day runs across two sites, its own pool and its training vessel, so you'll need your own transport.
• MPT is at 1915 South Andrews Avenue. Bring photo ID and proof of your original STCW. Class can run to 5:30pm, and MPT asks you not to book a flight out before 6pm.
• PYT USA (1635 Miami Road) is the yacht-focused school. Its 1-day course is built around the MCA five-year rule, and PYT says it isn't a USCG course. Its website wouldn't load properly on 4 November, so confirm price and dates on (954) 296-3830.
• Sea School lists a refresher and revalidation, but its Fort Lauderdale schedule only shows the full 5-day course. Call 1-800-237-8663 to check. Bluewater runs refreshers only in Antibes and Palma.

Can you do an STCW refresher online?

No, not the practical parts. You have to do the pool and live-fire work in person. The MCA says it does "not accept any online courses where there is a requirement for face-to-face practical training in the STCW Code" (MCA approved training providers, updated 8 October 2026).

Righting and boarding a life raft in a pool is the part of the refresher no online module can replace. Photo: Ryan Lackey, U.S. Air Force, public domain.

The closest thing in Fort Lauderdale is blended. Seven Seas Prep's blended Basic Training puts the theory online, then you do 2 days of practicals. Seven Seas says it "also counts for the STCW Basic Training refresher". It costs from $1,095, or $1,295 with security (VPDSD). It's USCG-approved, so if you work under MCA rules, email [email protected] before you book.

You'll also see "100% online STCW refresher" products. Neither the MCA nor the USCG accepts online-only PST or fire fighting, so check with your flag state or management company before you pay.

Do you need an STCW refresher if your STCW has expired?

Usually, yes: a lapsed STCW normally means a refresher, not the full 5-day course again. Under MCA rules, the refresher is still your route as long as you can show the original certificate, a discharge-book stamp or a CoC.

USCG rules depend on your sea time, not on how long ago your course was:

• 360+ days' sea service in the last 5 years: 1-day revalidation.
• Less than that: 3-day refresher (MPT) or the 5-day course again.

PYT USA notes that some students end up repeating the whole 5-day course. If you're unsure, send your certificates to the school before you book.

Which STCW refresher do yacht crew need: MCA or USCG?

It depends on the yacht's flag and your own certificates. Most crew on British or other foreign-flagged yachts need an MCA-accepted refresher. US mariners renewing a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) need a USCG-approved revalidation or refresher.

• Red-ensign and other foreign-flagged yachts: the MCA accepts basic safety certificates from administrations on the IMO "White List", and the US is on it (MIN 643, section 4). MPT and Resolve both say the MCA accepts their courses. Ask the captain or management company before you pay anyway.
• MCA-approved providers in Florida: on the MCA lists of 8 October 2026, PYT USA is the only Florida school on the Updating PST list, and no Florida school is on the Updating Fire Fighting list. The nearest US school on both is MITAGS in Maryland. So any fire refresher you do in Fort Lauderdale relies on the MCA accepting a US certificate, not on MCA approval.
• US mariners: if you're renewing an MMC STCW endorsement, take the USCG course. PYT's 1-day course doesn't count.

A US hailing port on the transom usually means a US-documented yacht, where USCG rules apply. Many big yachts on the New River fly the red ensign or another flag instead. Photo: Jonathan Palombo, CC BY 2.0.

STCW refresher FAQs

How long is an STCW refresher valid?

Five years. The clock restarts from the date of your refresher or revalidation, not your original course.

How long does an STCW refresher take in Fort Lauderdale?

One day for a USCG revalidation or PYT's MCA-style course, 1.5 days at Seven Seas, and 3 days for MPT's full refresher.

Do I need to redo first aid or PSSR?

No, only PST and fire fighting. If you hold Advanced Fire Fighting or Proficiency in Survival Craft, those need their own 5-year updates.

What should I bring to an STCW refresher?

Photo ID, your original STCW certificates, swimwear and a towel, long trousers and closed-toe shoes for fire day, and your own lunch at MPT. PYT also asks for a valid ENG1 or equivalent medical.

Can I do the refresher before my five years are up?

Yes. The new five years usually run from your refresher date, so you lose a few months but never risk losing a job offer to an out-of-date ticket.

What to do after your STCW refresher in Fort Lauderdale

Book the refresher before the season starts and the boats fill up. If your ENG1 is also due, book both for the same week. Budget for a few nights at a crew house if you're coming in from out of town.

Once you have the new certificate, sign up free on Radius, upload it and check in at Fort Lauderdale. Radius verifies your STCW, ENG1 and CV, and crew who are current and recently checked in show up on the map for captains looking for crew nearby. For the rest of your job hunt, see our guides to yacht jobs in Fort Lauderdale and the local crew agencies. New to all this? Start with what STCW Basic Safety Training is.