Recreational Skippers Ticket Skippers Ticket WA Law Enforcement Training Solutions Recreational Skippers Ticket Skippers Ticket WA

Law Enforcement Training Solutions is a Registered Training Organisation approved by the Western Australian State Government to deliver the Recreational Skipper's Ticket (RST) training throughout Western Australia. All our assessors are competent in marine operations and have been approved for the delivery of both theory and practical components of the marine operations training package including the recently introduced Recreational Skippers Ticket. Courses consist of:

	Hands on training
	Theory and/or practical sessions
	1/2 Day Full boating course
	Boat Familiarisation
	Public and personal boat safety instructional courses
	Australia wide recognition

The RST is a certificate of competency, not a license. It is purely about demonstrating the minimum knowledge and practical skills needed to operate a boat safely on the water. It is based on a set of marine safety competencies that have been agreed nationally. The assessment of these competencies will be in two sections: theory and practical. Depending on your prior qualification or existing experience you may be exempt from all or part of the assessment.

Who must have a Recreational Skippers Ticket

How do you acquire a Recreational Skippers Ticket

Who is exempt from assessment

Skills recognition

Course and Fee Options

Authorised RST Assessors and Trainers

Who must have a Recreational Skippers Ticket

By April 2008, every skipper of a registerable recreational vessel powered by a motor greater than 4.5kwp (6 hp) (RST vessel) will be required to hold a Recreational Skipper's Ticket.

A person aged between 14 and 16 cannot be in charge of a vessel unless they hold an RST. Age restrictions also apply to this age group and vessels may be operated only during daylight hours and at a maximum speed of 8 knots.

If you're between 14 and 25 you must obtain an RST before April 2007. Over 25 years of age will have until April 2008 before they are required to hold an RST.

Back to top

How do you acquire a Recreational Skippers Ticket

To obtain an RST you must have your skills assessed by Law Enforcement Training Solutions an RST authorised assessor. Depending on your prior skill or qualifications you may need to demonstrate your competency in the theory and practical sections or just the theory section.

The RST Workbook

Law Enforcement Training Solutions will provide you with a workbook free of charge, which contains everything that you can and or will be assessed on, theory and practical. Alternatively you may obtain one from your local fishing tackle shop, DPI office or the DPI website.

Who is exempt from assessment?

Not everyone will have to be assessed before gaining a ticket, and some people will need only a partial assessment. There are three pathways to gaining an RST; which one applies to you depends on your boating experience and/or qualifications.

Prior qualifications

If you currently hold a commercial marine qualification (not engineering) or one of the following qualifications, you won't be required to undergo RST assessment:

	A Boat Smart certificate;
	A Small Craft Proficiency certificate (issued before 12 February 2006);
	A TL3 or TL5 certificate (issued before 12 February 2006); or
	A current/valid boat operator's certificate issued by another state.

If your qualification was issued in Western Australia, the Department will send you an RST Application Form on or about the 27 March 2006. Once you have completed and returned the form, the Department will issue you an RST. If you think you fit within the "Prior Qualification" group and haven't heard from us by the end of March 2006 please contact us on 08 9216 8966.

If you have a Boat Smart or Small Craft Proficiency certificate you will need to return the form to the Department by April 2007; after which full assessment will be required to obtain your RST.

Note: If you believe you qualify for this exemption and have not received an RST application form by end of April 2006 please contact us on 9216 8966 and the Department will make sure a letter is sent.

Back to top

Skills recognition

If you have a TL3 or TL5 issued anywhere in Australia or a marine qualification or licence issued outside of Western Australia you have to apply for an RST through the Skills Recognition scheme. This will require submitting your qualification to an authorised assessor for verification.

Exempt from practical assessment

The Department accepts that people who have spent a lot of time in boats will have picked up many practical skills. If you have owned a boat, continuously registered with the Department for at least the past five years, you will receive a letter offering an exemption from the practical assessment.

Full assessment

If you don't qualify for the Prior Qualifications, Skills Recognition or Exempt from Practical Assessment schemes you will need to complete both the practical and the theory assessments.

Once you have successfully completed the theory section and demonstrated the practical tasks to the satisfaction of the assessor you will be issued with your RST.

	Full Course: $250 (1/2 days of Theory Training and Assessment plus 1 day practical training and assessment in the training vessel)
	Theory Training & Assessment: $160 (3 hours of theory training - 100 page Recreational Skippers Ticket Workbook supplied to trainees upon registration and payment of fees)
	Theory Assessment Only: $60 (If a trainee needs to re-sit the theory assessment an additional fee of $50 will be payable each time they re-sit the assessment)
	Practical Training Only: $100 (3 hours with a group of trainees practicing the 11 practical tasks required in the assessment)
	Practical Assessment Only: $80 (1.5 hrs with trainer practicing 11 tasks prior to assessment. If a trainee needs to re-sit the practical assessment an additional fee of $80 will be payable each time they re-sit the assessment)
	Boat fees: If you do not have your own boat to do the practical assessment one can be supplied @ $80.00 per hour. You will need to book the boat well in advance with the provider. Please be advised that the prices reflected are only a guide as each assessor's price may vary depending on circumstances.