How to become a seafarer in Bulgaria after school

Official rules for school students and school leavers. Check every requirement with the maritime authority before you apply or pay.

Officer: maritime academy or college

Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna offers a full-time bachelor's degree in navigation.
Source: Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy: Navigation (bachelor)
Navigation graduates are trained for deck officer and chief mate posts on all types of merchant ships.
Source: Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy: Navigation (bachelor)
The academy's marine engines and mechanisms bachelor's degree prepares watchkeeping engineers for merchant ships.
Source: Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy: Marine Engines and Mechanisms (bachelor)
A deck officer of the watch needs a bachelor's degree in navigation, or secondary education with the third-level vocational qualification in maritime navigation.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
An engineer officer of the watch needs a bachelor's degree in marine engines and mechanisms, or secondary education with the third-level vocational qualification in that field.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)

Rating: rating course

A deck rating (helmsman) certificate is open to people with secondary education who complete an IAMA-approved preparatory course (STCW A-II/4).
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
Course graduates also need 6 months in the deck crew of ships over 500 GT.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
An engine rating (motorman) certificate is open to people with secondary education who complete an IAMA-approved preparatory course (STCW A-III/4).
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
Course graduates also need 6 months in the engine crew of ships over 300 kW.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
Graduates of maritime vocational schools need 2 months of training at sea, recorded in a practical training record book.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)

Exams and certification

Navigation graduates receive the certificates needed for cadet sea service and for the IAMA exam for officer of the watch.
Source: Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy: Navigation (bachelor)
A deck officer of the watch must also pass the IAMA exam for GMDSS general operator.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
IAMA publishes the test questions used in seafarer certificate exams.
Source: Executive Agency Maritime Administration: site map (seafarer sections)
IAMA also publishes a demo version of the exam software.
Source: Executive Agency Maritime Administration: site map (seafarer sections)

Documents in order

A diploma of approved education.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
A certificate of completion of an IAMA-approved preparatory course, where required.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
A medical certificate of fitness.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
A document proving sea service.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
Practical training and sea practice recorded in a practical training record book.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)

Cadet training at sea

University graduates in navigation need 12 months of training at sea, at least 6 of them as trainee deck officer on ships over 500 GT on international voyages.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
University graduates in marine engineering need 12 months, at least 6 of them at sea as trainee engineer on ships over 750 kW.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
Trainee sea practice must be done no earlier than 5 years before the certificate is issued.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
The practical training record book must be certified by the Maritime Administration directorate.
Source: Наредба № 6 от 17 юни 2021 г. за компетентност на морските лица в Република България (consolidated text, 06.01.2026)
Naval Academy students have yearly training practice, including voyages on ships of partner shipping companies.
Source: Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy: Navigation (bachelor)

Approved training institutions

Only institutions from the official list of the maritime authority. The list changes: check that the institution is still approved before you pay.

Universities and maritime vocational schools from the IAMA list of approved education and training institutions (12.10.2026). The list also names private training centres for short STCW courses; they are not shown.

Varna Province

Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Varna
Courses: Bachelor in navigation; Bachelor in marine engines and mechanisms; STCW courses approved by IAMA
Technical University of Varna, Varna
Courses: STCW courses approved by IAMA
Varna Maritime Professional School "St. Nikolay Chudotvorets", Varna
Courses: Maritime vocational secondary education; STCW courses approved by IAMA