Guidance

MIN 690: Guidance on the MCA Oral Examination Booking, the Issue of Notices of Eligibility (NOEs) and the Online Oral Examination Processes - Amendment 6

This MIN provides information on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) online oral examination booking process, online oral examinations and the application process for a Notice of Eligibility (NOE). This MIN also details the recording of online oral examinations, how the MCA deals with malpractice and breaches of online oral examination procedures, and the appeals process for MCA online oral examinations.

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Published: 29 March 2023
• Last updated: 13 May 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 13 May 2026

     8.3 changed to clarify resit advice for those who do not pass their Part B exam within 12 months of passing the Part A exam.

  2. 8 April 2026

     Amended section 12.2 (appeals relating to Part B/Online Oral Exam) to make clear that candidates cannot apply for a resit until their appeal has concluded.

  3. 8 April 2026

     MIN 690 Amendment 6 published. Significant changes are to the Code of Practice - 1.8 (cancel/reschedule policy) and 2.7 (IT connection issues). Also new section 10 added on Part A - Reasonable adjustments, clarity on Part A appeals and updates on which teams to contact.

  4. 3 June 2025

     Amendment 5 published (section 7.1.1 updated).

  5. 28 February 2025

     Updated some details on UKLAP1 (section 13) regarding duration of exam, removed attempts waiting periods and fishing UKLAP1.

  6. 14 February 2025

     UKLAP1 computer-based exam introduced from 1st March 2025.

  7. 31 January 2025

     Updated 3.6 of the Code of Conduct to match 7.2 of the main body

  8. 30 January 2025

     Clarified waiting periods (they apply to all exams, not just Part A oral).

  9. 9 January 2025

     Section on UKLAP1 removed.

  10. 6 January 2025

      MIN 690 Amendment 4 published. Summary of main changes: 1) Introduction of online UKLAP 1 examination from 01 February 2025; 2) Candidates should only take Part A when they are prepared to accept Part B allocated slot; 3) Updated waiting periods following Part A fail; 4) Additional examples of malpractice added; 5) Candidate's Code of Conduct added as Annex A.

  11. 11 November 2024

      Changes in section 7.2 and 11

  12. 29 April 2024

      Master (code vessels less than 200 GT)/Officer of the Watch (yachts less than 500 GT) will now consist of a Part A: online computer-based proctored examination and a Part B: online face-to-face oral examination.

  13. 28 June 2023

      We have introduced further information Part A Examinations, a clause which requires any applicant for a third attempt NOE to provide all required documentary evidence for a CoC and clarified the MCA's position on sharing examination booking links with third parties.

  14. 29 March 2023

      First published.

Documents

MIN 690: Guidance on the MCA Oral Examination Booking, the Issue of Notices of Eligibility (NOEs) and the Online Oral Examination Processes - Amendment 6

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Notice to all Shipowners, Owners, Masters, Officers, Cadets, and those concerned with maritime training.

This notice replaces MIN 690 Amendment 5.

This MIN expires 31 December 2026.