Information for GMDSS training providers
The Norwegian Maritime Authority has taken over responsibility for the approval and administration of GMDSS training and examinations. This information provides training providers with an overview of the continuation of existing approvals, the examination arrangements, and the changes that apply from 2026.
The approval issued to training providers by Telenor Kystradio will be continued by the Norwegian Maritime Authority. Future audits will, where relevant, be coordinated with other audits that have previously been carried out by the Norwegian Maritime Authority.
Not all approved training providers are currently included in the NMA's list of approved training providers. If you do not find your organisation on the list after week 2 of 2026, please send an e-mail to post@sdir.no.
Theoretical examination
The theoretical examination will, until further notice, be conducted in the same manner as before.
- Requests for examinations and practice examinations should be sent to post@sdir.no
- Questions may be directed to the case officer, or you may contact the NMA's swithchboard on +47 52 74 50 00.
The NMA has taken over the examination platform (Educatia) from Telenor Kystradio.
Your request must still include a list of candidates (using the same template as previously submitted to Telenor Kystradio), the time period during which the theoretical practice examination should be available, and the preferred date and time for the theoretical examination.
Practical examination and assessment
From 2026, the implementation and documentation requirements for GMDSS certificates will follow the same structure as other certificates of competency regulated under the STCW Convention.
Information from the Norwegian Maritime Authority:
«The Norwegian Maritime Authority's asessment is that examinations, grading and appeals should be managed by training institutions. These institutions may implement this through arrangements similar to the current examination boards or exam consortia. Institutions providing ROC/GOC training can, in collaboration with at least two (2) other parties, conduct written and practical/oral examinations. The model will be harmonised and follow the same principles required for upper secondary schools, vocational colleges, higher education institutions and universities today. If training institutions, for various reasons, are unable to establish such an arrangement, they may use external providers offering these services, such as Radioinspeksjonen. In such cases, this will be based on an agreement between the training institution and the service provider, e.g. Radioinspeksjonen.»
Changes for the training providers
It is the responsibility of the training provider to organise the administration of the examinations and the reporting of results. This includes organising examination boards («eksamensringer»), or purchasing this service from other approved training providers.
Previously, Telenor Kystradio supplied examination papers, assessment forms, application forms with confidentiality declarations, and forms for reporting results. From 2026, the training provider must supply these materials themselves. All relevant templates from Telenor Kystradio are attached. These may be freely edited by each training provider. During the transition phase, the Telenor Kystradio templates may be used without changes.
Until new documentation is issued by the NMA, the curriculum documents («emneplaner») from Telenor Kystradio remain applicable.
In the future, the confidentiality declaration will be signed electronically at the same time as the candidate applies for a certificate via My Page – Seafarers on sdir.no. Until this functionality is confirmed, it will be appropriate to sign the confidentiality declaration on paper in connection with the practical examination.