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Frequently Asked Questions:
About the Online Courses

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I suffer from Dyslexia or a similar handicap, can I receive assistance during my course?

If you suffer from Dyslexia or a similar handicap, then it is advisable to have the automated voiceover on during the course. You may also seek assistance from a third-party to read the text to you if you do not wish to use the voiceover option [not the assessment unless agreed with VIRSEC, restriction apply].

Once you have completed the course and are ready to undertake the Official Assessment, please contact us at invigilation@virsec.org to arrange a Remote Invigilation Session where you will also be allowed to have someone assist you understanding the questions and answer choices. Any abuse of this service will result in us withholding certification.

Do your online courses include an online assessment?

The MCA Approved (STCW ISPS) Courses include official online assessments as per the requirement under the UK DfT Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). All CPD Approved Courses include an end-of-course assessment, other courses may or may not have an assessment at the end. If courses include an assessment, or multiple assessments, this will be outlined in the course information on the relevant page on the VIRSEC website.

For MCA Approved (STCW ISPS) Designated Security Duties (PDSD) and Ship Security Officer (SSO) you must have access to someone who will act as your Official Assessment Invigilator [the SSO, Master, or another Officer-ranked Person]. If you don’t have access to one of these, we can provide you with a Remote Invigilation Session, free of charge [this is covered in Invigilation of Course Assessments FAQs].

Can I go in and out of the course?

Yes, on every course you can go in and out as often as you like and pick up where you left off. However, if you are taking an online assessment and have started, do not exit the course until the assessment in question is fully complete or it will reset to 0%.

Are the courses 100% online?

Yes, every one of our courses are fully online. This includes the MCA Approved courses which require no attendance of a test centre as the assessment is also fully online. We are the first company to be approved by the UK DfT MCA to run maritime security STCW ISPS courses 100% online.