Careers · Shipboard role
Ship's Doctor (Physician)
The Ship's Doctor provides high-quality medical care to guests and crew at the ship's Medical Centre, following the line's clinical governance and safety-of-care processes and working with the shipboard and shoreside teams.
STCW competence
A watch or a day
Day work
The certificate that gates the job
MLC Std A4.1 (where MLC Standard A4.1 requires a qualified medical doctor on board)
The certification behind this rank
What the rules require for this role — STCW, Indian and UK implementation.
Plus the certificates every seafarer holds: medical, basic safety, security awareness, and passenger-ship training on a cruise ship.
MLC Std A4.1
where MLC Standard A4.1 requires a qualified medical doctor on board
STCW V/2
serving on passenger ships (applies to all personnel)
MSN 1866 Amd 2
UK implementation of STCW V/2
MS (STCW) Rules 2014 r.55
India implementation of STCW V/2
What employers ask for
Seen across employer job postings — a guide to what recruiters look for, not a legal requirement.
Certificate of Competency / licence
e.g. license
Medical / nursing licence (MD, RN, ACLS…)
e.g. Medical Degree · ACLS · BLS · ATLS
Education (diploma / degree)
e.g. Degree · degree
Also known as
Where can this role take you?
See how to reach this role — and the ladder above it — in the Route Finder.