BOSIET: validity, renewal and how to get it

What BOSIET covers

Four mandatory units, 21 guided learning hours in all. The safety induction unit is theory; the rest is 40 percent theory and 60 percent practical.

OPITO states the outcomes: identify offshore hazards and the key safety regulations; helicopter emergencies, with a focus on escaping from a helicopter after ditching; sea survival and first aid techniques; basic fire-fighting equipment and self-rescue in low visibility.

• OPITO: BOSIET with EBS standard

Which variant you need

BOSIET comes with an emergency breathing system (EBS) or a compressed air emergency breathing system (CA-EBS), matching the equipment supplied for your helicopter travel. T-BOSIET is the tropical version, for people new or returning to offshore work in a tropical environment, and leads to T-FOET.

OPITO does not say which variant applies where. For the North Sea, Offshore Energies UK does: its mutual recognition matrix for the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands lists BOSIET and FOET with CA-EBS for the UK, and states that the tropical and renewable courses are outside the agreement.

For helicopter travel in the UK a valid shoulder breadth measurement is also required.

• OPITO: BOSIET with CA-EBS standard
• OPITO: T-BOSIET standard
• Offshore Energies UK: mutual recognition of basic safety training

Before you start

OPITO's entry requirement is medical: a valid offshore medical certificate, an employer-approved medical, a certificate of fitness to work at sea or for diving at work, or medical screening by the centre. Everyone taking part has to be able to take part fully; the practical units are physical.

• OPITO: BOSIET with EBS standard

How to get it

OPITO approves the centres and holds the records; the centre runs the course.

1. Get the medical For UK waters, an offshore medical from a doctor registered with Offshore Energies UK, valid for two years as standard. Other regions have their own certificate; the centre will say what it accepts.
2. Find an approved centre OPITO lists every approved centre by country and standard. Pick the variant you need: EBS, CA-EBS or tropical.
3. Attend the course Three days of guided learning in all, most of it practical: the pool, the helicopter escape trainer and the fire ground.
4. Get your record The centre registers your certification with OPITO. OPITO issues a learner number, keeps the record in The HUB, and you can see it through VantagePOB or the OPITO TRAIN-R app. Employers check it on the public validity checker.

• OPITO: approved centre network
• OPITO: for learners
• OPITO: certificate validity checker

How long it lasts and how to renew

OPITO sets a maximum of four years between BOSIET and the refresher, FOET. A FOET certificate is then valid for four years, and FOET takes eight hours including the introduction.

FOET requires a valid, in-date BOSIET, T-BOSIET or FOET certificate. Renew early and nothing is lost: if the previous certificate expires within three months of enrolment, the new one is dated from the old expiry date.

• OPITO: FOET standard
• OPITO: BOSIET with EBS standard