I currently hold a 50 ton masters and OS/wiper and would like to upgrade to an A/B Special But not sure which way to go ?
should I take stcw or lifeboatman or both and which one first .
any help would be great
Stcw for sure… you don’t need lifeboatman for AB special, all you need is PSC which I believe is a 30 question test (someone feel free to correct me). If you can get both great, then you will be all set for your AB unlimited. Also you need to search this forum for the many threads on RFPNW, this is critical for you to sail as AB on anything over 200 tons. 
I would go ahead with BST,AB course and Lifeboatman course. At Young Memorial in Morgan City BST is 5 days,AB 6 days and L/B 4 days.Get it all and submit it all together.
Mike
Headdn, just go all out and get BST, PSC, and A/B course. Make sure you take the A/B unlimited course that way when you have enough time it is just a matter of an application, seatime and drug screen. On the other hand the A/B is almost useless without RFPNW. So go ahead and get it all done at once that way it is behind you and you will have completed another step in the long and painful process of being a mariner.
good luck
Lots of advice and letters… I was in your shoes 360 days ago. First, if youre in the GOM it is possible to sail as an AB even though you dont have a RFPNW. Dont bother taking a Look Out Only/RFPNW course. Do work on a boat >200GRT as an AB. Get your assessment (NMC Policy letter 14-02) signed off by the captain. At the end of 180 days you have that RFPNW. Those 5 little letters will let you ship out on any oceans. Wit out it its brown wata 4 ya brah.
Since youre now working on a boat >200 tons and have 180 days as an AB with a new RFPNW, heck stay for another 180 days and youll have 360 days >200 tons… which is good for 1600 ton Mate NC 
Have a hoot !
Bob
[QUOTE=Diesel;27266]Stcw for sure… you don’t need lifeboatman for AB special, all you need is PSC which I believe is a 30 question test (someone feel free to correct me). If you can get both great, then you will be all set for your AB unlimited. Also you need to search this forum for the many threads on RFPNW, this is critical for you to sail as AB on anything over 200 tons. [/QUOTE]
I believe this is right, and I’ve seen lots of guys that I’ve worked with get their AB limited first and the unlimited is easy to get after that. Good luck!