Pleasure Craft Operator Card Needed by Boaters in Canada

Beginning from September 15 2009, all persons resident in Canada skippering a recreation boat with a motor must carry proof of competency as evidenced by a pleasure craft operator card. This requirement does not make any allowances for the age of a person, the size of a vessel or the size of its motor. The relevant regulations are made under authority granted by relevant shipping legislation. These regulations are targeted at recreation craft.

The requirement is broad ranging. It applies to any pleasure craft including jet skis, sailing boats or any other vessel equipped with a motor of any size. The card must be on board with its holder during vessel operation. Non-resident boaters who operate a powered craft in Canada may use boating license or competency card issued in the country of residency, but only for a period of 45 days. After that period, they must obtain a PCOC.

Although it is often referred to as a permit or license, the PCOC is neither. It is a competency card. Unlike a permit or license, a PCOC is granted at no charge. It cannot be suspended or revoked. It does not expire. Once issued it remains valid for the life of the holder. The PCOC is issued after competency has been established by successful completion of a test.

The test is made up of 36 questions in a multiple choice format. The pass mark is 75 percent (27 questions correct). There is a 45 minute time limit. It may be taken online. Transport Canada stipulates that all online tests are appropriately supervised. A test supervisor may be any suitably registered person who invigilates the test and confirms cheating has not occurred. Any person can act as supervisor role they are not a family member of the candidate.

The test covers a broad field of fundamental boating competencies such as nautical terms; collision regulations; steering and give way rules; safety equipment requirements; the Canadian buoy system; weather warnings; how to safely share waterways; Canadian boating rules and regulations; man overboard procedures; and equipping a boat safely. About 150 basic boating safety principles are included in the testable material.

The regulations underlying the PCOC are administered by Transport Canada. Their enforcement is performed by various regional law enforcement units. These include the Royal Mounted Police and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

Transport Canada does not provide the test or any of the associated training. All training and testing is administered by private companies. They are officially ratified by Transport Canada. There is a small charge for the training course and a charge to sit the test. If the test is not passed on a first sitting, it may be sat again as often as needed. The only limit is that it can only be sat once during any 24-hour period. There is no additional cost applied attempt the exam a second time or more.

In summary, Canadian marine regulations require the operator of a vessel powered by a motor to carry evidence of their competency. The required evidence is a pleasure craft operator card. The card is issued on successful completion of a competency test consisting of 36 multiple-choice questions. Providers accredited by Transport Canada supply the test and associated training courses. More details are provided at the Transport Canada website.

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