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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some common questions about all aspects of Canadian safe boating laws
and regulations. If you have a question you would like to see added to this list,
send an e-mail to info@boaterexam.com with
your question.
Pleasure Craft Operator Card
Q. How long will it take for the Card to arrive after I’ve passed the exam?
A. Your permanent Pleasure Craft Operator Card will take between 3-5 weeks to arrive.
A Temporary Operator Card can be
printed and used while you wait for the permanent card to arrive.
Q. Is there a temporary card I can print while I wait for my permanent Card?
A. Yes! You may print off a Temporary Pleasure
Craft Operator Card immediately following your successful exam. If for whatever
reason you need to print another copy of your temporary card, you may access the
card again by following the Temporary
Card link from our homepage. Please note that your
Temporary Pleasure Craft Operator Card expires 90 days following your
exam.
Q. What if I lose my operator card?
A. If you lose your Pleasure Craft Operator Card, and you took your exam online
with BoaterExam.com®, then you may order a replacement card by clicking
on the LOST CARDS menu item.
If you did not take your exam online with BoaterExam.com®, but you
have proof that you passed an accredited safe boating course, then please call our
office at 1-866-688-2628 to order another card.
Q. Is the card good for life?
A. Yes. The Pleasure Craft Operator Card is good for life with no annual fees.
Q. What does the card look like?
A. The Pleasure Craft Operator Card is a "credit card" style plastic card. Here is an image of the card.
Q. How do I get the Pleasure Craft Operator Card?
The steps to get your Pleasure Craft Operator Card online are as follows:
- Register for the course for FREE
- Study and pass the end of chapter quiz for Chapter 1
- Make payment for the course and exam - $49.95 + tax
- Take the final 50 question exam
- Print your temporary card
- Wait for your permanent card to arrive in 3 to 5 weeks
Q. Where can I boat with the Pleasure Craft Operator Card?
A. The Pleasure Craft Operator Card allows Canadian and US citizens to operate their
watercrafts throughout Canada and the United States. For residents of the United
States, the Pleasure Craft Operator Card acts as an out-of-state boater education
card when operating their watercraft in any State except for their home State. (Example:
The Pleasure Craft Operator Card would allow a Florida resident to operate their
watercraft in Oregon waters, but they would still require a Florida Boater Education
card to operate their watercraft in Florida.)
Q. Will boaters who have previously taken a boating safety course be required to take another course or test?
A. Those who have taken a boating safety course prior to April 1, 1999 will not be required to take another course or test. A copy of a certificate or a card issued at the completion of courses taken prior to April 1, 1999 will need to be carried on board the pleasure craft.
Q. Do I need proof of competency to operate a non-powered pleasure craft?
A. No. The Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations only apply to pleasure craft fitted with a motor.
Q. Do I need proof of competency to paddle a pleasure craft fitted with a motor and the motor is turned off?
A. Yes.
Q. What is acceptable proof of competency for non-residents?
A. For non-residents, proof of competency can take one of three forms:
- A Pleasure Craft Operator Card;
- A completed boat rental safety checklist (for power-driven rental boats); or,
- An operator card or equivalent which meets the requirements of their state or country.
Q. If my child is 11 years old and drives a boat of less than 10 HP (with my direct supervision) do they still need proof of competency?
A. Yes. The age-horsepower restrictions were developed under the Boating Restriction Regulations and aren't affected, or superseded, by the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations. The two are entirely separate regulations and their respective requirements should be looked at separately to avoid confusion. Remember, anyone born after April 01, 1983 is required to carry proof of competency now.
Q. What is "proof of operator competency"?
A. Proof of operator competency can take one of three forms:
- A Pleasure Craft Operator Card;
- Proof of having successfully completed a boating safety course in Canada prior to April 1, 1999; or,
- A completed rental-boat safety checklist.
A Pleasure Craft Operator Card is issued following the successful completion of an accredited test. This proof of competency is the most common.
If you have taken a boating safety course prior to April 1, 1999, the certificate you obtained is a valid proof of operator competency. However, the certificate must clearly show that the course you took was taken in Canada and prior to April 1, 1999.
If you are renting a pleasure craft fitted with a motor you must complete a rental boat safety checklist. This will be considered your proof of competency and is valid for the duration of the rental period. The rental company will review the checklist with you.
Q. What should I do if I received training prior to April 1, 1999 and my certificate does not show a completion date?
A. If the course provider that issued the certificate is still in existence, you can contact them to issue you a certificate showing the appropriate completion date. Otherwise, you will need to obtain a Pleasure Craft Operator Card.
Q. Can I exchange my certificate for a Pleasure Craft Operator Card?
A. No. The Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations clearly state that a Pleasure Craft Operator Card is a document issued to a person by the administrator of an accredited test (see exception below), to a person that has passed the test. Therefore, a card cannot be issued unless an accredited test has been passed.
Q. Can I obtain a PCOC if I hold a Marine Safety Certificate?
A. Any person who holds a certificate or equivalency on the List of Certificates of Competency, Training Certificates and other Equivalencies is competent to operate a pleasure craft under the Competency of Pleasure Craft Regulations. A person holding such a certificate or equivalency simply needs to carry their certificate or equivalency (or a copy of it) on board their pleasure craft, accompanied by a proof of identification.
Transport Canada is currently working on a process whereby a person holding certificates or equivalencies from that list can obtain a PCOC from Transport Canada. This process is expected to be in place by Fall 2010.
Once the new card system is in place, a person will have the option to continue to carry a copy of their certificate on board or obtain a PCOC from one of the Marine Safety Transport Canada Centers.
Q. I took a boating safety course in the United States in 1980 and have a dated certificate. Is it an acceptable proof of competency?
A. No. The course must be taken in Canada.
Q. Do I need a licence to operate my boat?
A. Sometimes proof of competency is also referred to as a licence to operate a vessel. The two are not the same. In most instances what people actually want to know about is the requirement to carry proof of competency, as required under the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations.
All operators of pleasure craft fitted with a motor are now required to have proof of competency on board.
Q. Isn't an operator card just another word for a licence?
A. No, unlike a driver's licence, the operator card cannot be revoked and is good for life.