Do You Need a License to Drive a Boat in Canada? | How to Get A Boating License (PCOC)

What is Required to Operate a Boat in Canada | Who Can Drive A Boat?

What Is A Boating License (PCOC)?

In Canada, the term boating license, boat operator card, or card refer to PCOC, which stands for Pleasure Craft Operator Card.

PCOC looks like a driver's license or a credit card and has the same thickness and made of the same material as a credit card, except it doesn't have an expiration date.

Who Is Required to Carry a PCOC?

Any person operating a powered watercraft on any Canadian waters is required to carry a PCOC. The term “powered watercraft” means any watercraft that has any kind of motor, so as long as your watercraft has an electric motor or any type of motor you have to carry a PCOC. This is the law in all Canadian provinces.

How to Get My PCOC

There are two aspects of it. You have to finish an online course provided by Transport Canada-accredited course providers and once you finish this course, you have to take the PCOC exam provided by Transport Canada.

You will get a link to the PCOC exam from your course provider and usually it's under one package, both the course and the actual exam.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a PCOC?

If you search online by PCOC, you will come up with many results. There are many course providers who can give you the PCOC and they're all accredited by Transport Canada. The prices range from $20 to $50 and some of them give you just one attempt on the exam and some of them give you as many attempts as you need.

So when you're purchasing the course, just make sure that it meets your needs and you are getting the best value because at the end it's the same PCOC.

PCOC Pro Tips

You can get a PCOC just by studying online and taking the exam, even without putting a foot on a boat. But what I recommend is that to finish the intro to boating or intro to power boarding course, because this course teaches you how to operate a boat and the basics of the boat, which you definitely require.

Taking the PCOC doesn't really mean anything because it doesn't teach you how to drive a boat; it only teaches you the rules and regulations you need to follow on the water and the basic elements of a boat.

My recommendation before renting any boat is that you take the intro to powerboating or intro to boating course where they offer this type of course and it's not too expensive. This course will teach you how to operate a boat, how to turn, how to stop, how to park your boat, how to reverse a boat and all the basics you need to know before you actually rent or buy a boat and start exploring.