Do you own a boat in Canada and want to ensure your safety and the safety of others around you while you’re out on the water? If this is the case, obtaining your Transport Canada Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) is an essential step. Don’t worry; it won’t be difficult at all! This piece will demonstrate how to do it in five easy steps. You may get your entire certification and be prepared for a day packed with fun and excitement on the water in only a few minutes of your time. Therefore, let’s begin now; get ready to get your PCOC straightforwardly!
Know the Requirements
Before anything else, you should learn what qualifications you’ll need to fulfil. For example, Transport Canada suggests that any operator under 18 first apply for a Supervised Operator’s Certificate (SOC). The SOC mandates that you have received at least 30 hours of classroom and on-the-water training from a certified boating safety instructor. If you or your legal guardian is hurt during exercise, the teacher will need a signed waiver to release them from responsibility.
You’ll also need two forms of photographic identification, evidence of citizenship or permanent residence, a birth certificate or passport, and a note from an eye doctor stating that your eyesight meets or exceeds the minimum requirements for use at sea level.
Take a Boating Course
Obtaining a Transport Canada Pleasure Craft Operator Card is the next step in becoming a licensed Canadian boat operator. Take a boating safety course authorized by the authorities, then provide proof of successful completion to acquire your card. The prerequisites and course descriptions for these programs may be found on the Transport Canada website. Many community centres, marinas, and yacht clubs around the nation provide boating safety training.
Some courses are offered at no cost or a small price, while others might cost as much as $500. (And then you must pay for additional fees or materials). Getting your Pleasure Craft Operator Card from Transport Canada isn’t too difficult; you need to locate a course that works with your schedule and budget. When you do, you may confidently go off to discover some of Canada’s most stunning waterways.
Get Your Criminal Record Check
Obtain a check of your criminal history. If this is the first time you have had one done, you will need to give evidence to prove that you are qualified for one. If you have had one done previously, you do not need to offer any further proof. You can do this by going to our website or the website of Service Canada and completing an online application for a check of your criminal record. It is at no cost to you; however, please note that it will take them about ten business days to complete your request.
You must ensure that you give yourself sufficient time to avoid delaying obtaining your Transport Canada Pleasure Craft Operator Card. It is possible to meet the procedure in person, but there is also the option of sending in a form and waiting several weeks for the outcome to appear in the mail (although it is far easier to go in person).
Do a Sea Trial Test for Your Transport Canada Pleasure Craft Operator Card
The local Transport Canada office is the one that issues POCs. There is a written exam on Canadian boating law and regulations and a sea trial test that must be passed to get your license. A boat is taken out on the water with a Transport Canada examiner for a sea trial. Examiners often put candidates through tests that measure their ability to pilot a boat in various scenarios, including severe seas and docking. To proceed to the written exam, you must first pass this section.
There is little of a challenge to see testing, but it is crucial. Be careful to practice docking and managing the boat at various speeds before going into the office since failing the sea trial will automatically fail the written exam. Bring along a buddy or two to help out if things go rough.
If you need clarification on whether or not this applies to you, you can contact the National Vessel Registry Center, Corp, for more information. We’re here for you!
