{"id":126553,"date":"2024-06-14T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-14T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/?p=126553"},"modified":"2024-08-12T18:39:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-12T18:39:36","slug":"do-you-need-a-license-to-drive-a-boat-in-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/do-you-need-a-license-to-drive-a-boat-in-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Need a Boating License in Canada to Drive a Boat?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Depending on where you live or vacation, the odds are that the rules are different for boating, boating licenses, and everything in between. If you\u2019re in Canada or travelling to Canada to enjoy a long day on the boat, you might wonder: do you need a license to drive a boat in Canada?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are required to have a PCOC \u2014 also known as a Pleasure Craft Operator Card \u2014 which many people do (incorrectly) refer to as a Canadian boating license<\/a>. So, to put it simply, you must have proof of competency (or a boating license in Canada) to drive a boat in Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what you need to know!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Close-up<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s a Pleasure Craft Operator Card?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A PCOC \u2014 or Pleasure Craft Operator Card<\/a> \u2014 is a federal competency card given to Canadian boaters once they take a boating safety course and complete an accredited Transport Canada<\/a> Boating Safety Test. The PCOC is a federally mandated competency card valid in all Canadian provinces and territories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Pleasure Craft License?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Pleasure Craft License<\/a>, not to be confused with PCOC, is a document that contains a set of ID numbers. The document must be carried onboard your boat at all times, and the numbers must be displayed on your boat for identification purposes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number must be displayed on both sides of the bow, above the waterline, as far forward as possible, in block letters at least 7.5 centimetres high that contrast with the colour of the boat.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who needs a Pleasure Craft Operator Card?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Canada, you must have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card if you are an operator of any motorized recreational vessel<\/a>. This includes personal watercraft (PWC), motorized sailboats, and small boats with electric trolling motors. Your PCOC must be carried onboard the entire time the boat is in operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who needs a Pleasure Craft License?<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All motorized boats and PWCs in Canada that are powered by a motor with a horsepower of 10 or more are required to have a Pleasure Craft License. The licenses \u2014 valid for ten years \u2014 can be obtained for free from the Pleasure Craft Licensing Centre.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Are There Exemptions to the Pleasure Craft Operator Card Rule?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As of September 15, 2009, all operators of recreational motorized boats are required to obtain proof of competency. There are no exemptions for age, horsepower, or boat length.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These regulations also apply to Indigenous people; however \u2014 they do not apply if the vessel is being used for daily living or subsistence activities (such as hunting and fishing practiced by many Indigenous peoples). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Pleasure Craft Operator Card is the best way to prove proof of competency and meet the requirements for a boating license in Canada, and the following are forms of proof of competency:<\/p>\n\n\n\n