Transport Canada Canadian Boating License
The Official Transport Canada Approved Boating Safety Course to obtain your Pleasure Craft Operator Card. Unlimited test retries included & good for life.
The Official Transport Canada Approved Boating Safety Course to obtain your Pleasure Craft Operator Card. Unlimited test retries included & good for life.
All motorized boat operators in Canada must have proof of competency, such as a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, (more commonly known as a boating license) regardless of age, length of boat or engine horsepower, other than in waters of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Operating without proof of competency can result in a $250.00 fine. If your boat is equipped with a motor, even those smaller than 10hp or an electronic trolling motor, you need the card.
Not sure what to expect? Try the official Transport Canada Boating Safety Course for free.
We’ve been making smart boaters for more than 17 years and are proud to have certified more than 650,000 Canadians for their boating license.
BOATsmart! is accredited by Transport Canada to certify boaters for their Official Pleasure Craft Operator Card. The BOATsmart! Card is good for life and valid in all Canadian provinces and territories including Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Yukon.
BOATsmart! is also accredited and recognized by NASBLA and the US Coast Guard. Your BOATsmart! Card is valid in all US states.
Canada’s boating laws are governed federally by the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 as well as provincial laws, rules and regulations. Laws include the requirement for boaters to obtain their Pleasure Craft Operator Card as well as age and horsepower restrictions, equirements for boating safety equipment, impaired boating, vessel licensing and more. Find boating laws, rules and regulations in your province:
This is a great learning, which is very helpful for my skills of sailing. Thank you
Yan Z
Posted 21 hours ago
Easy to follow. Great visuals
Gabriel C
Posted 2 days ago
Great course with a good variety of forms to stimulate learning (images, text, audio and video). Consider shortening the length of time for certain lessons. The recommended time is not always the amount of time that was needed.
Jeremy G
Posted 2 days ago
Great course! Very lengthy but worth it. Looking forward to getting out on the water!
Charlene S
Posted 3 days ago
I definitely did need a refresh from this course and a new card as well because i lost my other cards and i wanted a full refresh as well from this course also
Jesse F
Posted 5 days ago
Easy way to work through the basics. Appreciate that there is a choice between listening, watching, and reading, depending on how you like to learn (for most pages, not all). The summary pages are also helpful. I do think a final booklet (even in PDF form) would be a "nice to have". A couple of animations wouldn't start for me but the majority worked fine, as did the quizzes and the link to the official final test (the tech all worked smoothly).
Richard P
Posted 5 days ago
Cam Taylor is amazing.
Arielle F
Posted 1 week ago
Easy to follow modules. Voice recordings are clear and easy to understand. However I suggest changing the colour of the printed text to all black to make it easier to read. Thanks
Jean L
Posted 1 week ago
There are minor grammar and spelling mistakes, but it was generally excellent.
Olena S
Posted 1 week ago
Was really informative but Holy smokes was it long
Noah W
Posted 1 week ago
The PADDLERsmart! course is perfect for anyone participating in paddle sports including canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. Whether you’ve been paddling for years or just getting started, you’ll learn everything you need to stay safe on the water.
$24.95 value. Get it free when you purchase your BOATsmart! Course.
From anywhere, on any device at any time.
Our animated and narrated Boating Safety Course is perfect for all ages. Study from your Smartphone, Tablet or Desktop and switch between devices at any time. BOATsmart! automatically tracks your progress so you can study at your own pace.
– Brad McFarlane, Kelowna BC –
Official Pleasure Craft Operator Card Replacements
Lost? Damaged? Need some back-ups? Don’t sweat it! If you need to replace your Pleasure Craft Operator Card or want back-up copies for the cottage, cabin or boat we’ve got you covered.
Best-in-class coverage at a direct-to-consumer price.
BOATsmart! Assure® is a new way to buy boat insurance. By removing the middle-man we reduce your annual premium by up to 25%. You get premium coverages backed by the confidence of Aviva Canada. Smart boaters are making the switch every day. Learn more at BOATsmart! Assure.
Instant Online Quote
If you operate a motorized boat in Canad, you must have proof of competency, such as a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, (PCOC or Boating License) regardless of age, length of boat, or engine horsepower, other than in waters of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Operating without proof of competency can result in a minimum $250.00 fine. Once obtained from BOATsmart!®, your PCOC is good for life.
You can retry your official boating test once every 24 hours. If you fail the test more than once, Transport Canada requires that you retake the online boating course. Your one-time fee includes unlimited retries and unlimited access to the online boating course.
All motorized boat operators in Canada are required to obtain and carry a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC). Many boaters commonly refer to the PCOC as a boating license, boat license or boat card.
The Pleasure Craft Operator Card is good for life, no renewal is required.
When you obtain your Pleasure Craft Operator Card from BOATsmart!® it’s valid in all provinces and territories.
There is no minimum age to take the online boating course. Boaters of all ages are required to obtain and carry a Pleasure Craft Operator Card when operating a motorized boat. Once obtained, your boating license is good for life.
The boating course includes all of the knowledge you need to prepare for the test and obtain your Pleasure Craft Operator Card. The course includes boating basics and terminology, rules & regulations, safety equipment, safe boat operation, navigation and right-of-way rules, marker buoys and emergency preparedness.
You can get your boating license in 3 easy steps. First, study and pass the official Transport Canada Boating Safety Course online. Then take the 50 questions multiple choice exam. Once passed, print a temporary card immediately and receive your PCOC by mail within 4 weeks.
The online boating test is open book and consists of 50 multiple choice questions. You’ll need at least 75% (38 out of 50) to pass. Everything you need to pass is covered in the BOATsmart!® Course.
BOATsmart!® is Canada’s Boating Educator and a Transport Canada Accredited Course Provider. Since 2003, we’ve educated and certified more than 650,000 Canadian boaters.
BOATsmart!® issues replacement boating licenses in Canada. Call toll free 1-877-792-3926 or replace your boating license online. You can print a valid temporary card immediately and your replacement card will arrive by mail within 4 weeks.
If you obtain your pleasure craft operator card from BOATsmart!® you are eligible for 25% off your annual policy premium, an exclusive benefit offered through BOATsmart! Assure™.
BOATsmart! is a proud member of the Campfire Collective. Campfire is an outdoor education that helps people have awesome outdoor adventures. We also fuel your outdoor pursuits with partner discounts and inspiring content.
– Campfire Ambassador Logan Dralle –