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.
Who Needs It
Who needs a pleasure craft operator card?
All motorized boat operators in Canada must have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (more commonly known as a boating license) regardless of age, length of boat or engine horsepower - it’s the law. If your boat is equipped with a motor, even those smaller than 10hp or an electronic trolling motor, you need the card. Boaters caught without the card face a minimum $250 fine.
Get Certified In 3 Easy Steps
1. Study Online
- Animated, narrated and video lessons help you learn
- Perfect for all ages
- Study at your own pace
- Anywhere, on any device
- Live in-course customer support
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2. Pass The Test
- Official Transport Canada Boating Safety Test
- Free unlimited retries
- Risk free
- Open book, multiple choice
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3. Go Boating Today
- Card is good for life
- Print temp card immediately
- Avoid the $250 fine
- Go boating today
Family Pricing
Replace your Card
Try The Course
Try The 1st Module Free
Not sure what to expect? Try the official Transport Canada Boating Safety Course for free.
Transport Canada Approved
Canada's Boating Educator
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.
Canadian Boating Laws & Regulations
Canada's Boating Laws, Rules & Regulations
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:
MADE FOR BOATERS,
BY BOATERS
Excellent!
BOATsmart! has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars based on 6692 ratings and reviews.
The Boatsmart online study guide was well put together. Easy to read and understand.
Richard I
Posted 3 hours ago
Did in 4 hours and couldn’t be happier!
Michael R
Posted 20 hours ago
Comprehensive, concise and very useful!
Rayan C
Posted 1 day ago
The course content was thorough and presented well; however, it did not cover all questions that I eventually had to answer on the final exam.
MICK M
Posted 2 days ago
I learned a lot thanks to BOATsmart and they did a very good job going over right away which is what I was confused about before.
Sydney L
Posted 2 days ago
Very educational! Thanks so much!
Amanda B
Posted 2 days ago
Good course, the only thing I would have liked to see the questions that I missed.
Neal H
Posted 3 days ago
Great course! Super easy to enroll and incredibly efficient submission of course completion to the State of CA! I had initially registered for the course with another company and could never get the online course to work! Two emails requesting support with no response other than automated reply. Two phone calls with no one answering. After about a week, I finally gave up and cancelled course! When I found BOATsmart it took me about five minutes to get started! No technical problems whatsoever! Only negative was at times I could not advance the slide because of time allotted (would have to wait). Overall, super happy!
Anonymous
Posted 3 days ago
This was the best possible way to get my license quick and easy, and it was efficient to all rules of boating. I recommend to anybody looking for a way to get a license
Judah P
Posted 4 days ago
The course content was very good. A bit basic at times for a long time boater like myself but you have no idea the experience level of the person taking the course. There were several technical issues with the course such as repeating sections and questions on the quizzes. Otherwise well done.
Thomas L
Posted 4 days ago
Watch, Listen & Learn
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.
BUY MORE, SAVE MORE
Purchase more than one boating course, test and license and save up to 40%. Perfect for family, friends and workmates, we include everything your crew needs to get their Official Pleasure Craft Operator Card.
1 Boater
“It’s all about freedom. No roads, no lines, no boundaries to guide my adventures.”
– Brad McFarlane, Kelowna BC –
Lost or Damaged Boating License?
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.
YOU’RE IN THE
CAPTAIN’S SEAT
FREE BOATING LICENSE PRACTICE TEST
Not sure what to expect? Try the Boating License Practice Test for free and test your knowledge.
Try the online boating safety practice test now.
25% off your boat insurance
Get certified with BOATsmart!® and save up to 25% on you annual policy premiums – for life. BOATsmart! Assure® is a new way to buy boat insurance. You get premium coverage at consumer direct pricing.
NISSAN WHOLESALE PRICING
BOATsmart!® Cardholders automatically receive no-haggle dealer cost pricing on Nissan vehicles. That’s exclusive wholesale pricing for you.
The 12 most asked questions by canadian boaters
WHO NEEDS A BOATING LICENSE?
If you operate a motorized boat in Canada, you need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC or boating license) regardless of your age, length of boat or engine size – even boats equipped with electric trolling motors and sailboats equipped with engines. Operating a motorized boat without a Pleasure Craft Operator Card will result in a minimum $250 fine. Once obtained from BOATsmart!®, your PCOC is good for life.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T PASS?
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.
IS A BOATING LICENSE THE SAME AS A PLEASURE CRAFT OPERATOR CARD?
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.
HOW LONG IS MY BOATING LICENSE GOOD FOR?
The Pleasure Craft Operator Card is good for life, no renewal is required.
IS THE CARD VALID IN ALL PROVINCES?
When you obtain your Pleasure Craft Operator Card from BOATsmart!® it’s valid in all provinces and territories.
HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO GET A BOATING LICENSE?
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.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE BOATING COURSE?
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.
HOW DO I GET A BOATING LICENSE?
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.
HOW HARD IS THE TEST?
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.
WHO IS BOATSMART!?
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.
HOW DO I REPLACE MY LOST BOATING LICENSE?
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.
CAN I GET AN INSURANCE DISCOUNT WITH MY BOATING LICENSE?
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™.
Printed study guide
The perfect companion to the open book online test, and a great reference guide for your boat.
LOST YOUR CARD?
Lost or damaged Pleasure Craft Operator Card? Need some back-ups for the cottage or boat?
YOUR WILD AWAITS
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.
“A perk of being in the wild, you rise and set with the sun.”
– Campfire Ambassador Logan Dralle –
We Pledge
As part of our commmitment in the Campfire Collective, BOATsmart! donates 1% of all sales directly to nonprofits that sustain and protect the wild.
