Do you have your

Pleasure Craft Operator Card? 

 

PLEASE NOTE:  TESTING AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

PLEASURE CRAFT OPERATOR TESTING NOW AVAILABLE AT MARINE MUSEUM

Thanks to a renewed partnership with the Kingston Power and Sail Squadron, boaters wishing to challenge the test for the Pleasure Craft Operator Card may now write their test at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston.

Before taking the test, it is recommended that applicants read the Boat Pro (Pleasure Craft Operator Card Study Guide) available in the Museum Gift Shop for $15.95*

When you are ready to write the one hour multiple choice test, call the Museum at (613) 542-2261 to book an appointment.  Regular testing times are alternate Thursdays beginning April 15, 2010, at noon.  APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED.

The cost to write the test is $55*, which includes a Pleasure Craft Operators Card, valid in Canada and the United States, and a one year membership in the Kingston Squadron of Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons.  Pre-booked groups of three or more can challenge the test for the reduced rate of $49.00* per person.

 *plus applicable taxes


TESTING AVAILABLE: 

  • 15, 29 April;

  • 13, 27 May;

  • 10, 20, 24 June;

  • 8, 22 July

Please call the Museum to confirm; more dates may be added, depending on demand.  And don't forget - you MUST pre-register for a testing appointment: 613 542-2261.

Interested in a boating course?
Check out the Kingston Power and Sail Squadron website:

http://kingston.cps-ecp.org/

 

Frequently Asked Questions


[]Am I required to have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card?

[] What is the requirement for obtaining a Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons Pleasure Craft Operator Card?

[] Do I have to enroll in a Boating Safety Course before writing the exam?

[] Where can I take a Boating Safety Course?

[] Where does the money for the testing go?

[] Can I study the Boat Pro Manual at home with friends?

[] Can I re-write the exam if I fail the first time?

[] Is there a practical on-the-water component to the Boat Pro Course or exam?

[] How long is the Pleasure Craft Operator Card good for?

[] Is there an annual cost for the card?

[] Do operators of personal watercraft require the card?

[] Is this card a Boat Operators License?

[] Who will enforce the laws relating to the Pleasure Craft Operator Card?

[] What penalties might there be for boaters who fail to get the required card?

[] Will there be a penalty for those who have a card, but don’t carry it while boating?

[] Can anyone 15 years of age or younger operate a personal watercraft?


Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Am I required to have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card?
A.
Yes.
As of 15 September 2009, all operators of Pleasure Craft equipped with a motor are required to present proof of competency.  The Pleasure Craft Operator Card is a wallet sized plastic card which is convenient to carry.  Also acceptable is a boating safety certificate for a course completed in Canada prior to 1 April 1999, or a completed rental boat safety checklist.  For full details of other acceptable certificates, age, and horsepower restrictions please consult www.boatingsafety.gc.ca.

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Q. What is the requirement for obtaining a Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons Pleasure Craft Operator Card?
A.
You must present one piece of photo ID to write the test (or two pieces of identification, if you do not have photo ID).  For youth who do not possess ID, a legal guardian may validate his/her identity.  You must score at least 75% on a one hour, properly supervised, 50 question multiple choice examination.  The test is approved by Transport Canada and by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in the United States.

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Q. Do I have to enroll in a Boating Safety Course before writing the exam?
A.
No.  You can "challenge" the exam, but a little time studying an accredited manual or taking a course is strongly recommended.

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Q. Where can I take a Boating Safety Course?
A.
Courses are offered throught the Kingston Chapter of the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron

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Q. Where does the money for the testing go?
A.
The funds remain with CPS to pay for revisions to course material, tests, a database of successful candidates maintenance, and issuing the PCOC card.  It does not go to any government agency.
If the exam is challenged at the Marine Museum, a portion of the cost also goes towards supporting the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes.

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Q. Can I study the Boat Pro Manual at home with friends?
A.
Absolutely, It is ideal for home study, but you must still write the supervised examination.

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Q. Can I re-write the exam if I fail the first time?
A.
Certainly, but only once.  If you fail the re-write you are required to attend a Boat Pro Course.  There will be another $10.00 + GST processing fee charged for this component.

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Q. Is there a practical on-the-water component to the Boat Pro Course or exam?
A.
No.  The course and exam are entirely theory.

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Q. How long is the Pleasure Craft Operator Card good for?
A.
It’s a "lifetime" card.

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Q. Is there an annual cost for the card?
A.
No.  Obtaining a card is a one-time effort.  The original card comes with the price of the exam.  There will be a nominal charge for replacement of a lost or damaged card.

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Q. Do operators of personal watercraft (ie: Jetski) require the card?
A.
Yes. PWC operators are considered boaters and must follow the same rules and regulations.

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Q. Is this card a Boat Operators License?
A.
Definitely not.  It is proof that a person has obtained a defined standard of knowledge on boating safety. It is not a license to operate a boat.

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Q. Who will enforce the laws relating to the Pleasure Craft Operator Card?
A.
Any agency that currently enforces the Small Vessel Regulations, Canada Shipping Act, and/or Contraventions Act will police the regulation. Enforcement may vary from province to province and place to place. You can expect the RCMP, Provincial Police, local police and auxiliaries, and Canadian Coast Guard to check boaters.

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Q. What penalties might there be for boaters who fail to get the required card?
A.
The penalties will probably be similar to those that currently apply for not carrying the required safety equipment on board. In provinces where the Contraventions Act has been adopted, summary ticketing with a schedule of fines is to be expected.

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Q. Will there be a penalty for those who have a card, but don’t carry it while boating?
A.
It is expected that there will be penalties similar to those for not carrying a driver’s license while operating a motor vehicle.  This will depend upon the regulations in place, and the conditions of the Contraventions Act.

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Q. Can anyone 15 years of age or younger operate a personal watercraft?
A.
Not since April 1 1999.  Children may ride on a PWC but it must be operated by a person at least 16 years of age.


Last Updated June 1, 2010 eab

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