Exam guide: Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) test
535 words · checked 2026-10-03 · Free
At a glance (checked 2026-10-03)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who issues the card | Transport Canada-accredited course providers (not Transport Canada directly) |
| Test | Multiple-choice questions drawn at random from the Transport Canada question bank |
| Number of questions | 50 in the current Transport Canada practice standard |
| Pass mark | 75 % (COPCR s.4) - 38 of 50 correct |
| Time limit | None set by Transport Canada; some providers set their own (e.g. 75 minutes) |
| Open book? | Online tests are open-book and unproctored |
| Retakes | As often as needed, but only once every 24 hours (TC FAQ); online providers require you to review the study material again after two fails |
| Challenge (test only) | Allowed, but only in person under a provider's direct supervision - not online |
| Course minimums | Online course at least 3 hours with chapter quizzes; classroom course at least 4 hours |
| Fee | Set by each provider (online typically $29.95-$69.95) - nothing is paid to the government |
| Validity | For life - no renewal |
| Languages | English and French |
Key fact: Pass mark 75 %: with 50 questions you may miss no more than 12.
What the test covers - TP 14932E (10 domains, 257 requirements)
- Most common causes of on-water incidents and fatalities
- Important boating terminology
- Acts and regulations that apply to pleasure craft
- Criminal offences
- Planning and preparing for boating trips
- Mandatory safety equipment (the largest domain - 57 requirements)
- Sharing the waterways (rules of the road, lights, sound signals - 40 requirements)
- Canadian Aids to Navigation System (buoys)
- Prevention of emergency situations
- Responding to emergency situations
The Competency Regulations group test items into boating terms, operator responsibilities and equipment, safety and emergencies and general knowledge - our practice papers follow similar proportions.
Booking and taking the test
- Choose a provider from Transport Canada's list of accredited course providers (avoid unaccredited sites).
- Study their course (online or classroom) or use this app and TP 511E (the Safe Boating Guide, free from Transport Canada).
- Take the test; providers check your identity details (name, date of birth) - bring photo ID to in-person tests.
- Print the temporary card if offered; the plastic card follows by mail.
- Lost card? Only the provider that issued it can replace it; Transport Canada's online lookup can confirm your card record.
Who needs it
Anyone operating a motorized pleasure craft for recreation - any length, any engine power, electric motors included, sailboats with motors included. Rental boats: a completed rental safety checklist is enough for the rental period. Non-residents: proof of residency for stays under 45 consecutive days.
Age and power limits (operating without direct supervision)
Under 12: up to 10 hp (7.5 kW); 12-15: up to 40 hp (30 kW); under 16: no PWC. A person 16+ must be in the boat to count as direct supervision.
How to study with this app
- Read this guide and the free regulations note.
- Learn the equipment tables by length and the buoy and rules-of-the-road notes - these produce the most questions.
- Take the three practice papers (50 questions, 75 % pass). Aim for 90 % before booking.
- The PCOC module of this app is free.