Best places to get your boating license online in Alberta
Before hitting the waters with your boat, you should know that possession of a Boating License or a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) is legally required in Alberta. Regardless of the size or type of your boat, you must have a PCOC on board, or it can result in a fine of up to $10,000. And yes, PWC’s are included and require an operators’ license. The upside is that your PCOC is recognized nationwide, and it does not expire. Another plus is that you can obtain your PCOC online from the comfort of your home. In addition to getting your watercraft operators card, you may want to keep a copy of the official Transport Canada Safe Boating Guide handy.
Below is some background information on the regulations around pleasure craft operators’ licenses in Alberta and Canada to get you up to speed.
Age & Horsepower Restrictions
12 YEARS OF AGE & UNDER
Can operate a boat without supervision so long as the engine is not more than ten horsepower and they have proof of competency. Boaters 12 years of age and under are not allowed to operate a PWC under any conditions.
12-16 YEARS OF AGE
Can operate a boat without supervision as long as the engine is not more than 40 horsepower and they have proof of competency. They are not allowed to operate a PWC under any conditions.
16+ YEARS OF AGE
Can operate a boat or PWC without supervision or horsepower restrictions so long as they have proof of competency.
ALL OPERATORS
All boat operators in Alberta, regardless of age, must obtain and carry a Pleasure Craft Operator Card or face a fine of up to $10,000.
Alberta’s Boating Fines
You can be fined up to $10,000 for any of the following violations:
- Failure to carry a Pleasure Craft Operator Card
- Operating a Personal Watercraft (PWC) under 16 years of age
- Operating a vessel in an unsafe manner
- An insufficient number of Transport Canada Approved life jackets or PFDs. Fine is applicable for EACH missing or improper lifejacket or PFD.
How to Get Your PCOC Online
Step 1: Take a Transport-Canada Safety Course Online
There are many reputable Transport-Canada online courses available. These courses cost approximately $50 and can be completed from anywhere online. Many different websites offer this course, and therefore, you should choose one that best suits your learning style. Many websites offer video modules, audiobooks, study guides, and illustrations.
Step 2: Study for The Exam
Three hours of study time is required to pass the exam. You have a year after you take the course to take the exam. Keep your notes readily available because the exam is an open book test. There is an approximate hour time limit to complete the exam, so studying is recommended.
Step 3: Take Your Online Exam
There are chapter quizzes that you must complete before entering the exam. To advance, you need an 80% pass grade on the quizzes. To pass the exam, you need a 75% pass grade. If you do not pass the exam the first time, you can take it for free the second time after 24 hours. If you fail the second exam, you must retake the course without charge.
Step 4: Receive Your PCOC
Once you pass the exam, you can print your temporary PCOC. The temporary card can be used in place of the permanent PCOC so that you can start boating immediately. Your permanent card will arrive within 2-4 weeks in the mail.
Websites that Offer Transport-Canada Safety Course Online
These are some of our favourite websites to get your boating license online. They offer accredited courses with many resources and are easily accessible online.
Boat-Ed
- Boat-ed.com is produced by Kalkomey Enterprises, LLC. Kalkomey is an official state-delegated provider that provides boating education courses and certification and publishing boating safety education materials.
- They have a free and accessible study guide online.
- The fee for the Canada Boat Ed Course Exam is $49.95. There are unlimited exam attempts.
Visit Boat-Ed
BOATsmart
- They’ve certified over 700k people in Canada.
- They offer discounts if you buy more than one certification, so if you and your friends all need to be certified, this might be the option for you.
- They have almost 8,000 reviews with a 4.5-star rating.
Visit BOATsmart
Aceboater
- They offer the first chapter for free, so you can try it out before purchasing the course.
- Their courses are user-friendly and straightforward to navigate.
- They offer group discounts, so this is perfect for you if you are purchasing more than one for a group.
Visit Aceboater
Boater Exam
- Their study materials have fun and engaging animations to make the information more digestible.
- They’ve certified over 2 million people in Canada.
- There are over 17,000 reviews, and they have a 4.7-star rating.
Visit Boater Exam
In Summary
Getting your boating license is easy when you can do it online. Many of the courses offered by the companies that we’ve listed for you have study guides that will make the information more fun to learn. The best part is once you pass the exam and get your boating license, it will never expire - which means that you will never have to worry about it again! So what are you waiting for? Get your license boating license before summer starts to set sail on your favourite lake.