Federal service · Environment and outdoors
Boating licence: Pleasure Craft Operator Card
Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked
Short answer
To drive a motorboat for fun in Canada you need proof of competency, usually a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, which you get by passing a test with a course provider accredited by Transport Canada. Separately, a boat with 10 hp (7.5 kW) or more needs a Pleasure Craft Licence. Apply online; the licence now has a fee and lasts 5 years.
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Who can apply
Anyone operating a motorized boat for recreation needs proof of competency. This includes electric trolling motors, and applies even when the motor is not running.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
Without direct supervision, children under 12 may only drive boats up to 10 hp, and youth aged 12 to 15 boats up to 40 hp. No one under 16 may drive a personal watercraft.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
A recreational boat needs a Pleasure Craft Licence (PCL) if its engines total 10 hp (7.5 kW) or more and it is mainly used in Canadian waters, unless it is registered instead.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
Steps
To get a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), pass a boating safety test from a course provider accredited by Transport Canada. Courses are offered in class and online.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
What you need
To apply for a PCL, have government ID for every owner, proof of ownership, a photo of the boat, and a Visa or Mastercard. Online applicants get an emailed temporary licence, valid for 30 days. You can apply by mail with a money order instead.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
Cost
Course providers set the price of the course, test and card. The federal government does not charge or collect any of these fees.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
There is now a fee for a new, renewed, transferred or duplicate Pleasure Craft Licence. You must update your licence details within 30 days of a change, and updates are free.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
How long it takes
Transport Canada aims to issue the licence within five business days of a complete application. The same standard applies to transfers, renewals and duplicates.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
New, transferred and renewed licences are valid for 5 years. Older licences that had no expiry date now expire on a set schedule.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
Good to know
A PCOC is valid for life. If you lose it, ask your course provider for a replacement; they charge a fee.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
Questions people ask
Do I need a licence to drive a boat in Canada?
You need proof of competency, such as a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, to drive a power boat. It works like a driver's licence. The boat itself may also need a Pleasure Craft Licence, which is a separate document.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
How much does a boating licence (PCOC) cost?
It depends on the course provider. Each accredited provider sets its own fees for the course, test and card, and prices vary.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
I bought a used boat. What do I do with its licence?
If the boat already has a Canadian Pleasure Craft Licence, transfer it into your name before you use the boat, within 30 days of the ownership change.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
What is the fine for an unlicensed boat?
You may be fined $250 if a boat that needs a Pleasure Craft Licence does not have a valid one.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
Do I need a boating card in Nunavut or the Northwest Territories?
No. Proof of competency is not required on the waters of Nunavut or the Northwest Territories.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
Can I show a photo or copy of my operator card?
No. A paper or electronic copy of a PCOC is not accepted. Carry the card itself.
Source: tc.canada.cachecked #
Cite this page
Canada Service Map, "Boating licence: Pleasure Craft Operator Card", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/boating-licence