New requirements to earn the PCO Card
Transport Canada has revised the requirements to earn the
Pleasure Craft Operator (PCO) Card. The requirements are
documented in Transport Canada's Boating Safety Course and Test
Syllabus, which is composed of 256 knowledge requirements
organized in 10 "domains" as follows:
- Most common causes of on-water incidents or
fatalities (4 requirements)
- Important boating terminology (21
requirements)
- Acts and regulations that apply to pleasure
craft (30 requirements)
- Criminal offences (11 requirements)
- Planning and preparing for boating trips (39
requirements)
- Mandatory safety equipment (57
requirements)
- Sharing the waterways (40 requirements)
- Canadian aids to navigation system (17
requirements)
- Prevention of emergency situations (16
requirements)
- Responding to emergencies (22
requirements)
New tests
As of April 15, 2011, all candidates for the PCO Card will write
new Transport Canada tests composed of 50 questions. The pass mark
is 38/50 (75%).
Revised BOAT Study Guide
The Lifesaving Society has updated its BOAT Study Guide
(March 2011 edition) to reflect the changes. The revised BOAT
Study Guide is approved by Transport Canada.
For complete details see the BOAT Instructor Update or BOAT Affiliate Update. For more
information
email Lifesaving Society Program
Manager, JP Molin
or call 416-490-8844.