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Canada-wide · BoatingBoating Licence (PCOC) Practice Test
Anyone operating a motorized pleasure craft in Canada needs proof of competency — most commonly the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC). Our bank holds 103 original practice questions based on Transport Canada's safe-boating rules: buoys and markers, right-of-way, safety equipment, speed and alcohol rules, and emergency procedures.
| What the card is | Proof of competency required to operate any motorized pleasure craft (including electric motors), for operators of all ages. It is valid for life. |
|---|---|
| Official exam format | The accredited boating safety exam is 50 multiple-choice questions with a 75% pass mark (38/50), written with a Transport Canada–accredited course provider, normally after completing a boating safety course. |
| Where you get the card | Only from a Transport Canada–accredited course provider, after passing its exam. This site offers practice only — we cannot issue a PCOC. Course and exam fees are set by the provider. |
| Study sources | Transport Canada's Safe Boating Guide and the PCOC information on tc.canada.ca. |
Start practising
Practice mode
Questions one at a time with instant right/wrong feedback and an explanation for every answer. Choose a topic below, or practise the whole bank.
Practice topics in this bank:
- Full question bank (103)
- Rules & licensing (16)
- Safety equipment (21)
- Buoys, signals & right-of-way (30)
- Safe operation (21)
- Emergencies (15)
Exam mode — the real format
50 multiple-choice questions, 75% pass mark (38/50), taken with a Transport Canada–accredited provider after a boating safety course. Our exam mode mirrors the 50-question / 75% format. No feedback until the end, then a full review of every question.
How the PCOC works
Canada's competency rules (under the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations) apply on all Canadian waters. The normal route is: take a boating safety course from an accredited provider, pass the accredited exam (50 questions, 75% to pass), and receive your card — a temporary card right away and the permanent card by mail. Age and horsepower restrictions also apply (for example, no one under 16 may operate a personal watercraft). Use topic practice here to master buoys, collision rules and equipment requirements, then run the exam simulation in the same 50-question, 75% format.
Study tips
- Learn the buoyage cold: in Canada it is red, right, returning — inbound, red cone-shaped buoys stay on your right; green can-shaped buoys on your left.
- Drill the right-of-way ladder: vessels that cannot manoeuvre easily go first; power gives way to sail; overtaking boats always keep clear.
- Know the equipment rules by boat size — PFDs for everyone aboard, sound-signalling device, bailer, lights and (on bigger boats) flares and extinguishers.
- Remember the survival numbers: 1-10-1 for cold water, 1-10-1 for cold water, one prolonged blast every two minutes in fog, and a 10 km/h limit within 30 m of shore in Ontario and several other provinces.
Boating / PCOC FAQs
Can I get my Pleasure Craft Operator Card on this site?
No. TestPrepCanada provides practice tests only. The official card is issued only by Transport Canada–accredited course providers after you pass their exam.
How many questions are on the official PCOC exam, and what is the pass mark?
The accredited exam is 50 multiple-choice questions and the pass mark is 75% — correctly answering 38 of 50, per Transport Canada's course-provider standards.
Does the PCOC expire?
No. Once earned, the Pleasure Craft Operator Card is valid for life.
Who needs a PCOC?
Everyone who operates a motorized pleasure craft in Canada, of any age — including boats with small electric motors. A completed rental-boat safety checklist can serve as temporary proof of competency when renting.
What if I already have boating qualifications?
Some marine certificates and military qualifications also count as proof of competency; Transport Canada lists the accepted alternatives on tc.canada.ca.