Get Your Manitoba Boating License Online

Boating in Manitoba

Manitoba is home to more than 100,000 lakes. Add to that the numerous rivers and streams located in the province and it’s easy to see why Manitoba is a good place to get out on the water, especially during the summer. Boaters on Lake Winnipeg, the tenth largest freshwater lake in the world, can experience both sandy beaches and rugged, rocky shores. Lake Manitoba offers boaters views of limestone cliffs and caves with bats as well as the possibility of seeing Manipogo. Located in Whiteshell Provincial Park, West Hawk Lake was formed by a meteor impact and is popular for a variety of activities, including boating, sailing, water skiing, and scuba diving.

Whether you choose to boat on one of these lakes or another waterway in Manitoba, you need to be prepared for a variety of situations you could find yourself in while on the water. Pleasure craft operators can keep themselves and their passengers safe by taking a boater education course that covers a range of topics, including safety instructions, boat handling, and accident response. Since educated boaters are safer boaters, make sure you learn about responsible boat operation, etiquette, and the rules of the water before you go boating.

I want to operate a boat in Manitoba. How do I get the Manitoba boating license?

You may have heard that you need a Canada boating license or Manitoba boating license to operate a boat. Unlike driving a car, you do not need a driver’s license or a boater’s license to operate a pleasure craft. What you really need is a Canada PCOC. This card is proof that you have successfully completed an approved boating safety course that is required for pleasure craft operators in Manitoba and other provinces. Since the PCOC does not expire and does not need to be renewed, it is not called the Canadian Boat License, Manitoba boat license, or pleasure craft license.

Who needs a PCOC?

In Canada, anyone who operates a pleasure craft must carry proof of competency on board if the pleasure craft has any type of motor and is used for recreational purposes. This includes boats powered by trolling motors.

Proof of competency shows that a person has at least the basic level of boating knowledge that is necessary to operate a pleasure craft safely. The most common proof of competency is a PCOC that a boater receives after passing a Transport Canada–approved boating safety course. The Canada PCOC is accepted as proof of competency in Manitoba and all other provinces.

How do I get a PCOC?

You can get your PCOC by taking the Transport Canada–approved boating safety course from Boat Ed. The Boat Canada boating safety course from Boat Ed was developed specifically for Transport Canada to meet the competency requirements for the PCOC. By taking your boating course on boat-ed.com, you can be sure that when you complete the course and pass the Transport Canada Boating Safety Test, you will have the Canada PCOC that you need to operate a pleasure craft legally in Manitoba and all other provinces.

With Boat Ed, you can complete an online boating safety course at your own pace and on any device—a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. All courses are mobile-ready, which means that you can complete your course easily and in the way that is most convenient for you. And it only takes a few hours of your time to complete the requirements to get your card.

What if I go boating in another province?

The PCOC that you receive after taking the online Boat Canada Course from Boat Ed is national, making it the only card that you need to operate a pleasure craft in any Canadian province.

If you go boating in the United States, the PCOC is recognized by the United States Coast Guard and the U.S. National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as meeting their education standards. (This is known as “reciprocity.”)

Why should I take my boating safety course from Boat Ed?

Boat Ed is produced by Kalkomey Enterprises, LLC. Kalkomey is dedicated to providing print and online boating education courses for North American boaters in Canada and the United States. Boat Ed is the only boating safety education course and exam provider that develops online courses, eBooks, and print materials on behalf of government boating and boater safety agencies in North America.