Get Your Nova Scotia Boating License Online
Take this Transport Canada-approved online course, print your temporary PCOC, and be on the water in just a few hours.
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Build Real Boating Skills and Experience
This online boating school builds hands-on skills unlike anywhere else. See how immersive challenges and virtual instructors get you water-ready.
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Easy As 1-2-3!
Earn your official, lifetime pleasure craft operator card today in three simple steps:
Create an Account
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Pass The Online Course
Any device, any time. Learn and pass at your own pace.
Go Boating Immediately
Print your temporary PCOC and hit the water today!
| Features |
|
Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | Competitor 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport Canada Approved |  |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Instructor | |
No | No | No |
| Modern Content | |
Sometimes | No | Sometimes |
| Hands-On Learning | |
No | No | No |
| Mobile-Friendly | |
Partially | Yes | No |
| Self Paced | |
Minimum time requirements | Minimum time requirements | Minimum time requirements |
| Free Year of Wavve! |
|
No | No | No |
|
|
|---|
| Transport Canada Approved |
| Virtual Instructor |
| Modern Content |
| Hands-On Learning |
| Mobile-Friendly |
| Self Paced |
|
Free Year of Wavve! |
| Competitor 1 |
|---|
| Yes |
| No |
| Sometimes |
| No |
| Partially |
| Minimum time requirements |
| No |
| Competitor 2 |
|---|
| Yes |
| No |
| No |
| No |
| Yes |
| Minimum time requirements |
| No |
| Competitor 3 |
|---|
| Yes |
| No |
| Sometimes |
| No |
| No |
| Minimum time requirements |
| No |
Boating in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is home to breathtaking sightseeing, which includes basalt cliffs, sea caves, and waterfalls, all of which can be seen while boating. Because the waterways of this province aren’t far from the Atlantic Ocean, you may glimpse everything from puffins and seals to humpback whales while boating in Nova Scotia. You can also boat through the tidal lock that connects the Bras d’Or—one of the largest saltwater lakes in the world—to the Atlantic Ocean.
If exploring sea life and vistas isn’t your idea of fun, there are more than 1,000 lakes on which to go boating. Maybe you’d rather visit St. Margaret’s Bay, see the lighthouse in Peggy’s Cove, or sail on the St. Mary’s River, where you can view a historic 19th century village re-created on the largest river in Nova Scotia. In Mahone Bay, you can take part in the annual summer Classic Boat Festival or navigate the reefs to see the bay’s 365 islands. Among them is Oak Island, where Captain Kidd might have buried and booby-trapped some of his pirated treasure.
Nova Scotia offers 7,400 km of coastline for you to enjoy during its mild summers and autumns. When you aren’t boating, rafting, kayaking, or canoeing, there are plenty of quiet coves for relaxing throughout the province.
Pleasure craft operators should operate safely, responsibly, and courteously when boating on Nova Scotia waters. By taking a boating safety education course, you can learn steps to prevent boating accidents and what to do if an accident or other emergency should occur. You also can become more knowledgeable about the laws, regulations, and requirements for boating. An educated boater is a safer boater.
GET CERTIFIED
If exploring sea life and vistas isn’t your idea of fun, there are more than 1,000 lakes on which to go boating. Maybe you’d rather visit St. Margaret’s Bay, see the lighthouse in Peggy’s Cove, or sail on the St. Mary’s River, where you can view a historic 19th century village re-created on the largest river in Nova Scotia. In Mahone Bay, you can take part in the annual summer Classic Boat Festival or navigate the reefs to see the bay’s 365 islands. Among them is Oak Island, where Captain Kidd might have buried and booby-trapped some of his pirated treasure.
Nova Scotia offers 7,400 km of coastline for you to enjoy during its mild summers and autumns. When you aren’t boating, rafting, kayaking, or canoeing, there are plenty of quiet coves for relaxing throughout the province.
Pleasure craft operators should operate safely, responsibly, and courteously when boating on Nova Scotia waters. By taking a boating safety education course, you can learn steps to prevent boating accidents and what to do if an accident or other emergency should occur. You also can become more knowledgeable about the laws, regulations, and requirements for boating. An educated boater is a safer boater.
I want to operate a boat in Nova Scotia. How do I get the Nova Scotia boating license?
You may have heard that you need a Canada boating license or Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia and other provinces. Since the PCOC does not expire and does not need to be renewed, it is not called the Canadian Boat License, Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia and all other provinces.
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 Nova Scotia 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 British Columbia 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.
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.”)
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.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Canada Boat Ed Course Exam cost?
The fee for the Canada Boat Ed Course Exam is $69.95.
Are there any age or operator restrictions for boating in Canada?
Do I have to complete the course all at once?
You may complete the course at your own pace. The course can be completed in one sitting or completed a little at a time over several days. This course is available for 90 days from time of registration and payment.
What is the minimum age to take this online course?
There is no minimum age requirement to take this online course.
Do I have to be a resident to take the Canada Boat Ed Course?
You do not have to be a resident of Canada to take this online course.
Do I have to take an online exam?
After reviewing all units, you must take and pass the Transport Canada Boating Safety Test covering all the course material. You have 30 days to write the online Transport Canada Boating Safety Test, which is a 50-question test.
You must score at least 75% on the Transport Canada Boating Safety Test to pass. If you do not pass, you may retake the test after 24 hours.
You will have 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) to complete the test.
Once you begin the exam, it is strongly recommended that you complete it in one session. During the test, a timer will display your remaining time; if your Internet connection is slow, the timer will turn off while test questions and answer choices are downloading. If you run out of time before completing the test, any unanswered questions will be counted as wrong.
You must score at least 75% on the Transport Canada Boating Safety Test to pass. If you do not pass, you may retake the test after 24 hours.
You will have 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) to complete the test.
Once you begin the exam, it is strongly recommended that you complete it in one session. During the test, a timer will display your remaining time; if your Internet connection is slow, the timer will turn off while test questions and answer choices are downloading. If you run out of time before completing the test, any unanswered questions will be counted as wrong.
Is the Canada Boat Ed Course approved by the Transport Canada?
Boat Ed is accredited by Transport Canada to deliver boating safety courses and administer tests for the issuance of Pleasure Craft Operator Cards, including replacement cards, under the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations.
Is my Canada Pleasure Craft Operator Card accepted elsewhere?
All provinces, territories, and states that have mandatory boater education requirements will accept the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC). Likewise, Canada will accept boating education cards that are issued by states that meet NASBLA requirements as proof of competency. (This is known as “reciprocity.”)
What is the proof of online Canada Boat Ed Course completion?
Once you pass the Transport Canada Boating Safety Test and pay for the Pleasure Craft Operator Card, you will be able to immediately print out the Temporary Pleasure Craft Operator Card. This is your proof of online course completion. You can print the Temporary Pleasure Craft Operator Card right then, and/or request that a PDF be emailed to you.
What is the permanent Canada Pleasure Craft Operator Card?
The Pleasure Craft Operator Card is proof that you have successfully completed all the education requirements. The Pleasure Craft Operator Card will arrive within 3-5 weeks after you complete all certification requirements.
How do I replace my Pleasure Craft Operator Card if I've lost it or it has been damaged?
To replace a lost, destroyed, or damaged Pleasure Craft Operator Card, go to https://ilostmycard.com/.