How to Replace a Lost or Damaged Pleasure Craft Operator Card in Canada

Who replaces a lost Pleasure Craft Operator Card?

Transport Canada does not issue Pleasure Craft Operator Cards directly to cardholders. Accredited private course providers administer boating safety courses and tests and issue both original and replacement cards.

If your PCOC has been lost, destroyed or damaged, contact the course provider that issued the original card. Transport Canada states that only currently accredited course providers can issue replacement cards.

You can review the federal replacement instructions on Transport Canada's Pleasure Craft Operator Card page.

What if you do not remember which course provider issued the card?

You do not need to guess or contact every boating school. Transport Canada provides an online Course Provider Lookup tool specifically for this situation.

You can search using:

• your Pleasure Craft Operator Card number, if you know it; or
• your name and date of birth if you do not know the card number.

Use the official Course Provider Lookup tool to identify the provider connected to your original card.

Do you have to retake the boating safety test?

Normally, no. A Pleasure Craft Operator Card is valid for life. Losing or damaging the physical card does not cancel the boating competency you previously demonstrated.

The normal procedure is therefore to obtain a replacement from your original provider rather than retake the course or test.

This is different from someone who never obtained a valid PCOC. A person obtaining a PCOC for the first time must satisfy the applicable testing requirements through a Transport Canada-accredited provider.

How much does a replacement Pleasure Craft Operator Card cost?

There is no single federal replacement fee. Transport Canada accredits the course providers, but the providers themselves establish the fees for courses, tests and card replacement services.

Replacement fees therefore vary from one provider to another. Before ordering, ask the provider for the total price, including any applicable delivery or service charge.

Transport Canada's accredited course provider information confirms that these fees are set by providers rather than collected for the federal government.

What if your original course provider is no longer accredited?

This matters because only a provider that is currently accredited may issue a replacement Pleasure Craft Operator Card.

Start with the Course Provider Lookup tool to identify the original issuer and the current provider information available through Transport Canada. If you cannot obtain the replacement because the original provider is no longer accredited, has stopped operating or the provider record cannot resolve your situation, contact the Office of Boating Safety for instructions.

Transport Canada's current PCOC frequently asked questions directs unresolved replacement inquiries to the Office of Boating Safety.

Make sure you are replacing the right boating document

A Pleasure Craft Operator Card and a Pleasure Craft Licence are different documents.

The PCOC is proof that a person has boating competency. A Pleasure Craft Licence identifies a particular recreational vessel. Losing the PCOC therefore requires the card-replacement process described here, not an application for a duplicate vessel licence.

If the missing document shows the boat's licence number rather than your personal operator competency, you need the separate Transport Canada Pleasure Craft Licensing process.

Can you use a photo or electronic copy of your PCOC instead?

No. Transport Canada's current proof-of-competency guidance states that a paper or electronic copy of a Pleasure Craft Operator Card is not acceptable as the PCOC.

That makes replacement important if the original physical card has been lost or destroyed. Do not assume that a photo stored on your phone is an accepted substitute for the card itself.

Transport Canada's proof of competency guidance also lists other documents that can qualify as proof of competency in specific circumstances.

Do you need the card when operating a motorized pleasure craft?

In Canada, a person operating a recreational boat fitted with a motor generally needs proof of competency. The requirement applies to all motor types, including electric trolling motors, and can apply even when the motor is not being used.

The PCOC is the most common proof of competency. Transport Canada also recognizes certain other documents, including qualifying boating safety certificates completed before April 1, 1999 and specified professional marine certificates or equivalencies.

Transport Canada notes that the proof-of-competency requirement does not currently apply in the waters of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Other regulatory exceptions can also apply in specific situations.

What should you have ready when you contact the provider?

Transport Canada does not prescribe one universal replacement form because replacement services are administered by individual accredited providers. The exact verification process can therefore vary.

To make the request easier, have available:

• your full name as it appeared when the card was issued;
• your date of birth;
• your PCOC number, if known;
• the approximate date or year you completed the course or test, if known;
• any email address or other information associated with your original course-provider account.

The provider may ask for additional information to match you with its original cardholder record before issuing a replacement.

How long does it take to receive a replacement card?

Transport Canada does not publish a national processing standard for replacement PCOCs because accredited course providers issue the cards themselves.

Processing and delivery times therefore depend on the provider. Ask the provider when ordering whether the replacement is mailed, whether expedited delivery is available and how long it normally takes.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Do not apply to Transport Canada for the physical replacement card. The replacement is issued by an accredited course provider.
• Do not pay for a new boating course automatically just because you lost the card. A PCOC is valid for life.
• If you cannot remember the original provider, use Transport Canada's lookup tool before contacting unrelated providers.
• Do not assume every boating course company can reproduce your original card. Only currently accredited providers may issue replacement PCOCs.
• Do not assume a photo, scan or photocopy of your PCOC is accepted as the card itself.
• Do not confuse the Pleasure Craft Operator Card with the Pleasure Craft Licence for the boat.
• If your original provider is no longer available or accredited, contact the Office of Boating Safety rather than purchasing an unnecessary new qualification without checking your options.

What should you do after the replacement arrives?

Check that the personal information on the replacement card is correct and keep the card with you when operating a recreational motorized pleasure craft where proof of competency is required.

Because the card is valid for life, there is no regular federal renewal cycle for a PCOC. You only need another replacement if the physical card is later lost, destroyed or damaged again.

For current federal recreational boating rules, consult Transport Canada's Boating Safety information.