Prince of Wales School
2250 Eddington Dr.
Vancouver, B.C.
(two blocks west of Nanton Ave. & Arbutus St.)

All evening classes start at 7:00 PM and usually finish by 9:45

For all courses, please register and pay on-line.

Please arrive by 6:45 on the first night of class to complete registration and obtain materials.

The boatingcourses.ca website lists other squadrons in the Lower Mainland and across Canada that offer these courses.

Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) Requirements

All Operators of pleasure craft fitted with a motor and used for recreational purposes require a PCOC or other proof of compentency.

Proof of competency can take any of several forms:

• 1. A Pleasure Craft Operator Card;
• 2. Proof of having successfully completed a boating safety course in Canada prior to April 1, 1999; or,
• 3. A completed rental-boat safety checklist; or,
• 4. Any one of several Commercial certifications (see the Office of Boating Safety website for details)

The PCOC or other relevant documentation (or copy thereof) must be carried on-board while operating a vessel. These requirements do not apply in the Northwest and Nunavut Territories at this time.

Further information on PCOC requirements can be found on the Transport Canada "Office of Boating Safety" website

Boating 1: Boating Basics (PCOC) is a very basic course covering the minimum requirements for the Pleasure Craft Operator's Card (PCOC).

Basic Navigation + Boat Handling cover the use of nautical charts, Aids to Navigation, plotting courses, and other topics essential for safe boating in our coastal waters.

The Marine Radiotelephone Operator Seminar ("VHF Course") qualifies the student for the Restricted Radiotelephone Operator (Maritime) Certificate, required to operate a marine radiotelephone in Canada.

The Advanced Courses and Elective Courses are open to the public, and have no prerequisites. However, the Advanced courses assume that the student has taken the previous courses, or has equivalent knowledge.