National Pleasure Craft Operator Competency Program

  • The program’s primary focus is to accredit and monitor third party organizations and businesses, which deliver services to the public so they can obtain their Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC).
  • The program also responds to thousands of program enquiries annually from the public.
  • The boating public can locate information on third party organizations and businesses, which deliver PCOC related services, on Transport Canada’ s List of Accredited Course Provider web site at; http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-paperwork-paperwork_operator-3718.htm

Service standard:

A. Accreditation of Course Providers

1. Education

  • Review and Issue Course Manual Review Report – Initial Submission
    Within 120 working days
  • Review and Issue Course Manual Review Report – Each Subsequent Submission
    Within 60 working days
  • Review and Issue On-Line Study Guide Review Report – Initial Submission
    Within 120 working days
  • Review and Issue On-Line Study Guide Review Report – Each Subsequent Submission
    Within 60 working days

2. Database Agreement (national)

  • Process Database Agreement
    Within 20 working days

3. Quality Assurance and Control Requirements

  • Review and Issue Quality Assurance and Control Requirements Review Report – Initial Submission
    Within 120 working days
  • Review and Issue Quality Assurance and Control Requirements Review Report – Each Subsequent Submission
    Within 60 working days

4. Official Language Declaration

  • Process Official Language Declaration
    Within 20 working days

B. Boating Safety Tests

  • Develop and Distribute Boating Safety Tests
    Annual distribution (October)
  • Provide Access and Instructions for Downloading PDF Tests
    Within 5 working days
  • Provide Access to Online Tests
    Within 5 working days

C. Monitoring of Course Providers

  • Course Provider Compliance Audit - Compliance Report
    Within 10 working days
  • Course Provider Compliance Audit - Correction Action Report
    Minor Deficiencies
    Within 10 working days
  • Course Provider Compliance Audit - Notice of Intent to Suspend
    Major Deficiencies
    Within 10 working days

Performance target: The target for achieving this standard is set at 80%.

Performance results:

A. Accreditation of Course Providers

1. Education

Standard Target 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17
Review and Issue Course Manual Review Report - Initial Submission within 120 working days 80% n/a* n/a 0%
Review and Issue Course Manual Review Report - Each Subsequent Submission within 60 working days 80% 75% 100% 29%
Review and Issue On-Line Study Guide Review Report - Initial Submission within 120 working days 80% 0% n/a n/a
Review and Issue On-Line Study Guide Review Report - Each Subsequent Submission within 60 working days 80% 100% 100% 46%

2. Database Agreement (national)

Standard Target 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17
Process Database Agreement Within 20 working days 80% n/a* 100% n/a

3. Quality Assurance and Control Requirements

Standard Target 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17
Review and Issue Quality Assurance and Control Requirements Review Report - Initial Submission within 120 working days 80% 50% 100% 0%
Review and Issue Quality Assurance and Control Requirements Review Report - Each Subsequent Submission within 60 working days 80% 88% 100% n/a

4. Official Language Declaration

Standard Target 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17
Process Official Language Declaration within 20 working days 80% n/a* n/a n/a

B. Boating Safety Tests

Standard Target 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17
Develop and Distribute Boating Safety Tests Annual distribution (October) 80% n/a* 100% n/a
Provide Access and Instructions for Downloading PDF Tests within 5 working daysǂ 80% n/a 100% n/a
Provide Acces to Online Tests within 5 working daysǂ 80% n/a 100% n/a

C. Monitoring of Course Providers

Standard Target 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17
Course Provider Compliance Audit - Compliance Report within 10 working days 80% n/a* 0% n/a
Course Provider Compliance Audit - Correction Action Report Minor Deficiencies within 10 working days 80% n/a* 0% n/a
Course Provider Compliance Audit - Notice of Intent to Suspend Major Deficiencies within 10 working days 80% n/a* n/a n/a

* none processed in FY 2014/15
ǂ Tests are updated/instructions provided on cyclical basis, every two years, and not every FY. Next cycle/phase begins FALL 2015.

Service feedback:

Comments, suggestions and concerns may be shared at the following address:

National Pleasure Craft Operator Competency Program
330 Sparks Street, 8th Floor, Tower C
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0N5

Or contact:
Boating Safety Infoline: 1-800 267-6687
E-mail: pcoc-ccep@tc.gc.ca

For more information:

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit the Canada Gazette and Consulting with Canadians websites.