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Courses Vancouver Power Squadron
Vancouver Squadron
Educational Officer
Peter Girling 604-313-5508


Registration

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).

Boating 2 and Boating 3 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.


Spring 2023 Schedule

Boating 1: Boating Basics (PCOC)
Please see the CPS On-Line PCOC Course.
Vancouver Squadron will not be offering a classroom course this term.

Boating 2 & 3

Vancouver Squadron will offer Boating 2 (Beyond PCOC) and Boating 3 (Intro to Navigation) as a single course. The course fee below is the fee for the combined course.

Tuesday evenings, Jan 24 to Apr 25, 2023
Fee: $375, Second person sharing materials: $260

Maritime Radio Course
(Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's Certificate)
We are offering four one-day Radio Operator courses this spring:
One day course (0900 - 1600) at St. James Community Square: Saturday, Feb 11, 2023
One day course (0900 - 1600) at St. James Community Square: Saturday, Mar 18, 2023
One day course (0900 - 1600) at St. James Community Square: Saturday, Apr 15, 2023
One day course (0900 - 1600) at St. James Community Square: Saturday, May 27, 2023
Fee: Non-members: $150, CPS Members: $135

Courses offered by CPS

Introductory:
Boating 1: Boating Basics (Pleasurecraft Operator's Card)
Boating 2: Beyond Boating Basics
Boating 3: Introduction to Marine Navigation
Maritime Radio Operator Course

Advanced:
Boating 4: Near Shore Marine Navigation Level 1(previously called Seamanship)
Boating 5: Near Shore Marine Navigation, level 2 (previously called Advanced Pilot)
Boating 6 - Offshore Marine Navigation, Level 1 (previously called Junior Navigator)
Boating 7 - Offshore Marine Navigation, Level 2 (previously called Global Navigation)

Elective:
Boat and Engine Maintenance
Marine Electrical Systems
Sailing
Introduction to Weather for Recreational Boaters
Extended Cruising
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