	Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
	Canada's premier coastal and marine facility for teaching and research

PCOC (Pleasure Craft Operators Card) - Requirements

Transport Canada requires anyone operating a pleasure craft fitted with a motor to carry a Pleasure Craft Operators Card (PCOC).
The only exceptions are for foreigners boaters, and those certified in Small Vessel Operators Proficiency (SVOP) or a higher level of Canadian marine safety training.

"Foreign boaters" should link to Transport Canada Visitor Information

STUDENTS:
Students are not required to operate power boats if they don't want to. Further, some courses do not involve the use of power boats. However, for many courses it is recommended that students obtain a PCOC so they can operate boats. When they arrive at BMSC, every student in possession of a PCOC (or higher marine safety training) is training to use our power boats, and given the opportunity to practice their skills prior to being given permission to take the boats outside the inlet.

Courses for which PCOC is recommended:

Biodiversity of Seaweeds
Coastal Biodiversity and Conservation
Biomechanics
Biological Oceanography
Coastal Biodiversity & Conservation
Coastao Community Ecology
Crustaceans
Ethnobotany
Ecology of Marine Symboses
Invertebrate Zoology
Life History Strategies of Marine Organisms
Limnology
Marine Birds
Marine Behavioural Ecology
Marine Ecology
Marine Fishes
Temperate Rainforest Ecology
Terrestrial and Freshwater Conservation
Scientific Filmmaking

Courses for which PCOC not required

Conservation Genetics
Evolution & Development of Marine Organisms
Models in Ecology
Models in Evolution
Science Journalism
Scientific Diving: Not required

If PCOC is recommended for your course, please try to obtain a card before coming to BMSC.

We recommend St. John's Ambulance who offer cards for $25, have an excellent online study guide and allow exams to be written in their testing centres, by mail, or online at St. John's Ambulance.

SVOP: TEACHING ASSISTANTS AND INSTRUCTORS:
Transport Canada requires anyone transporting clients in boats (students at BMSC) to have Small Vessel Operators Proficiency (SVOP) certification. SVOP certification requires the following:
1) One day Marine Emergency Duties (MED) course.
2) Three day Small Vessel Operators Proficiency (SVOP) course.
3) Marine Basic First Aid course. Not all courses at BMSC require students to be transported in boats. However, when they do, SVOP certification is a requirement for TA's and is highly desirable for instructors.

Contact

University Programs Coordinator:

(250) 728-3301 ext. 216

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Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
100 Pachena Rd, Bamfield, BC
Canada, V0R 1B0
Phone: (250) 728-3301
Fax: (250) 728-3452

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