50% off boating license

amazing to see this post, just as I was thinking about the spring, and finally getting my license. Thanks a ton for the niche type of post, @financeguy

Questions/answers that always come up in these threads:

1. License/PCOC is lifetime.
2. You require one if your boat is motorized. Even a small electric trolling motor counts as motorized.
3. The boating licence/PCOC is separate from your boat's registration, which is only required for boats over a certain size. Sometimes, people get them confused. Easiest to think of it like your driver's licence vs. your car's registration.
4. You don't require a boating licence/PCOC if you're renting a boat. You're supposed to receive a short lesson when you rent.

excellent recap@jm1 Great price ahead of summer!

Got my boat license last year!
- Easy to navigate course, I could log-in and out and study at my own pace. Passed the exam and got my official PCOC in the mail shortly after!

Police stopped me on the water last summer and I'm glad I had it on me.
***NOTE: you need the physical card on you (a photocopy won't work). I'll probably order some extra cards for this summer.

i got the course last year but still not finished

Thanks OP, been meaning to get my license for a few years now. Can anyone tell me approx. how many hours the course takes?

Keep in mind. If your buddy has a jetski or let’s you handle their boat for a bit you need this license.

If you rent from a marina you don’t need one (but they may limit what they rent you if you don’t have one)

Cheap and lifetime.

Most of the test is common sense (ughhh should you drive a boat while drunk yes or no)

Only tricky part is understanding how buoys work which you should know if you plan to boat.

Also the boating license is federally issued card. It’s a bit of a joke kuz they’ll mail anyone with any address a card.

Good deal, also great because it's recognized in the States

no idea when I might need this - but hey if I need it I'll already have it. Thanks OP!

StergMTL wrote: ↑ Good deal, also great because it's recognized in the States

It may not be accepted in all states.

"NASBLA formally endorses the Canadian boating education program and recommends and encourages all of the NASBLA state and territorial members to recognize the Canadian PCOC in their respective state or territory"
https://community.nasbla.org/HigherLogi ... fbeb4cc3c9

The Canadian Power and Sail Squadron is the only PCOC that is actually recognized by the US Coast Guard. Their course is on sale for $25 through March 26.
https://www.cps-ecp.ca/pcoc-boating-license/

sassybanana wrote: ↑ It may not be accepted in all states.

"NASBLA formally endorses the Canadian boating education program and recommends and encourages all of the NASBLA state and territorial members to recognize the Canadian PCOC in their respective state or territory"
https://community.nasbla.org/HigherLogi ... fbeb4cc3c9

The Canadian Power and Sail Squadron is the only PCOC that is actually recognized by the US Coast Guard. Their course is on sale for $25 through March 26.
https://www.cps-ecp.ca/pcoc-boating-license/

This deal needs its own thread. I'm going to buy this one. $25 why not? Recognized in USA. Will serve me well when I can economic refugee in California when I finish my tech degrees.

Got this about 10 years ago, most commonly used when applying for a Vulnerable Sector Check as a 2nd ID in additional to driver license

ecyho wrote: ↑ Got this about 10 years ago, most commonly used when applying for a Vulnerable Sector Check as a 2nd ID in additional to driver license

Whoa, seriously? So it acts as an address verifier so I can cancel my monthly paper bills?

Wait so what is the difference between the two courses? Which should I take??

singhaman wrote: ↑ Wait so what is the difference between the two courses? Which should I take??

The one accepted by the Yanks.

The Canadian Power and Sail Squadron is the only PCOC that is actually recognized by the US Coast Guard. Their course is on sale for $25 through March 26.
https://www.cps-ecp.ca/pcoc-boating-license/

sassybanana wrote: ↑ It may not be accepted in all states.

"NASBLA formally endorses the Canadian boating education program and recommends and encourages all of the NASBLA state and territorial members to recognize the Canadian PCOC in their respective state or territory"
https://community.nasbla.org/HigherLogi ... fbeb4cc3c9

The Canadian Power and Sail Squadron is the only PCOC that is actually recognized by the US Coast Guard. Their course is on sale for $25 through March 26.
https://www.cps-ecp.ca/pcoc-boating-license/

Neat, wasn't aware!

Thanks. Winter is over! Here cum fishy, fishy….

I don't see myself owning a boat, but would be interested in taking a course and getting this license. Just so I can brag about having one.
How does one go about taking courses and getting a license without owning a boat?

Also, I was browsing the site. Does the license only require an Online test? Do I not have to actually drive/steer a boat to clear it? Any benefits of having it if I don't plan on buying a boat?

Thinking about putting boating in my itinerary when/if I visit Hawaii next summer. Is completing a safety checklist from the rental provider good enough, or should I go for the CPS course to be sure (and safe, lol)?