White Rock
Power and
Sail Squadron
Frequently Asked Questions
(Updated 22 Nov 2007)
Q. What do the letters “CPS” stand for?
A. “Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons”
Q. I’ve lost (or damaged) my PCOC (Pleasure Craft Operator’s Card). How do I get a replacement?
A. As long as you took the exam with CPS, just telephone the CPS Head Office at 1-888-CPS-BOAT (1-888-277-2628) and they will replace your card for the cost of $20.00 (non-members) or $10.00 (CPS members). http://www.cpsecp.ca/?WCE=C=47|K=224627|RefreshT=224445|RefreshS=Container|RefreshD=2244450
Q. Do I need to pre-register for your courses?
A. Pre-registration is highly recommended for our 14-week Boating courses, as they fill up quickly.
Pre-registration is mandatory for the Advanced and Elective courses as they will be cancelled if insufficient pre-registrations.
Q. How do I register for one of your courses?
A. 1. To register on-line go to http://www.whiterocksquadron.org/courses.htm and click on “Pre-register now on-line”, fill in the blanks as requested, then scroll down to bottom of page and click “submit registration”. You will then be contacted to confirm the receipt of your registration and to arrange for payment.
2. To mail in your registration, go to http://www.whiterocksquadron.org/courses.htm and click on “print and send in this form”. Print the form, fill it out completely and mail to the address shown at the top of page. This registration form must be mailed at least 1 week in advance of the first class of the course.
3. To register by telephone, call us at 604-515-5566 and leave a detailed message at the tone. Please state your name, telephone number, the name of the course you wish to take. We will return your call to get further details (address and method of payment).
4. If sufficient space remains in the course, registration may be done in person on the evening of the first class, at 1830 hours (6:30 p.m.). Listen to the recorded message at 604-515-5566 before registering in person to find out how many spaces remain in the courses offered.
Q. Where are the courses held?
A. All of our courses are held in classrooms at the Earl Marriott Secondary School located at
15751 16th Avenue, South Surrey
Q. Is there a discount on the price of the 14-week Boating Course if 2 people register as a couple?
A. Yes, providing that the couple reside at the same address. Students registering as a couple will receive only one set of student manuals, plotter, etc., which they must share. Couples will receive two homework books and training charts so they may each complete the exercises. Upon graduation, a couple will receive a one-year Family Membership in CPS.
Q. I am a shift worker and cannot attend regular weekly classes. Can I study on my own and then arrange to write the exam at a specific time and location?
A. Yes. CPS offers Independent Self Study and Distance Education as well as Online Study.
For more information click on the following url
Q. How long is each class?
A. Each class is 2 hours duration and starts at 1900 hours (7:00 p.m.).
Q. I recently successfully completed the boating course and wonder when I would
be receiving my certificate and PCO card.
A. Your Pleasure Craft Operator card will be mailed to you from Toronto in about 8 weeks.
Your Boating Course certification of completion will be presented to you at the Graduation get-together. Your instructor will telephone you regarding the details. If you are unable to attend the graduation ceremony, we will arrange to mail the completion certificate to you. Telephone 604-515-5566 and leave a detailed message (name, address, telephone number and the nature of your call) at the tone and we will return your call.
Q. I have not taken any boating courses previously. Which ones should I take?
A. If you will be boating in our coastal waters, the Fraser River, or other large rivers or lakes, we recommend you our 14-week Boating Course. It is often referred to as “The Power Squadron Course” as it is our most popular course. While we highly recommend the Boating Course, the only legal requirement is to have a Pleasure Craft Operator’s Card. You will receive that as part of the Boating Course; however, you can also get it by taking our 3-evening Boat-Pro course. We recommend the 3-evening Boat-Pro course only if you are boating on small lakes. If you have a VHF Marine Radio, then you must possess a ROC(M) Certificate. This can be obtained by successfully completing our 4-evening Marine Radio Course.