VHF (ROC-M) Radio Course
The Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) with DSC Endorsement is the licence that lets you legally operate a VHF marine radio in Canada. If you carry a VHF on the water, you need it, and it's mandatory for many Paddle Canada certifications. This course gets you there.
Two ways to take it: register for an in-class session, where the exam and paperwork are completed together, or bundle it with a Kayak Ontario course, where you study and take an exam before your course, then sign your paperwork in person at that course.
You'll learn emergency radio procedures, everyday operating techniques, frequency selection, the phonetic alphabet, procedural words, Digital Selective Calling (DSC), and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
What You'll Learn
- Emergency procedures: distress, urgency, and safety calls
- Everyday operating techniques and radio etiquette on the water
- Channel and frequency selection for Canadian waters
- The phonetic alphabet and procedural words
- Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and how it changes distress alerting
- The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
Who It's For
- Sea kayakers carrying a VHF radio on coastal and open water
- Paddlers pursuing Paddle Canada certifications that require the ROC(M)
- Boaters, sailors, and anyone operating a marine radio in Canada
How It Works
Study happens at your own pace. Your exam happens in one invigilated sitting, and your certification paperwork is signed in person.
- Study online, at your own pace. The course runs through our learning system and covers everything you need for both the written and oral exams. Course material is provided digitally (ePub format).
- Test yourself before it counts. Practice exams are built into the course so you know you're ready before your session.
- Attend your exam session. In-class registration: your exam happens at your session date. Bundled with a Kayak Ontario course: book an in person session and complete the exam live on video with an examiner before your course starts.
- Complete both exam parts in one sitting. A 60-question written exam (70% to pass) and an oral exam where you demonstrate three radio calls, including a DSC distress procedure.
- Sign your paperwork in person. In-class sessions: signed on the spot. Bundled with a course: we finalize your paperwork in person at your Kayak Ontario course.
Prerequisites: None. No boating licence or prior radio experience required. The course starts from zero and takes you to certification.