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Hard Hat North Commercial Fishing Guide
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Fishing tickets: what actually gets you on a boat

Transport Canada renamed and restructured several of these courses recently -- here's what to actually ask a training provider for, what it costs, and how long it lasts. Sourced, checked September 2026.

Key facts

Entry-level ticket (MED-DVS)
~$815
Source: NSCC, checked 2026-09-08
SVOP
~$300+GST
Source: FishSafeBC, checked 2026-09-08
ROC-MC
~$650+GST, good for life
Source: Western Maritime Institute, checked 2026-09-08
Marine Basic First Aid
~$255, valid 5 years
Source: Captain's Choice Marine, checked 2026-09-08

Every figure and course name below is sourced -- see the Sources section, checked 2026-09-08. Where a provider didn't publish a number, this page says so rather than guessing one. This page covers the certificates you personally need to work or run a boat -- for what the DFO fishing licence itself costs, see our separate licence-cost page.

The entry-level ticket everyone needs: MED-DVS (or SDV-BS)

Under the Marine Personnel Regulations, everyone in a fishing vessel's minimum complement needs a basic marine safety ticket. If you learned the old name for this -- MED A3 -- know that Transport Canada-recognized providers now generally teach it as MED-DVS (Marine Emergency Duties: Domestic Vessel Safety), a 3-day, 26-hour course covering firefighting, lifesaving appliances, abandonment, and survival, run through pool exercises and live equipment. One provider (Nova Scotia Community College) lists it at $815, though it can be free if you register as a seafarer with a valid Canadian Discharge/Document Number (CDN) through certain institutions.

There's also a separate, shorter course -- SDV-BS (Small Domestic Vessel: Basic Safety), a minimum of 8 hours -- built specifically for new entrants on very small commercial or fishing vessels. One provider that teaches both (SSTL) tells its own clients outright to verify with Transport Canada Marine Safety which certificate their specific vessel requires. That's the honest answer here too: don't assume, ask Transport Canada or your training provider which one applies to the boat you're actually working on.

New in 2025/2026: a course before the course

As of Ship Safety Bulletin 01/2026 (a revision of an earlier October 2025 bulletin), most Marine Emergency Duties courses -- including MED-DVS -- now require completing a free Fatigue Management at Sea e-course from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) before or after enrolling. It's free for seafarers with a valid CDN, $19.95 for the general public, takes roughly an hour, and the resulting certificate never expires. If your MED ticket predates this rule, you don't need to go back and take it -- but anyone booking a new or renewal MED course now should expect to be asked for it.

Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP)

SVOP lets you operate a small non-pleasure vessel up to 5 gross tonnage (except tugs), or act as master of a fishing vessel up to 15 gross tonnage or 12 metres, in near coastal (class 2) or sheltered waters. Transport Canada's own course description puts it at 26 hours, usually over 4 days, ending in a 50-question multiple-choice exam; minimum age is 18. FishSafeBC, a BC industry association, lists its own subsidized course starting around $300 plus GST for commercial fishermen -- treat that as one province's association rate, not a national price, and get a current quote before budgeting.

Restricted Operator Certificate -- Maritime Commercial (ROC-MC)

Needed to legally operate a vessel's GMDSS radio equipment. The surprising part: this one is issued by ISED (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada), not Transport Canada, through ISED-accredited training institutions. The full course runs about 20 hours of instruction plus 4 hours of exams; an abridged 10-hour version exists for candidates with prior operational experience. One provider we checked charges roughly $650 plus GST. Per ISED's own syllabus, the certificate is good for life and needs no photo or revalidation -- though a refresher is suggested (not required) if you've been away from radio duties for 4 or more of the last 5 years.

Marine First Aid

Required aboard under Transport Canada's TP 13008 training standard. One provider we checked lists Marine Basic First Aid at roughly $255, a 16-hour/2-day course, valid 5 years from the date of issue. A more advanced version, Marine Advanced First Aid, is bundled into the Fishing Master programs described below rather than something most deckhands need on their own.

Running the boat: Fishing Master certificates

Anyone acting as Master or Officer in charge of watch needs a Fishing Master certificate of competency, issued by Transport Canada and typically delivered through institutions like Memorial University's Marine Institute. Fishing Master, Fourth Class (roughly 14 weeks of training, bundling ROC-MC, Marine Advanced First Aid, MED-DVS, and several navigation/seamanship courses) lets you act as Master of a fishing vessel up to 100 gross tonnage, or Officer in charge of watch on any size fishing vessel, in near coastal or sheltered waters. Fishing Master, Third Class (roughly 16 weeks) removes the 100-tonne cap for near coastal/sheltered work and adds Officer in charge of watch on unlimited voyages. Fishing Master, Second Class extends further to Chief Mate on unlimited voyages, though course availability for it is limited. All three require meeting Transport Canada's own sea-service rules (set out in TP 2293), Canadian citizenship or landed-immigrant status, and TC's physical/medical requirements. We could not find published tuition costs for any of the three -- contact a training provider directly, the same honest gap the mining site's Common Core page flags for its own bundled workplace-based program.

Costs marked "estimate" above come from one training provider's published price at the time we checked, not a confirmed national rate -- providers, and provinces, set their own prices and they change. Anything marked "not published" wasn't listed by any source we could find. Confirm current cost, duration, and exactly which certificate your vessel requires directly with Transport Canada, ISED, or the training provider before enrolling or budgeting.

Ticket matrix

The compiled artifact for this cluster: role, required ticket, cost, validity, and who issues it, in one table.

Role Required ticket Cost Validity Who issues it
Any crew member (deckhand, green hand) on a fishing vessel Entry-level safety ticket -- MED-DVS (Marine Emergency Duties: Domestic Vessel Safety) or, for very small vessels, SDV-BS (Small Domestic Vessel: Basic Safety) roughly $815 for MED-DVS (one provider checked); SDV-BS cost not published (estimate; confirm with provider) No fixed expiry for certificates of service valid on fishing vessels, per Transport Canada's own policy Transport Canada, delivered by TC-recognized training institutions
Anyone at the wheel of a small vessel, or master of a fishing vessel up to 15 GT / 12 m Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) roughly $300+GST at one BC industry-association rate; higher at other providers (estimate; confirm with provider) No revalidation requirement found in TC's own course description Transport Canada, delivered by TC-recognized training institutions
Anyone operating the vessel's GMDSS radio equipment Restricted Operator Certificate -- Maritime Commercial (ROC-MC) roughly $650+GST at one provider checked (estimate; confirm with provider) Good for life; no photograph or revalidation required (a refresher is only suggested, not mandatory, after 4+ years away from radio duties) ISED (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) -- not Transport Canada -- via ISED-accredited institutions
Required aboard vessels under TP 13008 Marine Basic First Aid roughly $255 at one provider checked (estimate; confirm with provider) 5 years from date of issue TC-approved marine first aid providers under TP 13008
Anyone acting as Master or Officer in charge of watch, up to 100 GT near coastal/sheltered Fishing Master, Fourth Class Not published; contact a training provider such as the Marine Institute for current tuition Certificate of competency does not itself expire, but depends on holding current MED, first aid, and ROC-MC tickets Transport Canada; delivered by institutions such as Memorial University's Marine Institute
Anyone acting as Master of any-tonnage fishing vessel, near coastal/sheltered Fishing Master, Third Class Not published; contact a training provider for current tuition Certificate of competency does not itself expire; underlying tickets above still need renewal Transport Canada; delivered by institutions such as the Marine Institute

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Is MED A3 still the right ticket to ask for?

Say you're looking for MED-DVS (Marine Emergency Duties -- Domestic Vessel Safety) instead if you're booking today -- it's the name providers now use for what used to be called MED A3, a 3-day/26-hour course covering firefighting, lifesaving appliances, and abandonment drills. There's also a separate, shorter course called SDV-BS (Small Domestic Vessel -- Basic Safety, minimum 8 hours) aimed at new entrants on very small vessels specifically. One training provider (SSTL) tells its own clients to check with Transport Canada Marine Safety which one their vessel actually requires -- that's good advice for anyone, since the two are easy to mix up and this page won't guess for your specific boat.

Do I need to take an online course before I can even book my MED ticket now?

As of Ship Safety Bulletin 01/2026 (which replaced an earlier October 2025 bulletin), yes -- most Marine Emergency Duties courses, including DVS, now require a free "Fatigue Management at Sea" e-course from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) either before or after enrolling. It's free if you register with a valid Canadian Discharge/Document Number (CDN), or $19.95 for the general public, takes about an hour, and the certificate has no expiry. If you took your MED ticket before this rule existed, you don't need to backfill it -- but check with your training institution if you're booking a new or renewal MED course now.

How much does SVOP cost, and how long does it take?

Transport Canada's own course description puts it at 26 hours, usually delivered over 4 days, ending in a 50-question multiple-choice exam. One BC industry association (FishSafeBC) lists a subsidized rate starting around $300 plus GST for its own courses for commercial fishermen -- other providers and other provinces may charge more. Confirm current pricing with a specific training institution before budgeting around either figure.

Who issues ROC-MC, and does it expire?

This one surprises people: ROC-MC (Restricted Operator Certificate -- Maritime Commercial) is issued by ISED (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada), not Transport Canada, through ISED-accredited institutions. Per ISED's own syllabus (RIC-25), it's good for life and doesn't need a photo or revalidation -- though if you've been away from radio duties for 4 or more of the last 5 years, a refresher or challenge exam is suggested, not required.

Does a skipper usually pay for a deckhand's tickets?

Not automatically, and this is different from a salaried camp job. Most fishing crew are paid a share of the catch rather than a wage (see our pay hub), so an entry-level ticket like MED-DVS is typically a cost the crew member covers themselves before showing up ready to work -- though a skipper who needs a hand fast, or who's bringing on a green hand for the season, may sometimes cover it. There's no universal rule here; ask the specific captain before assuming either way.

What's the difference between this page and the licence-cost page?

This page is about certificates a person holds -- what you personally need to be qualified to work or run a boat. Our licence-cost page is about what it costs to hold the actual DFO fishing licence tied to the boat and the fishery -- a completely different, and far larger, expense. Most crew only ever need the tickets on this page; only an owner-operator needs to think about licence cost too.

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