So, you’re at the dealership with your eye on a brand new 2022 Sea-Doo Switch. Boating looks like a great way to spend quality time with the family and some good times with your friends. After walking you through the boat specs, the salesperson asks you if you have your boat license.
Your heart immediately sinks in your chest, and you realize you didn’t even know you needed a boat license to buy a boat. Technically, you don’t, and no dealer in their right mind will stop you from buying one of their boats in this economy.
However, when you’re out on the water and run into the Coast Guard, you might get into a considerable amount of trouble if you’re not complying with the rules and regulations for boating in your state.
So, you don’t have to worry; you’re going to get out onto the water in your new boat in no time. Taking a boat license test isn’t as challenging as you think. You’re virtually guaranteed a pass with a bit of theory work and application of common sense.
Boating license examinations are different in each state, depending on which watercraft you’re using and what you’re doing with it on the water. This guide unpacks everything you need to know about how to get a boat license.
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How to Get a Boating License – A Step-by-Step Guide
How do you get a boat license, and what are the steps in the process? Is it as extensive as getting your driver’s license? What should you expect from the training and study required to pass the exam? These are all great questions, and we’ll tackle them in this post.
Let’s start with the steps involved in getting your boating license.
Step 1 – Understand the Terminology and Qualifications
Some states will issue you with a boater education card or a boater safety education certificate instead of a boating license. The safety training requirements are the same for all three qualifications. Still, the terminology might be different depending on the state.
It’s also important to note that there is a difference between your boat registration documents and a boating license obtained after completing a boater safety course.
Step 2 – Check the Local Laws
Check the boating education and safety course requirements when you’re looking into getting your boating license.
Some states require specific boating safety courses for new boaters, and they make changes without notice in your local area. Don’t rely on what other people tell you. Check for the latest updates to regulations yourself.
Step 3 – Get Your Research Materials
Look for schools or online academies online offering study guides or practice exams to familiarize you with the course and test material.
Most of the topics involved with the course materials include general knowledge materials you need to know out on the water.
You can expect subjects and topics like navigation rules, safe docking procedures in high wind or strong currents, state laws or regulations, PPE and mandatory safety equipment, and details on launching a boat or towing it on a trailer.
Step 4 – Take a State-Approved Boating Safety Exam
After finding your list of service providers, look for a course approved by your state. The school should conduct the test online, and the length of the test varies depending on the state.
After you complete the course, you’ll get your results right away. The state department will issue you your license card (boating safety identification card or boating license).
Step 5 – Check the Rules and Regulations if Your Move States
If you change your residence, check your new state’s boating rules and regulations. Depending on the local government criteria, you may have to update your knowledge.
Step 6 – Keep Your Paperwork On-Hand
When you’re out on the water, you’ll need to carry your card with you. You’ll also need to carry the registration to your boat in case your encounter the Coast Guard, and they need to identify and authenticate you.
Understanding Boating Licensing Laws by State
When you’re closing the deal on your new boat at the dealership, ask the salesperson for information on the licensing requirements in your state. The rules and regulations are different in all states, and the salesperson might be able to point you in the right direction.
If the salesperson can’t help you, then you can always use the National Association of Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as a resource for state-by-state information on boating licensing requirements. The site has a page for the basic training requirements in each state to obtain your boating license.
You’ll also find each state posts its boating education requirements on an independent webpage, usually on a page related to transportation or natural resources.
Websites like BoaterExam.com and Boat-Ed.com offer you online resources for finding approved online boating education courses in every state.
- It’s important to note that not all states offer an online course. For instance, Connecticut requires you to complete in-person training at an approved training center. They also have stringent boating examination requirements and specialist courses.
- For example, the DEEP Equivalency Examination is for the experienced boater who already has a license for the general rules and regulations on safe boating in Connecticut waters.
- However, the DEEP exam covers all aspects of boating, including safety and general information topics, what you need to know about Connecticut State law, waterways, trailering a vessel, and the requirements for different types of vessels like powerboats, sailboats, and kayaks, etc.
- You’ll need to complete between two to four sessions to complete the course and a score of above 80% to pass. Otherwise, you’ll have to take an 8-hour course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the State of Connecticut.
- There is no textbook covering all the aspects of this exam. However, the Connecticut Boater’s Guide covers many of the topics. You’ll have to pay $75 to take the exam and make a booking to take the exam well in advance.
- The rules and regulations governing boating change from state to state, and some are more stringent than others. Florida is an example of a state requiring a boating license but less strict requirements than Connecticut.
- However, people convicted of criminal boating violations in Florida, or those committing non-criminal infractions resulting in a boating accident, or two non-criminal infractions within 12-months must complete the mandatory violation re-education requirements required by Florida state law.
- Any person found operating a vessel without completing these requirements is subject to a second-degree misdemeanor. It’s a similar story in California, where the offender must provide proof of completion and passage of said course to the court within 7-months of conviction.
- California also requires boat operators to carry their Boater Education Card on board and make it available for inspection by Coast Guard officers. California law also requires children under 13 to wear a PFD at all times when on board a moving vessel of any size.
Minimum Boating Safety Education Requirements
The minimum requirements for a boating license will differ widely from state to state. In Wisconsin, you must carry your Wisconsin Boating Safety Education Certificate if you are 16 or over and operating a PWC or motorboat in Wisconsin waters.
The rules in Oklahoma are very different, where you only need a boating education certificate if you’re 12 to 15 years and operating a PWC or boat with an engine capacity over 10-hp or sailboats over 16-feet in length. Each state will regulate boating license ages for individuals under age 16 to 18-years.
Some states may recognize boating licenses issued by other states. However, it’s the boat owner’s responsibility to ensure they understand the local laws and comply with all regulations set by the local state authorities.
Take a Boat License Course
Taking a boat license course is easy. Unless you’re in Connecticut, the chances are you’ll have an online resource center available for your boating license examination. There are plenty of third-party providers offering licensing courses for fees from $29 to $50, payable after completing the course.
Some states may also charge you an admin fee for processing your license test and documentation. You’ll find free boating licensing courses available across 35-states at The BoatUS Foundation.
Their online course takes around three hours to complete, and they serve it to you in chapters during the test. You won’t have to complete the entire course in one session. There’s an option to log off and return to the test at a later date.
The course has a design that prevents you from clicking through the study section to get to the exam questions. You’ll complete a set of revision questions after each section of the study course that prepares you for the exam.
These courses and exams are not challenging to pass. As long as you have a basic understanding of the course material, you couldn’t have any trouble with completing it within the set pass rate.
The study materials go through boating terminology and basic information, state boating laws and regulations, how to behave in a boating emergency, and how to conduct yourself with watersports.
After completing the study course, you’re ready to take the exam. You shouldn’t have any trouble passing and receiving your license.
Further Your Knowledge Base – Additional Boating Safety Courses and Resources
While online learning courses are the easiest and fastest way to get your boating license, some students may prefer a more in-depth learning experience. If that is the case for you, check out organizations like the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and US Power Squadron.
These organizations usually provide in-person boating safety courses at major cities and ports on the eastern and western seaboard of the United States. Some of the courses are even free. As a boater, it’s your responsibility to learn about boating safety, especially when you’re carrying passengers.
How Much Does a Boating License Cost?
You can find a bevy of online courses available online. The BoatUS Foundation offers you free boating license courses available in 35 states.
Typically, online providers provide state-specific boating courses for anywhere between $29 to $50. Here are a few online resources you can use for your study course material.
Aceboater
- Aceboater.com
- $24.95
Boat Tests 101
- Boattests101.com
- $19.99
Boat US
- Boatus.org
- Free
BoatEd Online
- Boat-Ed.com
- $34.95
BoatEd Online Interactive Course
- iLearnToBoat.com
- $49.50
Boater Exam.com
- Boaterexam.com
- $29.95
BOATSmart
- boatsmartexam.com
- $29.95
US Power Squadrons
- Americasboatingclub.org
- $29.95
Do I Need a Boating License to Operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC)?
Some states will apply boating licensing requirements to PWCs, while others won’t. Some states have PWC-specific licensing requirements for operating the craft in open waters. Check with your state for specific PWC licensing information.
In Florida, persons born on or after January 1, 1988, must complete a boater education course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Or, they must pass an approved equivalency exam for operating vessels with motors over 10 hp, including PWCs.
In California, persons 12 to 15 years may operate PWCs powered by motors over 15-hp if they are under the supervision of a person at least 18 years of age that has their California Boater Card.
Boating License FAQs
Q: Do I need a boating license to operate a boat?
A: The licensing requirements for operating boats are different in each state. You can visit your local state-run website to see the licensing requirements in your state.
Q: Do I need a boating license if I want to hire a boat for the day?
A: It depends on the state. Some states will allow it, and others require you to have a license. It’s good to check online with the local authority website to see the state requirements before you book your boat.
Q: Does my boating license have an expiration date?
A: It depends on the state issuing you the license. Some states may require you to renew every five years, and others may not require renewal. Check with your local authority for details on licensing renewal information.
