Do You Need a License to Drive a Boat?

If you want to drive a boat, you must first get a license. Every state has rules for driving different types of ships like powerboats, sailboats, or jet skis on its water. Most states ask you to take a boat safety class and get a certificate, like a boating license.

You can take this boat class and take the test online. Learning for a boat license is easier than learning for a car driver’s license. You often don’t need to practice driving on the water.

Here are easy steps to get your boat license:

1. Look up what you must do to learn about boat safety in your state.
2. Take a boat safety class online or in person.
3. Pass the test for the boating license.
4. Pay for the class after you finish.
5. Always have your boat license or certificate when you are on the water.

Boat Licenses and Laws by State

If you get a new boat and it’s your first time owning one, the place where you buy the boat can help you learn how to get a boating license in your state. A great place to look for information about boating licenses in different states is the National Association of Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). NASBLA has a website that shows what you need to learn for a boating license in each state. You can find what you need to know on websites related to nature or transport in your state.

Websites like Boat-Ed.com and BoaterExam.com have links to online boating classes approved for each state and show what each state requires for boating education.

Not all states have online classes. For instance, Connecticut only has classes you can go to in person. These are held in different places around the state. The classes last at least eight hours and can take two to four sessions to finish.

Tips on Boating License Courses

For most states, an outside company runs the online class for boating education or getting a boating license. This might cost between $29 to $50, usually paid after class completion. The state might also ask for a small extra fee. The BoatUS Foundation offers free boating license classes for 35 states.

The online class is made to last about three hours and is divided into parts or chapters. You can finish it in stages. You can do a part or two, log out, and come back later to where you stopped. The class is made so you can’t just skip through to the test. After each part, there’s a short test you need to pass to go to the next part.

The aim of these classes isn’t to make it hard to pass but to teach you about boating. They talk about the basics of boating, how to understand boating words, rules for driving a boat, state boating laws, what to do in emergencies, and how to have fun safely with water sports.

Once you finish the class, you’re ready for the test. If you pass, you can print out your boating license and prepare to go boating.

What are the Conditions for Boat Training?

Boating rules are different in each state. For example, in Wisconsin, you need a Wisconsin Boating Safety Education Certificate if you are 16 or older and want to drive a motorboat or a jet ski.

In Oklahoma, the rules are different. You only need a boating education certificate if you are between 12 and 15 years old and you’re going to drive a boat or a jet ski with more than ten horsepower or a sailboat longer than 16 feet. Each state also has its own age rules for people younger than 16 to 18 who want to get a boating license. Some states will accept a boating license from another state.

But remember, it’s always the boat owner’s job to know and follow the boating license rules for the state where they use their boat.

FAQs About Boat Licenses