Illinois License And Safety Requirements
Persons born on or after January 1, 1998, may operate a vessel powered by a motor of more than 10 horsepower only if they have a valid Boating Safety Certificate accepted by the Department of Natural Resources.
Persons under the age of 10 may not operate any motorized vessel, including personal watercraft .
Persons at least 10 years old but less than 12 years old may operate a motorized vessel with more than 10 hp, including a PWC, only if they are accompanied by and under the direct control of a parent, a guardian, or a person at least 18 years old designated by the parent or guardian.
Persons at least 12 years old but less than 18 years old may operate a motorized vessel with more than 10 horsepower, including a PWC, only if:
- They complete a boating safety course and possess a Boating Safety Certificate accepted by the Department of Natural Resources or
- They are accompanied by and under the direct control of a parent, a guardian, or a person at least 18 years old designated by the parent or guardian.
Parents, guardians, or designees born on or after January 1, 1998, must have a valid boating safety certificate to supervise a person 10 to 17 years old who is operating a motorized vessel with more than 10 hp.
It is still highly recommended that you take a NASBLA approved online boater education course anyway and get your certification card. This will make you legal to operate a boat in most other states also.
Iowa License And Safety Requirements
Boater education is mandatory for any person 12 17 years old, who will operate a motorboat over ten horsepower or personal watercraft . There are two ways that a person can earn an education certificate:
- Take an Iowa DNR Home-study Boating Education Course. To request materials contact [email protected]
- Take an online course from Boat-ed.com or the free course at http://www.boatus.org/courses/
It is still highly recommended that everyone else still take a NASBLA approved online boater education course anyway and get your certification card. This will make you legal to operate a boat in most other states also.
Nj Boating Law Age Restrictions
There are two minimum age requirements for operating a powered vessel in New Jersey:
You must be at least 13 years of age to operate:
Vessels powered by electric trolling motors
Vessels 12 feet or longer with less than 10 total horsepower
You must be at least 16 years of age to operate all other power vessels, including personal watercraft
A boat license is a separate document from a boat safety certificate and is required for operation on non-tidal water in the State of New Jersey. The boat license is not a replacement for a boat safety certificate, it is an additional requirement. On non tidal waters in the State of New Jersey you may need both, a boat safety certificate and a boat license. To obtain a boat license, go to your nearest NJ Division of Motor Vehicle Commission Facility. Persons must bring their NJ Boat Safety Certificate with them to apply for a boat license if they are required to possess a certificate for vessel operation.
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Boating Safety And Education
While Florida does not have a boating license, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 is required to either have successfully completed a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators approved boating education course or have passed an equivalent course or temporary certificate examination. Additionally, they must have in their possession a boating education ID card and a photo identification card before operating a vessel with a motor of ten horsepower or more in Florida.
Florida visitors must comply with the boating safety education requirements. If a non-resident can show proof of having successfully completed a boater safety course or equivalent exam that meets or exceeds Floridas requirements , a Florida Boating Safety Education Identification Card is not required.
Visitors wanting to rent a vessel while in Florida may obtain a temporary certificate. These certificates are issued by vendors around the state. Visit www.myfwc.com for a list of approved vendors. The temporary certificate is valid for 90 days and is not intended to be a permanent replacement for the Boating Safety Education Identification Card.
For more information on Florida boating laws, boating safety and the Florida Boating Safety Education Program, visit www.myfwc.com.
Vessels
Missouri License And Safety Requirements
The law states that any person born after January 1, 1984 must successfully pass a Missouri Boater Education class/test before operating any motorized vessel ON THE LAKES OF THE STATE.
The operator of a boat must be 14 years of age unless accompanied by an adult on board the vessel. A child under 14 years of age operating a vessel with adult supervision would still need a boater identification card.
It is still highly recommended that everyone else still take a NASBLA approved online boater education course anyway and get your certification card. This will make you legal to operate a boat in most other states also.
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Do I Need To Take A Boating Course
Yes If you have never taken a NASBLA approved boating safety course .
No If you have previously taken a NASBLA approved boating safety course and still have a card/certificate. Most state boating courses, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary courses, and United States Power Squadrons courses are NASBLA approved.
No If you hold or have held a license to operate a vessel issued by the United States Coast Guard. You must carry this license on board while operating a recreational vessel. If you would like to obtain a Virginia Lifetime Boaters Card, fill out this .
No If you are or have been a Virginia Registered Commercial Fisherman . You must carry documentation on board while operating a recreational vessel. If you would like to obtain a Virginia Lifetime Boaters Card, fill out this application.
No If you are or have been a surface warfare officer/enlisted surface warfare specialist in the United States Navy. You must carry documentation on board while operating a recreational vessel. If you would like to obtain a Virginia Lifetime Boaters Card, fill out this .
No If you are serving or have qualified as an Officer of the Deck Underway, boat coxswain, boat officer, boat operator, watercraft operator, or Marine Deck Officer in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, United States Coast Guard, or Merchant Marine. If you would like to obtain a Virginia Lifetime Boaters Card, fill out this .
Renewing And Replacing A New Jersey Boating License
If you are wondering, âDo boating licenses expire in New Jersey?â Be mindful that because these credentials are issued as endorsements, they are subject to the expiration date displayed on the driverâs license or ID card they are attached to.
Therefore, when you renew your drivers license or ID card, you must also renew the boating license endorsement. To do so, you must visit a Motor Vehicle Commission office in person and do the following:
On the other hand, the boating safety certificate in NJ does not have an expiration date and does not need to be renewed. However, if you lose your certificate, you will be required to obtain a replacement credential by contacting the Marine Services Bureau and providing the following information:
- Non-motorized vessels used on private property
- Racing vessels with a New Jersey State Marine Police permit
- Non-motorized inflatable devices, surfboards, racing shells, dinghies, canoes and kayaks
- Non-motorized vessels that are less than 12 feet in length
- Tender/dinghy used only for direct transportation between a vessel and shore
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Massachusetts License And Safety Requirements
No person under 12 years of age may operate a motorboat, unless accompanied on-board and directly supervised by a competent person 18 years of age or older. Personal watercraft users must still be at least 16 years of age in order to operate, with no exceptions.
Youth who are between 12 and 15 years of age must complete an approved basic boating course in order to operate a motorboat without adult supervision.
Personal watercraft users who are 16 or 17 years of age must also complete such a boating course.
It is still highly recommended that everyone else still take a NASBLA approved online boater education course anyway and get your certification card. This will make you legal to operate a boat in most other states also.
Rhode Island License And Safety Requirements
No person born on or after January 1, 1986 shall operate a vessel that is fitted with propulsion machinery of more than ten horsepower on the waters of this state, unless the person shall have successfully completed a boating safety education program as approved by the director of the department of environmental management.
The content of acceptable boating safety education programs shall meet the minimum standards and guidelines and be approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators . Acceptable programs shall include those NASBLA approved courses offered by the state, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, the United States Power Squadrons or any other course approved by the director.
Upon completion of a boating safety course, a written test shall be administered under the direct supervision of a certified instructor. The test shall include at least twenty-five questions, scored on a one hundred percent scale, and have a passing grade of seventy percent or better.
The exam may be administered to a candidate two times. Failure of the examination on the second attempt will require the candidate to retake and/or complete the same and/or a different boating safety education program as provided for in this section.
The following persons shall be exempt from the educational provisions of this chapter provided that they can provide proof of exemption:
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Hawaii License And Safety Requirements
Any person operating a powered boat with over 10 horse power is required to posses a certificate of completion from a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators approved course on the safe use and operation of a power driven vessel that contains a component on Hawaii waters approved by the department.
People who are visiting from outside of the state who remain within the state less than sixty calendar days are exempt from this requirement. A person under 16 YOA must possess a certificate of completion and be accompanied by a person over 21 YOA who also holds a certificate of completion.
How To Get A Motorboat Or Jet Ski License
The Motor Vehicle Commission issues motorboat and personal watercraft licenses for use on fresh, non-tidal waters or lakes, creeks or rivers not affected by tidal conditions. A boat license and New Jersey Boat Safety Certificate are required to operate a power vessel or personal watercraft – jet ski or wave runner – on non-tidal waters of New Jersey. A boat license is not required for non-powered vessels.
Step One: Complete a boating safety course For any power motorboat operation on tidal waters, you must successfully complete a boating safety course approved by the New Jersey State Police to receive a New Jersey Boating Safety Course Certificate. Visit the NJSP Marine Service Bureau website for full details.
Additional information is available:
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Step Two: Get an initial motorboat or jet ski license You must be at least 16 years old. If you are under the age of 17, you need to present a letter with parental or guardian consent.
Applicants must visit a motor vehicle agency with:
New Jersey Boating Safety Course Certificate Pay the $18 license fee
The MVC accepts American Express® card, MasterCard®, Visa® card, Discover card®, checks, money orders and cash.
A license may be renewed by following the above steps for getting the initial license.
How to title and register a boat
In order to use New Jersey waterways, all boats must be titled and registered except:
How to title and register a homemade boat
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Certificate Of Personal Watercraft Operation
A Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation allows an individual to operate any recreational vessel including a personal watercraft. Please see Age Restrictions below for operating boats with engines greater than 10 horsepower and personal watercraft. In order to meet the requirements for a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation , an individual must:
- Pass the DEEPs Equivalency Examination.
Any person possessing a Safe Boating Certificate , a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation or a valid vessel operator license issued by the USCG needs to have the certificate and/or license on board at all times while operating a vessel.
A certificate is valid for the life of the person to whom it is issued and may be issued regardless of age.The certificate may be suspended upon conviction of operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Vermont License And Safety Requirements
Anyone12 years old or older and born after 1-1-1974 must successfully complete an approved boating safety education course to legally operate any motorized vesselincluding personal watercraft.
The Boat Vermont internet course by Boat-Ed is available for those Vermont residents unable to attend a classroom course.
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Arkansas License And Safety Requirements
Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1986 and of legal age to operate a motorboat or sailboat, must have successfully completed an approved boating education course and carry proof while operating a motorboat or sailboat on Arkansas waters.
To operate a motorboat powered by an engine of 10 horsepower or more, a person must be 12 or older, or be under the direct supervision of a person at least 18. To operate a personal watercraft, a person must be 16 or older, be 12 to 15 years old and under the direct supervision of someone at least 18. People younger than 12 may only operate a personal watercraft while under the direct supervision of someone at least 21.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has offered an online course option for many years, but participants were required to print a certificate at home and go to a testing site near them to complete their test. Thanks to recent legislation, the requirement of a proctored, in-person exam has been lifted to make it easier for people to get on Arkansass waters and stay safe while doing so.
It is still highly recommended that you take a NASBLA approved online boater education course anyway and get your certification card. This will make you legal to operate a boat in most other states also.
Louisiana License And Safety Requirements
Those born after January 1, 1984, must successfully complete an LDWF-approved boater education course to operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower, unless you are accompanied by someone over age 18 who has a successfully completed an LDWF-approved boater education course.
In addition, if you were born after January 1, 1984, you must successfully complete an approved boater education course to operate a personal watercraft. You must also be age 16 or older to operate a personal watercraft.
Individuals must carry their certification of course completion while on the motorboat or personal watercraft.
Youth younger than age 10 can not be certified. In order to be certified, they must successfully complete an approved boater education course after reaching age 10.
It is still highly recommended that everyone else still take a NASBLA approved online boater education course anyway and get your certification card. This will make you legal to operate a boat in most other states also.
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Nevada License And Safety Requirements
Nevada Boaters born on or after January 1, 1983 are required to complete a Nevada Department of Wildlife approved boater education course before operating a boat on Nevadas interstate waters, but NDOW recommends everyone get their boating education card before heading out on the water.
There appears to be no minimum age requirement.
I still highly recommended that everyone else still take a NASBLA approved online boater education course anyway and get your certification card. This will make you legal to operate a boat in most other states also.
Connecticut License And Safety Requirements
This state has very detailed and demanding boat licensing requirements. Connecticut has fairly lengthy demands for each specific activity when boating in their state. You cant just take a NASBLA safety course and then be able to do every boating activity. You need a separate specialized certificate or endorsement for each activity.
They also only reciprocate with certain states also. I would not want to be a boater there and I certainly dont foresee other states doing this, but here we go with their rules.
To legally operate any boat with a motor, or any sailboat 19 1/2 feet in length or longer, all
- residents of Connecticut,
- persons owning real property in Connecticut, or
- persons with vessels registered in Connecticut
must have either
- a Safe Boating Certificate ,
- a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation or
- a valid vessel operator license* issued by the United States Coast Guard
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Tennessee License And Safety Requirements
Any Tennessee resident born after January 1, 1989 must show the TWRA-issued wallet Boating Safety Education Certificate as proof of successful completion of the TWRA Boating Safety exam.
No other certificate will be accepted as meeting the requirements of the law. The Tennessee mandatory boating education law is similar to the drivers license law. You acquire the study materials, study, and then take an approved boating safety exam administered by an approved representative of the TWRA.
The certification is not required if there is an adult on board to take immediate control of the vessel. However this adult, if born after January 1, 1989, must have the TWRA boating education certification.
Out of State Boaters who were born after January 1, 1989, TWRA will accept any NASBLA approved boating safety certificate.
I still highly recommended that everyone not currently required to carry a safe boater card, still take a NASBLA approved online boater education course anyway and get your certification card. This will make you legal to operate a boat in most other states also.
