Do You Need a License to Drive a Boat

Many people in the United States wish to own boats, or when on vacation, they consider taking a boat out for a family trip.

This sounds good in theory. However, possessing or using a boat or PWC (Personal Watercraft) isn’t a matter of purchasing one and using it on your local lake or at sea.

This can cause problems when people are away from their home country, and especially Americans visiting Canada or other countries. There is a requirement to have proof or a boating license. In the United States, things may appear different.

The federal government has made it the responsibility of each state to regulate and issue recreational boat licensing.

Contents

When you are on international waters, boating laws are different in most cases, and anyone who holds a boating license from their home country will find this is sufficient for short term boating in another country.

Because there are various types of vessels, age restrictions, and other variables from each state, we will go a bit deeper to find out; do you need a license to drive a boat?

Boater Safety Education Programs

A large number of US states have taken some critical steps to mandate a set of approved boating safety requirements for individuals who wish to operate a boat or a PWC on state waters.

In short, anyone who has completed and passed a recognized online boating license course will satisfy the educational boat license requirements for their state.

A recognized issuing company is boat-ed.com. Their ‘Boater Safety Education Programs’ are recognized across these states, and comply with boating laws.

Who Needs a Card? These boating safety education certificates will vary from state to state like a driver’s license. With this online course, you can select your state before you take the test. It is worth knowing, anyone who has one of these cards always needs to carry it with them while on a vessel.
Use in Other States? Every state that now has mandatory boater education requirements and boating laws will accept a boater education card from another state. This is reciprocity, and your home state will do the same for any cardholder from another state. This works for any state card where the state meets the requirements of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).
Age Restrictions: Although these cards can cover a large number of states, some will have restrictions on the age a person has to be before operating a boat or PWC. When taking the course for your state, it will indicate any age limits. If you need more clarification, you can find this from the National Association of State Boating.

What States Require a Boating License?

Below, you should find the answer to do I need a license to drive a boat. Here is some information on states, which have laws and regulations, and who needs a boating license to operate a vessel. What safety courses requirements they need, and if there are any restrictions.

Alabama

Boating Education: Yes
Boating License: Yes
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12-14

Alaska

Boating Education: NASBLA recommended but no boats license required

Arizona

Boating Education/ License: Boat driving license not required, but recommended (Read Arizona Tent Camping Guide)

Arkansas

Boating Education: Yes
Boating License: Yes
DOB limitations: January 1, 1986. Born after this date must take boating safety courses

California

Boating Education: Yes
Boating License: California Boater card

Colorado

Boating Education: During education courses for boaters license
Boating License: None required
Minimum Age: 16
Learning Age: 14 – 15

Connecticut

Boating Education: Yes
Boating License: Yes

Delaware

Boating Education: Yes
Boating License: Yes
Minimum Age: 16
Learning Age: 14 – 16
DOB limitations: January 1, 1978. Course approved by Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Florida

Boating Education: Yes
Boating License: Yes, state and NASBLA approved to operate 10HP or over
DOB limitations: January 1, 1988.

Georgia

Boating Education: In learning period
Boating License: No
Minimum Age: 16
Learning Age: 12 – 15. Under 12, no vessel longer than 16ft and less than 30HP when accompanied by an adult.

Hawaii

Boating Education: Yes
Boating License: Yes
Minimum Age: 15

Idaho

Boating Education: Only PWC and no boat license required

Illinois

Boating Education: Only for learning
Minimum Age: 10
Learning Age: 10 – 18
DOB limitations: January 1, 1998. Need Illinois Boating Safety Certificate

Indiana

Boating License: No need a vehicle driver’s license
Minimum Age: 15 if they pass Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)

Iowa

Boating Education: Iowa requires boaters to attend and complete a boating safety course
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12-17

Kansas

Boating Education: Under 21
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 -20
DOB limitations: January 1, 1989 – NASBLA

Kentucky

Boating Education: Yes
Boating License: Kentucky Safe Boating Certificate Card
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 – 17 Kentucky Safe Boating Certificate Card

Louisiana

Boating Education: Yes
Learning Age: under 16
DOB limitations: January 1, 1984

Maine

Boating Education: Yes
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 -16

Maryland

Boating Education: Yes, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Minimum Age: 16
DOB limitations: July 1, 1972

Massachusetts

Boating Education: Yes
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 – 16

Michigan

Boating Education: Under 21
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 – 15

Minnesota

Boating Education: Learning age and engine over 25 horsepower. PWC Watercraft operators permit
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 – 17

Mississippi

Boating Education: Yes, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks
DOB limitations: June 30, 1980

Missouri

Boating Education: Yes, Missouri Boating Safety, Certification Card.
DOB limitations: January 1, 1984

Montana

Boating Education: Learning age
Learning Age: 13 – 14

Nebraska

Boating Education: Yes
Learning Age: 14 – 18
DOB limitations: January 1, 1986

Nevada

Boating Education: Yes, Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) approved boating course
DOB limitations: January 1, 1983

New Hampshire

Boating Education: Yes, NASBLA approved
Minimum Age: 16

New Jersey

Boating Education: Yes
Boating License: Yes, New Jersey State Police (NJSP) approved boating safety and motorboat or Jet Ski license
Minimum Age: 16
Learning Age: 16 – 18

New Mexico

Boating Education: Yes
Boating License: Yes
Learning Age: Under 13
DOB limitations: January 1, 1989, Boater Education Card

New York

Boating Education: Yes, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the U.S. Power Squadron
Boating License: Yes
Minimum Age: 10
Learning Age: 10 – 14
DOB limitations: May 1, 1996

North Carolina

Boating Education: Yes, NASBLA approved for 10HP or above
Learning Age: 14 – 16
DOB limitations: January 1, 1988

North Dakota

Boating Education: Yes,
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 -15

Ohio

Boating Education: Yes
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 – 16
DOB limitations: January 1, 1982

Oklahoma

Boating Education: Learning age, NASBLA approved
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 -16

Oregon

Boating Education: Yes
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 -16

Pennsylvania

Boating Education: Yes
Minimum Age: 11
Learning Age: 11 – 16
DOB limitations: January 1, 1982

Rhode Island

Boating Education: Yes
DOB limitations: January 1, 1986

South Carolina

Boating Education: Learning age for powered 15 HP or above. All motorized boat operators by District of Columbia law need to pass a boater safety course.
Learning Age: Under 16

South Dakota

Boating Education: Learning age
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 – 14

Tennessee

Boating Education: Yes, Tennessee Boater Education Certificate.
Learning Age: Under 12
DOB limitations: January 1, 1989

Texas

Boating Education: Yes, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Boating License: Yes
Learning Age: under 13
DOB limitations: September 1, 1993

Utah

Boating Education: Learning age
Boating License: Yes
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 16 – 17

Vermont

Boating Education: Yes, classroom course for boating safety to be issued by the board
Minimum Age: 10
Learning Age: 10 – 12
DOB limitations: January 1, 1974

Virginia

Boating Education: Learning age
Minimum Age: 14
Learning Age: 14 – 15 online boating education courses for PWC required

Washington

Boating Education: Learning age, boating education requirements need completion for 15HP and over
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 – 20

West Virginia

Boating Education requirements: Yes
Minimum Age: 12
Learning Age: 12 – 14
DOB limitations: January 1, 1987

Wyoming

Learning Age: Under 16

Do You Need a License to Drive a Boat in Wisconsin?

Anyone who is born on or after January 1, 1989, and is aged 16 or over, do need to have completed recognized boating education safety courses from the National Association of State Boating.

If they don’t have this, they cannot legally take a vessel on the water. Boating laws and regulations need to be upheld, and any state, which says legal, may take a little more checking of requirements.

Do You Need a Boat License for 9.9HP?

Do you have to have a license to drive a boat with a motor of 9.9HP? The answer isn’t directly related to engine size and will be a restriction on age limits.

10HP is the threshold, so if you meet all the other requirements, then under 10HP and you won’t face any restrictions if you are over the given age. (Read Do You Need A Permit To Own A Crossbow)

Michigan is one that differs. With supervision, a younger person can operate a boat between 6HP and 35HP with the supervision of someone older than 16.

Do You Need a License to Drive a Boat UK Sea?

Many people may want to go boating when abroad. One of the popular places being the UK, so it is a common question to ask, “Do I need a boating license abroad?”

The UK has different laws and regulations for operation, if you take a boat out to sea, there are no real certifications or an exam, although you will need common sense. Inland is different, and you may require permits.

The Royal Yachting Association is the governing body in the UK. Before boating in the UK, it is worth checking a little further to be sure.

If you are visiting Australia, then you will need to take all your documents and check. A NSW boating licence comes in two forms.

A general boat-driving license and a PWC driving license. A boat license NSW issue is for a vessel that goes over a speed of 10 knots.

It is a long way to go to find you can’t enjoy your favorite boating pastime especially when fishing, when an officer or a pleasure craft operator tells you, you can’t sail on the trip of a lifetime.