Do You Need a License to Drive a Boat in the US?

Specific requirements vary from state to state, but over 70% of the U.S. requires boaters who meet certain criteria to take a safety education course. The resulting accreditation is called a certificate, not a license, because it is good for life and doesn’t expire.

Proof of certification is issued in the form of a boater safety education card, which boaters must keep on hand at all times when operating a pleasure craft and make available for inspection by enforcement officers upon request.

NASBLA approval for boater safety education courses

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, or NASBLA, is a national organization that regulates recreational boater safety in the U.S. It represents all of the state recreational boating authorities and oversees their boater safety education programs.

NASBLA approval makes course reciprocity between states possible—meaning that if your boating safety course is NASBLA-approved, you can use your certification when traveling in any state (or even in Canada!).

Boating safety certification requirements by state

Boating safety certification requirements vary significantly from state to state. Read on for an overview of each state’s requirements, or consult NASBLA’s interactive map for more information.

Alabama

Anyone born after April 28, 1956 is required to have a vessel operator certification. No one under the age of 12 may obtain certification, and those aged 12 and 13 must only operate a vessel under supervision.

Alaska

No requirement.

Arizona

No requirement.

Arkansas

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1986 must have successfully completed a boating education course approved by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. People must be at least 12 years of age or under adult supervision to operate a motorboat with 10 or more horsepower, and at least 16 or under supervision to operate a PWC.

California

The California Boater Card is being phased in progressively by age. As of Jan. 1, 2022, everyone aged 45 and under is required to carry the card. All boaters regardless of age will have to obtain the card by 2025. The requirement applies to all motorized vessels.

Colorado

14 and 15 year olds must take a Boat Safety Review Session in order to legally operate a boat in Colorado.

Connecticut

All residents of Connecticut who wish to operate a motorized vessel or a sailboat longer than 19.5 ft are required to obtain a safe boating certificate. There are additional requirements for PWCs.

Delaware

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1978 is required to successfully complete a boating safety course.

District of Columbia

Vessel operators must have a boating safety certificate or an adult passenger on board who holds a boating safety certificate.

Florida

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 who wants to operate a motorboat of 10 or more horsepower must obtain their Florida boater’s license, called the Boating Safety Education Identification Card.

Georgia

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1998 must complete an approved boat education course to operate a motorized vessel.

Hawaii

All individuals must take an approved boating safety course in order to operate a motorized vessel.

Idaho

Only those renting a PWC, those convicted of operating under the influence (OUI) and those who repeatedly break boating laws are required to receive boater education.

Illinois

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1998 must have a valid boating safety certificate to operate a motorized vessel of 10 or more horsepower. 10 and 11 year olds who operate a motorized vessel or PWC must be supervised by an adult with a boating safety certificate. 12 to 17 year olds who operate a motorized vessel or PWC must have a boating safety certificate or be supervised by an adult who does.

Indiana

Boaters who do not have a valid Indiana driver’s license will need a boater education card to operate a motorized vessel. Individuals under 15 years of age may not operate a motorized vessel.

Iowa

Individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 must take a boater education course to operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower or a PWC.

Kansas

Anyone under the age of 21 who wants to operate a vessel propelled by a motor or sail must complete an approved boater education course unless they are under direct supervision. No one under the age of 12 may operate a motorized vessel without supervision.

Kentucky

Individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 must obtain safe boating certification to operate a motorized vessel or PWC.

Louisiana

Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1984 must successfully complete an approved boater education course to operate a motorboat. PWC operators must be 16 years of age or older.

Maine

16 and 17 year olds must successfully complete a NASBLA-approved boating safety course to operate a PWC.

Maryland

Anyone born on or after July 1, 1972 must have a certificate of boating safety education to operate a motorized vessel.

Massachusetts

12 to 15 year olds who want to operate a motorboat without supervision must complete a basic boating course. No one under the age of 16 may operate a PWC. 16 and 17 year olds must complete a course to operate a PWC.

Michigan

Anyone born on or after July 1, 1996 must be issued a boating safety certificate to operate a motorized boat over 6 horsepower. Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1978 needs a boating safety certificate to operate a PWC and must be at least 14 years of age.

Minnesota

Individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 need to complete a boating safety course in order to operate a motorized vessel over 25 horsepower. Individuals under the age of 13 may not operate a PWC.

Mississippi

Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1980 will need a boater education card.

Missouri

Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1984 is required to hold a boating safety identification card to operate a motorized vessel.

Montana

13 and 14 year olds must complete a boating education course to operate a motorboat or PWC over 10 horsepower unless supervised by an adult.

Nebraska

Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1985 must successfully complete a boating safety course to operate a motorized vessel or PWC.

Nevada

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1983 is required to complete an approved boater education course in order to operate a motorboat over 15 horsepower on Nevada’s interstate waters.

New Hampshire

Anyone over the age of 16 operating a motorboat over 25 horsepower must have a boating education certificate.

New Jersey

All power vessel operators must hold a New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate.

New Mexico

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1989 must have a boater education card in order to operate a vessel.

New York

The New York safe boating certificate is being phased in progressively by age. As of Jan. 1, 2022, everyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 is required to carry the card to operate a motorized vessel. All boaters regardless of age will have to obtain the card by 2025.

North Carolina

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 must complete a NASBLA-approved boating education course in order to operate a motorized vessel of 10 or more horsepower.

North Dakota

Individuals between the ages of 12 and 15 who want to operate a motorboat or PWC with 10 or more horsepower without supervision must complete the Boat North Dakota course.

Ohio

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1982 will need to take an Ohio boater safety course to operate a motorboat with over 10 horsepower.

Oklahoma

Individuals between the ages of 12 and 15 who want to operate a motorboat with 10 or more horsepower, a PWC or a sailboat that is 16 ft or longer must successfully complete a boating safety education course.

Oregon

All boaters who operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower and individuals between the ages of 12 and 15 who operate a motorboat of any size must hold a boater education card.

Pennsylvania

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1982 who wants to operate a motorboat with over 25 horsepower is required to take a boating safety course in Pennsylvania. All PWC operators are also required to take the course.

Rhode Island

Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1986 must be certified in order to operate a motorized vessel with over 10 horsepower. All PWC operators must also be certified.

South Carolina

Boaters under 16 years of age must pass an approved boater education course to operate a PWC or motorboat with 15 or more horsepower without supervision.

South Dakota

No requirement.

Tennessee

Tennessee residents born after Jan. 1, 1989 must hold a boating safety education certificate to operate a boat with more than 8.5 horsepower.

Texas

Anyone born on or after Sept. 1, 1993 who wants to operate a motorized vessel over 15 horsepower or a sailboat over 14 ft will need to take a boater education certification course.

Utah

Individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 must have certification in order to operate a PWC.

Vermont

Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1974 must hold a boating education card in order to operate a motorboat.

Virginia

All PWC operators and boaters operating a motorized vessel with 10 or more horsepower are required to take a boating safety course.

Washington

All boaters operating a motorized vessel with 15 or more horsepower are required to hold a boater education card.

West Virginia

Anyone born on or after Dec. 31, 1986 must successfully complete a NASBLA-approved boater education course in order to operate a motorboat.

Wisconsin

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1989 must hold a boater education card to operate a motorboat.

Wyoming

No requirement.

Take Drive a Boat USA’s NASBLA-approved boating safety course!

Drive a Boat USA offers a NASBLA-approved US boat safety course that can be done entirely online. Learn everything you need to know about boating safety at your own pace, then take the exam to obtain your boater safety education card when you are ready! Just select the page associated with your state to get started.