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Home > Learn to Fish & Boat > Boating > Boating and Water Safety > Online Boat Safety Courses
Every state has its own boating safety requirements and guidelines, but regardless of rules and regulations, successfully completing an online boating safety course increases your water safety and boating skills. Select your state below for more information on local boating education programs.
Boating is one of our nation’s favorite pastimes for a simple reason—it’s a great way to spend time with the people we care about! However, it is important that you are properly educated on boat safety best practices in order to ensure the safety of all passengers on board. Understand the boat safety education requirements for your specific state, and learn about the benefits that come from completing an approved online boat safety course.
Every state has its own boating safety requirement, guidelines and online courses. Check your state for more information on local boating education programs.
Alabama You need education if you are at least 12 years old and will be operating a motorized boat in Alabama. Learn More
Alaska Alaska does not require boating education. Click here if you want to take a safety course online. Learn More
Arizona Arizona does not require boating education. Click here if you want to take a safety course online. Learn More
Arkansas You need education if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1986, and you are of legal age to operate a motorboat. Learn More
California CA does not currently require boating education. Beginning on Jan 1, 2018, young boaters will require education. Learn More
Colorado You need education if you are 14 or 15 years old and will be operating a motorized vessel in CO. Learn More
Connecticut CT does not require a boating license for boat operators. However, operators need to have a Safe Boating Certificate. Learn More
Delaware You need education if you were born after Dec. 31, 1977, and will be operating a motorized vessel in DE. Learn More
DC Everyone who will be operating in the District of Columbia needs education. Learn More
Florida You need education if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, and will be operating a motorized boat. Learn More
Georgia You need education if you were born after Jan. 1, 1998, and will be operating a motorized vessel. Learn More
Hawaii You need education if you will be operating a motorized boat over 10 hp or a PWC in Hawaii. Learn More
Idaho Idaho does not require boating education. Click here if you want to take a safety course online. Learn More
Illinois You need education if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1998, and will be operating a vessel powered by a motor. Learn More
Indiana You need education if you are at least 15 years old and will be operating a motorboat or PWC. Learn More
Iowa You need education if you are 12 to 17 years old and will be operating a motorized vessel. Learn More
Kansas You need education if you are between 12 and 20 years old, are unaccompanied, and will be operating a PWC. Learn More
Kentucky You need education if you are 12 to 17 years old, unaccompanied, and will be operating a motorized vessel. Learn More
Louisiana You need education if you were born after Jan. 1, 1984, and will be operating a motorboat in LA. Learn More
Maine You need education if you are 16 to 18 years old, unaccompanied, and will be operating a personal watercraft. Learn More
Maryland You need education if you were born after July 1, 1972, and will be operating a boat or PWC in MD. Learn More
Massachusetts You need education if you are between 12 and 18 years of age in order to operate a motorboat in MA. Learn More
Michigan You need education if you were born after June 30, 1996, and will be operating a vessel in Michigan. Learn More
Minnesota You need education if you are 12 to 17 years old, are unsupervised, and will be operating a boat. Learn More
Mississippi You need education if you were born after June 30, 1980, and will be operating a boat or PWC in MS. Learn More
Missouri You need education if you were born after Jan. 1, 1984, and will be operating a vessel on any lake in MO. Learn More
Montana You need education if you are 13 or 14 years old and will be operating a motorboat or PWC over 10 hp. Learn More
Nebraska Anyone born after Dec 31, 1985, must complete an in-person Boating Safety Course and carry the certificate onboard. Learn More
Nevada You need education if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1983, and will be operating a vessel over 15 hp. Learn More
New Hampshire You need education if you are at least 16 years old and will be operating a motorboat over 25 hp. Learn More
New Jersey You need education if you will be operating a motorized vessel in NJ and/or a non-tidal boat license as well. Learn More
New Mexico You need education if you were born or after January 1, 1989, and will be operating a motorboat. Learn More
New York You need education if you are at least 10 years old and will be operating any type of vessel. Learn More
North Carolina You need education if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, and will be operating a boat or PWC. Learn More
North Dakota You need education if you are 12 to 15 years old, unaccompanied, and will be operating a power-driven vessel. Learn More
Ohio You need education if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1982, and will be operating a boat or PWC. Learn More
Oklahoma You need education if you are 12 to 15 years old and will be operating a boat or PWC over 10 hp. Learn More
Oregon You need education if you will be operating a vessel over 10 hp in Oregon. Learn More
Pennsylvania You need education if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1982, and will be operating a boat or PWC. Learn More
Rhode Island You need education if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1986, and will be operating a motorized or PWC. Learn More
South Carolina You need education if you are under 16 years old, unaccompanied, and will be operating a boat or PWC. Learn More
South Dakota South Dakota does not require boating education. Learn More
Tennessee You need education if you were born after Jan. 1, 1989 and will be operating a motorized vessel over 8.5 hp. Learn More
Texas You need education if you were born on or after Sept. 1, 1993, and will be operating a boat. Learn More
Utah You need education if you are 12 to 17 years old and will be operating a PWC in Utah. Learn More
Vermont You need education if you were born after Jan. 1, 1974, and will be operating a motorized vessel or PWC. Learn More
Virginia All PWC operators age 14 and older and all motorboat operators of 10 hp or greater need to take a course. Learn More
Washington You need education if you are operating a powered watercraft of 15 hp or more in Washington. Learn More
West Virginia You need education if you were born on or after Dec. 31, 1986, and will be operating a motorboat or PWC. Learn More
Wisconsin You need education if you are at least 16 years old and born on or after Jan. 1, 1989, and will be operating a motorboat. Learn More
Wyoming Wyoming does not require boating education. Click here if you want to take a safety course online. Learn More
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