Do You Need a License to Drive a Boat? All 50 States

If you ask, “do you need a license to drive a boat,” you need a boater education credential in 45 states for at least some operators; Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, South Dakota, and Wyoming have no general requirement.

Boater education at a glance

Read every state and its rule

State	Education category	Education rule
Alabama	Required if born on/after a set date*	all operators of motorized vessels, including personal watercraft, except those born before April 28, 1954
Alaska	No general requirement*	no one; Alaska law has no mandatory boater education requirement, though the Office of Boating Safety highly recommends a NASBLA-approved course
Arizona	No general requirement*	No one; boater education is voluntary in Arizona.
Arkansas	Required if born on/after a set date*	operators born on or after January 1, 1986, running any motorboat (including a personal watercraft or a boat with only a trolling motor) or a sailboat, residents and non-residents alike
California	Required for all operators*	all operators of motorized boats, regardless of age (since January 1, 2025)
Colorado	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	operators aged 14 to 17 of any motorboat, including a PWC; operators 18 and older are not required to take a course
Connecticut	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	Connecticut residents, owners of Connecticut property, and anyone operating a Connecticut-registered vessel, to operate any motorboat or a sailboat 19.5 feet or longer; a PWC requires the Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. Small electric motors (106 lbs thrust or less) on inland waters restricted to 10 hp are exempt from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset (the boat must still be registered).
Delaware	Required if born on/after a set date*	anyone born on or after January 1, 1978 who operates a vessel required to be registered (motorboats and PWC) on Delaware waters; licensed USCG captains are exempt
Florida	Required if born on/after a set date*	operators born on or after January 1, 1988, running a boat powered by 10 horsepower or more
Georgia	Required if born on/after a set date*	anyone born after January 1, 1998 operating a motorized vessel
Hawaii	Required for all operators*	anyone operating a power-driven vessel on state waters. Exempt: holders of a USCG merchant mariner credential, thrill craft operators in an authorized commercial thrill craft zone, operators of motorboats of 10 hp or less, and boaters on a voyage that started outside Hawaii staying less than 60 days. Thrill craft (PWC) operators need a separate Hawaii thrill craft certificate.
Idaho	No general requirement*	no general requirement; PWC rental customers must receive the IDPR education from the rental business and carry a wallet card, and operators convicted of boating under the influence or of repeat boating-law violations must pass a boating course
Illinois	Required if born on/after a set date*	operators born on or after January 1, 1998, of any motorboat with more than 10 hp, including personal watercraft
Indiana	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	motorboat and PWC operators who do not hold a valid driver's license; they must be at least 15, complete a DNR-approved boater education course and carry a BMV-issued ID card
Iowa	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	only operators 12 to 17 running a motorboat over 10 horsepower or a personal watercraft without a responsible, experienced person 18 or older on board; no requirement for adults
Kansas	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	operators aged 12 through 20 of any vessel designed to be propelled by a motor (including a trolling motor) or sail, including PWC, sailboats and sailboards, unless under direct and audible supervision by someone 18 or older who has completed boater education or is over 21. Operators 21 and older are exempt.
Kentucky	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	operators 12 through 17 years old of a motorboat or PWC with 10 horsepower or more
Louisiana	Required if born on/after a set date*	operators born after January 1, 1984 running a motorboat over 10 horsepower or any personal watercraft
Maine	Required if born on/after a set date*	Anyone born on or after January 1, 1999 operating a motorboat over 25 hp for recreational boating on inland or territorial waters, or operating any PWC. Supervisors of under-12 operators born on or after that date must also have the course. Persons born before January 1, 1999 are exempt; Maine guides, USCG-licensed operators and some dealer test drives are also exempt.
Maryland	Required if born on/after a set date*	anyone born on or after July 1, 1972 operating a motorized (numbered or documented) vessel
Massachusetts	Required if born on/after a set date*	all motorboat and PWC operators born after January 1, 1989 (from April 1, 2026); operators born on or before January 1, 1989 must comply by April 1, 2028
Michigan	Required if born on/after a set date*	motorboat operators born on or after July 1, 1996 (boats over 6 horsepower) and personal watercraft operators born after December 31, 1978
Minnesota	Required if born on/after a set date*	operators 12 and older born after June 30, 2000, running a personal watercraft or a motorboat over 25 horsepower (the birth-date cutoff moves to June 30, 1996 on July 1, 2027 and June 30, 1987 on July 1, 2028)
Mississippi	Required if born on/after a set date*	anyone born after June 30, 1980 who operates a boat or personal watercraft on Mississippi public waters; proof of course completion must be carried while operating
Missouri	Required if born on/after a set date*	anyone born after January 1, 1984 who operates any vessel on Missouri lakes, residents and non-residents alike
Montana	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	operators aged 13 and 14 of a motorboat or PWC powered by more than 10 horsepower, unless accompanied by someone 18 or older
Nebraska	Required if born on/after a set date*	anyone born after December 31, 1985 who operates a motorboat or personal watercraft; the course certificate must be carried while operating
Nevada	Required if born on/after a set date*	operators born on or after January 1, 1983, of a boat powered by a motor over 15 horsepower on interstate waters (waters forming the boundary between Nevada and a neighboring state)
New Hampshire	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	Everyone, regardless of birth year, operating a motorized vessel over 25 hp. A person under 16 may operate such a vessel only when accompanied by someone 18 or older who holds a certificate. Boats of 25 hp or less need no certificate.
New Jersey	Required for all operators*	Anyone operating a power vessel or personal watercraft on New Jersey waters (fully phased in June 1, 2009). Ages 13-15 with a certificate may run only electric-only boats or boats 12 ft+ with under 10 hp. Exceptions: visitors 16+ in NJ under 90 days with proof of a NASBLA/USCG/other-state course or home-state certificate, and renters 18+ of a non-PWC power vessel who complete the livery's pre-rental course. Non-tidal waters also require an MVC power vessel operator's license (16+; $18 for 48 months plus $6 photo).
New Mexico	Required if born on/after a set date*	anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 who operates a motor-propelled vessel (gas or electric) or a sailboat
New York	Required for all operators*	all operators of motorized boats, including personal watercraft and specialty craft, regardless of age
North Carolina	Required if born on/after a set date*	operators born on or after January 1, 1988, running any vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more
North Dakota	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	youth ages 12 through 15 who want to operate a motorboat or PWC with more than a 10 hp motor without a person 18 or older along
Ohio	Required if born on/after a set date*	operators born on or after January 1, 1982, running a powercraft with more than 10 horsepower
Oklahoma	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	operators 12, 13, 14 or 15 years old running a boat with more than 10 horsepower, a sailboat 16 feet or longer, or a PWC
Oregon	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	anyone operating a motorboat (including a PWC) over 10 horsepower, plus youths 12 to 15 operating a motorboat of any size; there is no upper age exemption
Pennsylvania	Required if born on/after a set date*	all personal watercraft operators, and operators born on or after January 1, 1982 running a boat with a motor over 25 horsepower
Rhode Island	Required if born on/after a set date*	Anyone born on or after January 1, 1986 operating a vessel with more than 10 hp, and every PWC operator regardless of age. Exempt (non-PWC): operators supervised aboard by someone 18+ who meets the requirement, USCG/state commercial license holders, non-residents meeting their home-state rules, new residents within 60 days, and renters who watch the livery video and pass its test.
South Carolina	Required if born on/after a set date*	operators born after July 1, 2007 running a boat of 10 horsepower or more, a personal watercraft or a specialty propcraft
South Dakota	No general requirement*	no one; boating education is not mandatory in South Dakota, but the state recommends one of three certified online courses
Tennessee	Required if born on/after a set date*	anyone born after January 1, 1989 who operates a motorized vessel over 8.5 horsepower (sail-only boats and boats of 8.5 hp or less are exempt)
Texas	Required if born on/after a set date*	operators born on or after September 1, 1993, running a personal watercraft, a motorboat with more than 15 horsepower, or a sailboat over 14 feet
Utah	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	PWC operators aged 12 to 17, regardless of residency. Every boater must also take the annual mussel-aware course, and from January 1, 2027 every motorboat and sailboat operator must complete the annual watercraft operator course (inflatable motorboats are exempt).
Vermont	Required if born on/after a set date*	Anyone born after January 1, 1974 operating any motorized vessel, including a PWC. Exempt: USCG-licensed commercial operators, operators only on a private lake or pond, and non-residents with proof of an approved course from another state.
Virginia	Required for some operators (age, engine power or other limits)*	all operators, regardless of age, of motorboats with a 10 hp or greater engine, and all personal watercraft operators
Washington	Required if born on/after a set date*	operators of boats with an engine of 15 horsepower or more, unless born before January 1, 1955
West Virginia	Required if born on/after a set date*	anyone born on or after December 31, 1986 who operates a motorboat or personal watercraft
Wisconsin	Required if born on/after a set date*	motorboat and personal watercraft operators born on or after January 1, 1989
Wyoming	No general requirement*	no one; Wyoming does not require a boating safety course, though Game and Fish links to online courses

A boating safety card records that you passed an approved course. The required credential and the operators covered by the rule vary by state, and some states set separate rules for personal watercraft (PWC), such as jet skis.

For PWC rules, see Do You Need a License to Drive a Jet Ski.

Key Takeaways

• Your state may require a course credential based on your age, birth date, or boat.
• A boating safety card proves course completion; it does not work like a standard driver’s license.
• Check your state’s rule for your boat’s motor, your age, and any PWC use.

The Short Answer: A Card, Not a License

In most states, you need proof of approved boating education when you fall within the state’s rule, and that proof is a course card or certificate. The rule can cover every motorboat operator or only people within a particular age group, birth-date range, or horsepower limit.

Your card confirms that you completed the required course. Indiana has a distinct rule: a valid driver’s license serves as the operating credential, while operators without one must complete an approved course and carry a BMV-issued ID card.

New Jersey also requires an MVC power vessel operator’s license for non-tidal waters, in addition to its boating safety certificate. Check the rule for the state where you plan to operate, especially if you are taking a boat across state lines.

States That Require a Card for Every Operator

Some states apply their education rule to all operators within a defined class of boats, with age-based or other exceptions in certain cases. California and New York cover all operators of motorized boats regardless of age.

Hawaii requires a course credential for anyone operating a power-driven vessel on state waters, with stated exemptions for some operators and boats. New Jersey requires a boating safety certificate for power-vessel and PWC operators, with exceptions for some visitors and renters.

States With a Birth-Date Cutoff

Many states base the education requirement on when you were born, while also limiting it to certain boats or waters. Check the full rule for your state, since the cutoff alone may not show whether your motor, boat type, or activity is covered.

• Alabama: all operators of motorized vessels, including PWC, except those born before April 28, 1954.
• Arkansas: operators born on or after January 1, 1986, running any motorboat or a sailboat.
• Delaware: anyone born on or after January 1, 1978, operating a vessel required to be registered on Delaware waters.
• Florida: operators born on or after January 1, 1988, running a boat powered by 10 horsepower or more.
• Georgia: anyone born after January 1, 1998, operating a motorized vessel.
• Illinois: operators born on or after January 1, 1998, of a motorboat with more than 10 hp.
• Louisiana: operators born after January 1, 1984, running a motorboat over 10 horsepower or any PWC.
• Maine: anyone born on or after January 1, 1999, operating a recreational motorboat over 25 hp on inland or territorial waters, or any PWC.
• Maryland: anyone born on or after July 1, 1972, operating a motorized numbered or documented vessel.
• Massachusetts: motorboat and PWC operators born after January 1, 1989, from April 1, 2026; operators born on or before January 1, 1989, must comply by April 1, 2028.
• Michigan: motorboat operators born on or after July 1, 1996, for boats over 6 horsepower; PWC operators born after December 31, 1978.
• Minnesota: operators 12 and older born after June 30, 2000, running a PWC or motorboat over 25 horsepower.
• Mississippi: anyone born after June 30, 1980, operating a boat or PWC on public waters.
• Missouri: anyone born after January 1, 1984, operating any vessel on Missouri lakes.
• Nebraska: anyone born after December 31, 1985, operating a motorboat or PWC.
• Nevada: operators born on or after January 1, 1983, of a boat powered by a motor over 15 horsepower on interstate waters.
• New Mexico: anyone born on or after January 1, 1989, operating a motor-propelled vessel or sailboat.
• North Carolina: operators born on or after January 1, 1988, running a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more.
• Ohio: operators born on or after January 1, 1982, running a powercraft with more than 10 horsepower.
• Pennsylvania: all PWC operators, and operators born on or after January 1, 1982, running a boat with a motor over 25 horsepower.
• Rhode Island: anyone born on or after January 1, 1986, operating a vessel with more than 10 hp; every PWC operator also needs the credential.
• South Carolina: operators born after July 1, 2007, running a boat of 10 horsepower or more, a PWC, or a specialty propcraft.
• Tennessee: anyone born after January 1, 1989, operating a motorized vessel over 8.5 horsepower.
• Texas: operators born on or after September 1, 1993, running a PWC, a motorboat with more than 15 horsepower, or a sailboat over 14 feet.
• Vermont: anyone born after January 1, 1974, operating a motorized vessel.
• Washington: operators of boats with an engine of 15 horsepower or more, unless born before January 1, 1955.
• West Virginia: anyone born on or after December 31, 1986, operating a motorboat or PWC.
• Wisconsin: motorboat and PWC operators born on or after January 1, 1989.

States That Require It Only for Certain Ages or Horsepower

Some states set the rule by an operator’s age, the boat’s power, or a combination of those limits. New Hampshire requires a certificate for everyone operating a motorized vessel over 25 hp; boats of 25 hp or less need no certificate.

• Colorado: operators aged 14 to 17 of any motorboat; operators 18 and older are not required to take a course.
• Connecticut: certain residents, property owners, and operators of Connecticut-registered vessels need a certificate for motorboats or sailboats 19.5 feet or longer. A PWC requires a separate Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation.
• Indiana: motorboat and PWC operators without a valid driver’s license must be at least 15, complete an approved course, and carry a BMV-issued ID card.
• Iowa: operators 12 to 17 running a motorboat over 10 horsepower or PWC without a responsible, experienced person 18 or older on board.
• Kansas: operators aged 12 through 20 of a motor-propelled or sail vessel, subject to a direct-supervision exception; operators 21 and older are exempt.
• Kentucky: operators 12 through 17 years old of a motorboat or PWC with 10 horsepower or more.
• Montana: operators aged 13 and 14 of a motorboat or PWC powered by more than 10 horsepower, unless accompanied by someone 18 or older.
• North Dakota: youth ages 12 through 15 operating a motorboat or PWC with more than a 10 hp motor without a person 18 or older along.
• Oklahoma: operators 12, 13, 14 or 15 running a boat with more than 10 horsepower, a sailboat 16 feet or longer, or a PWC.
• Oregon: anyone operating a motorboat, including a PWC, over 10 horsepower; youths 12 to 15 also need a card to operate a motorboat of any size.
• Utah: PWC operators aged 12 to 17 need a safety certificate. Every boater must also take the annual mussel-aware course, and from January 1, 2027, every motorboat and sailboat operator must complete the annual watercraft operator course.
• Virginia: all operators, regardless of age, of motorboats with a 10 hp or greater engine, and all PWC operators.

States With No Education Requirement

Five states have no general mandatory boater education requirement: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Some still recommend voluntary courses or set special conditions for certain operators.

Alaska’s Office of Boating Safety highly recommends a NASBLA-approved course. Arizona’s education is voluntary, and South Dakota recommends certified online courses.

Idaho requires PWC rental customers to receive education from the rental business and carry a wallet card; operators convicted of boating under the influence or repeat boating-law violations must pass a course. Wyoming does not require a boating safety course.

What Your State Calls the Card

States use different names for proof of boating education, including certificates, permits, and cards. The credential name in your state can help you confirm that a course or document meets its rule.

For example, Alabama calls its credential the Alabama Boater Safety Certification, while Minnesota calls its credential a Watercraft Operator’s Permit. Hawaii requires a certificate of completion from a NASBLA- and state-approved course with a Hawaii component, and Indiana pairs course completion with a BMV-issued ID card for operators without a valid driver’s license.

State-by-State Table

The table gives the state rule and the name of the required or voluntary credential. Check the linked state page for exceptions and details that apply to your boat, location, or situation.