How long does it take to get a boating license in Florida

Before you hit the water, you should get your Florida boating license. The process of getting your boating license depends on your age. If you want to enjoy boating this year, make sure you take the time to read the process for how to get your Florida boating license below.

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Step #1 - Understand What You Need
Step #2 - Taking the Boater Education Course
Step #3 - Sending in your Information
Florida Frequently Asked Boating Questions

Step #1 - Understand What You Need

While many refer to it as a boating license, what you really need is a Boater Education Card. This card is mandatory for anybody wanting to operate a boat and born after January 1st, 1988. If you were born before 1988, it’s still recommended but you will not be required to get the Boater Education Card.

In addition, if you're under 14 years of age, you will not be able to operate a boat or any other personal vessel, even if you get the Boater Education Card. It's also important to know that the regulatory authority for the Boater Card is the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Step #2 - Taking the Boater Education Course

To get your Boater Education Card, you will need to complete an approved boater education course in Florida. The course must be approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Your other option is to pass an approved equivalency test.

The boater education course will teach you about boat operations and maintenance, along with the legal requirements for boating in Florida. In addition, you will learn how to handle boating emergencies. This course was created to ensure boaters can enjoy the water, while remaining safe.

You can choose from the following ways to complete the boater education course in Florida:

Choose from 12 FWC approved online courses
Choose one of the approved classroom options offered by the United States Power Squadron or U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or several online options.
Take the home study course provided by the U.S. Power Squadrons or from the FWC

If you choose to take the classroom option, you will need to attend one eight hour session or 12 evening sessions offered. The class offered from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary charges $50.

Here is the link to the free BoatUS online course: http://www.boatus.org/florida/

Those choosing the home study course will be given free course materials from most providers. Some do charge a small fee and the course may take up to eight hours to complete.

All boater education courses require you to take an exam and get at least 80% of the answers to pass the course. When you do pass, you will get a temporary card while you wait for your Boater Education Card.

Step #3 - Sending in your Information

After you've completed the course, you will need to send in the certificate of completion, along with your name, address, phone number and date of birth. It must be sent to the Division of Law Enforcement, Boating Safety Section, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399.

You won't need to renew your Boater Education Card. However, if you ever need a replacement card, you will need to send the same information from Step #3 to the same address.

Florida Frequently Asked Boating Questions

The Florida ilearntoboat Course fee is $54.95.

You need boating education in Florida if you were born on or after January 1, 1988, and you will be operating a motorized boat of 10 hp or more.

See the restrictions here.

There is no minimum age requirement to take this online course.

You do not have to be a resident of Florida to take this online course.

The Florida ilearntoboat Course is approved and accepted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

For visiting boaters, all states, territories, and provinces will recognize boating education cards that meet NASBLA requirements and Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Cards that meet Transport Canada's requirements.

The Final Exam is the exam you take at the end of the online course. You must score at least 80% on the exam to pass. You have unlimited attempts to pass the exam. If you don’t complete the exam in one session, don’t worry. When you log in later, you will be taken to the first unanswered question of the exam.

Once you pay for and pass the online course, you will be able to immediately print out the Temporary Boater Education Certificate. This is your proof of online course completion. You can print the Temporary Boater Education Certificate right then, and/or request that a PDF be emailed to you. This certificate EXPIRES 90 days after course completion.

The Boating Safety Education I.D. Card is proof that you have successfully completed all the education requirements. If you selected to receive a physical copy of the Boating Safety Education I.D. Card, it will arrive within 3-4 weeks after you complete all certification requirements. However, if you opted to receive an electronic Boating Safety Education I.D. Card, it will be emailed to you at your registered email ID within 1–4 days after successfully completing the course.

To replace a lost or destroyed Boating Safety Education I.D. Card, you can order a duplicate by calling 850-488-5600 or emailing [email protected].

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I was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, and want to operate a boat in Florida. Do I need a license?

In order to operate a motorboat of ten (10) horsepower or greater, Florida law requires anyone who was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 to successfully complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a Boating Safety Education Identification Card issued by the FWC.

Florida does not have a "boating license." The Boating Safety Education Identification Card is proof of successful completion of the educational requirements and is valid for life.

I've heard there were some changes in the law regarding the requirements to operate a boat in Florida. What were the changes?

Effective Jan. 1, 2010, boat operators who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, must have a Florida Boating Safety Education Identification Card to operate a motorboat with 10 horsepower or more. The requirement to take an approved boating safety course and to obtain an FWC-issued identification card did not change, but the age threshold for the educational requirements is now be based on whether or not you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988.

The new law also created an exemption from the educational requirements for an operator if he or she is operating a vessel within 90 days after the purchase of that vessel and has available for inspection aboard that vessel a bill of sale meeting all the requirements as established in Chapter 328.46(1), Florida Statutes.

Are some people who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 exempt from these boating safety educational requirements?

Yes, there are some exemptions. Below is a list of those exemptions.

A person licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a master of a vessel.
A person operating on a private lake or pond.
An operator who is accompanied onboard by a person who is least 18 years old and possesses the required Boating Safety Education Identification Card, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.
An operator who is accompanied onboard by a person who is exempt from the educational requirements, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.
A nonresident who has in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a NASBLA-approved boater safety course or equivalency examination from another state.
A person is operating a vessel within 90 days after the purchase of that vessel and has available for inspection aboard that vessel a bill of sale meeting all the requirements as established in Chapter 328.46(1), Florida Statutes.
A person operating a vessel within 90 days after completing an approved boating safety course, as required in Chapter 327.395(1), and has a photographic I.D. and a boater education course completion certificate showing proof of having completed the required boating safety education course. The course completion certificate must provide the student's first and last name, date of birth, and the date the course was successfully completed. (Effective Oct. 1, 2011.)

I will be visiting Florida from another state and I want to rent a personal watercraft. How will these boating safety educational requirements apply to me?

As a nonresident, you must comply with the boating safety education requirements. However, if you have proof in your possession that you have completed a boater safety course or equivalency exam that meets or exceeds Florida's requirements (usually in the form of a certificate or card), you would not need to have a Florida Boating Safety Education Identification Card. In addition, you would also be exempt if you met any of the other conditions for exemptions listed in the previous question.

I am an 18-year-old boater who just passed an approved online boating safety course and received a printed certificate of course completion. Do I still need to get a boating safety card?

Yes. In addition to the requirement to successfully complete an approved boating safety course, you must also have an FWC-issued Boating Safety Education Identification Card - along with a photo ID - in your possession to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more. Effective Oct. 1, 2011, a course completion certificate for an approved course - along with a photo ID - can be used for up to 90 days from date of issue to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more. (See the last frequently asked question for more details on requirements for certificate.)

I am 26 years of age and will be visiting Florida for a few days, but I don't have a Boating Safety Education Identification Card. How can I rent a boat?

If you are visiting from another state and you do not meet any of the conditions to be exempt from the boating safety education requirements, you can get a temporary certificate in order to rent a boat. These certificates are issued by vendors around the state. The temporary certificate is valid for 90 days and is not intended to be a permanent replacement for the Boating Safety Education Identification Card.

I received a temporary certificate from an FWC contractor. Can I send my Temporary Certificate to your office and exchange it for a Boating Safety Education Identification Card?

No. The Temporary Certificate is a certificate that allows an individual to temporarily meet Florida's boating education requirements. It is not a substitute for a Boating Safety Education Identification Card and is only valid for 90 days from the date it is issued.

If I am required to have a boating safety ID card to operate my boat and I just completed an approved boating safety course, can I operate my boat while I am waiting to receive my card?

Yes. If you are required to have an FWC-issued Boating Safety Education ID card in order to operate a boat and you have completed an approved boating safety course, the course completion certificate (along with a photo ID) can be used as proof of meeting the educational requirement.

To meet the legal requirement, the course completion certificate must have your first and last name, your date of birth and the date you successfully completed the course. You must have the certificate with you (along with a photo ID) while operating the boat. The course completion certificate can be used for up to 90 days and it is not a permanent replacement for the Boating Safety Education ID Card.