Boater Card Rules

Do you need a boating license? Rules for every state

Most states require a boater education card rather than a license, usually for people born after a certain date. Here is the rule in each of 47 states, copied from the state boating agency or statute and dated.

Engine size covered
AlabamaNo birth date rule
ArizonaNo birth date ruleUnder 12 limit applies to motors of greater than eight horsepower.
Arkansas1 January 1986Age rules apply to motorboats powered by an engine of 10 horsepower or more.
CaliforniaNo birth date rule
ColoradoNo birth date rule
ConnecticutNo birth date ruleChildren under 12 with a certificate may not operate a vessel over 10 hp unless an adult 18 or older holding an SBC or CPWO is aboard.
Delaware1 January 1978
Florida1 January 198810 horsepower or more
Georgia1 January 1998
HawaiiNo birth date ruleEngine over 10 hp
Illinois1 January 1998Over 10 horsepower
IndianaNo birth date ruleOver 10 horsepower
IowaNo birth date ruleOver ten horsepower
KansasNo birth date rule
KentuckyNo birth date rule10 horsepower or over
Louisiana2 January 1984Over 10 horsepower
Maine1 January 1999
Maryland1 July 1972
Massachusetts2 January 1989
Michigan1 July 1996
Minnesota1 July 2000Motorboats with a factory rated motor of 25 horsepower or less are not affected, unless a PWC. Under 12 may not operate a motorboat over 75 hp.
Mississippi1 July 1980
Missouri2 January 1984
MontanaNo birth date ruleMotor rated at more than 10 horsepower
Nebraska1 January 1986
Nevada1 January 1983Motor which exceeds 15 horsepower
New HampshireNo birth date ruleOver 25 horsepower
New JerseyNo birth date ruleAges 13 to 15 with a certificate may operate an electric motor vessel or a vessel 12 feet or longer with under 10 horsepower.
New Mexico1 January 1989
New YorkNo birth date rule
North Carolina1 January 198810 HP or greater
North DakotaNo birth date ruleAt least a 10 horsepower motor
Ohio1 January 1982Powercraft over ten horsepower
OklahomaNo birth date ruleMotor more than 10 horsepower
OregonNo birth date ruleOver 10 horsepower
Pennsylvania1 January 1982Motors greater than 25 horsepower
Rhode Island2 January 1986Motor greater than 10hp
South Carolina2 July 2007Ten horsepower or greater
South DakotaNo birth date ruleMotor of more than six horsepower
Tennessee2 January 1989More than 8.5 horsepower
Texas1 September 1993More than 15 horsepower
UtahNo birth date rule
Vermont2 January 1974
VirginiaNo birth date rule10 hp or greater engine
Washington1 January 195515 horsepower or greater
West Virginia31 December 1986
Wisconsin1 January 1989

Some states use age bands or cover all ages instead of a birth date. See each state page.

Still being confirmed