Boating license rules in Alabama
Residents operating a motorized vessel need a vessel operator's license. Operators born before April 28, 1954 are exempt from the exam.1
The details
- Personal watercraft (jet skis)
- No one under 12 may operate any motorized vessel, including personal watercraft. Ages 12 and 13 need a licensed adult 21 or older aboard.1
- Minimum age to operate
- Must be 12 or older to get a license but cannot operate alone until age 14.1
- Card and course cost
- One-time application fee $5.00 cash and $36.25 issuance fee for the license. Online courses listed from $19.99 to $79.95.1
- Cards from other states
- Effective October 1, 2024, nonresidents may operate with a valid boater safety or operator certification from their home state or country, or an Alabama Nonresident Boater Safety Certification.1
- Exemptions
- Exam exemptions: USCG Motorboat Operator's License holders, approved USPS, USCG Auxiliary or Marine Patrol course certificates, and anyone born before April 28, 1954.1
The official pages we read do not say: engine size covered. Ask the agency.
The rules are set by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Marine Patrol Division.
Sources
- Boating Education and Operator Certification/License, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, checked 1 November 2026
Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.