Boating license rules in Illinois
Operators born on or after January 1, 1998 need a valid Boating Safety Certificate to operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower.1
The details
- Engine size covered
- Over 10 horsepower1
- Personal watercraft (jet skis)
- Ages 10 and 11 may operate a PWC over 10 hp only with on-board adult supervision. Ages 12 to 17 need a certificate or that supervision.1
- Minimum age to operate
- No person under 10 years of age may operate a motorboat, including personal watercraft.1
- Card and course cost
- Instructor led course is free. Online courses cost $34.95 to $59.95. No card fee listed.1
- Cards from other states
- Illinois recognizes boating safety certificates issued by another state, a Canadian province, the USCG Auxiliary and the US Power Squadrons.1
- Exemptions
- Persons born prior to January 1, 1998 are not required to have a boating safety certificate.1
The rules are set by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Sources
- Boating Safety Education, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, checked 1 November 2026
Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.