Boating license rules in Kansas
Anyone between the ages of 12 and 20 must complete an approved boater education course to operate a motorboat or PWC without direct and audible supervision.1
The details
- Personal watercraft (jet skis)
- For a motorized vessel, including PWCs, the minimum age is 12. Ages 12 to 20 need a course or direct and audible supervision.1
- Minimum age to operate
- No person under 12 may operate a motorized vessel without direct and audible supervision. No minimum age for sailboats.1
- Card and course cost
- Costs vary for each course, for example $39.95 to $59.95. Boat U.S. Foundation course has no fee, with optional $15 hard card.1
- Cards from other states
- If the card is from a NASBLA approved course, Kansas will accept that as meeting its education requirement.1
- Exemptions
- Persons 21 and older are exempt. Paddlecraft such as kayaks, canoes and paddleboards need no course.1
The official pages we read do not say: engine size covered. Ask the agency.
The rules are set by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Sources
- Boating Education, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, checked 1 November 2026
Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.