Boating license rules in Michigan
Anyone born on or after July 1, 1996 who operates a vessel, and most personal watercraft operators, must have a boating safety certificate.1
The details
- Personal watercraft (jet skis)
- Most personal watercraft operators need a boating safety certificate.1
- Card and course cost
- USCG Auxiliary and United States Power Squadron courses may have associated fees. No card fee listed.1
The official pages we read do not say: engine size covered, minimum age to operate, cards from other states, exemptions. Ask the agency.
The rules are set by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Sources
- Boating safety certificate, Michigan 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.