Boating license rules in Oregon
All boaters who operate a motorboat with over 10 horsepower, and youths, must take a safety course and carry a Boater Education Card. Age is not an exemption.1
The details
- Engine size covered
- Over 10 horsepower1
- Personal watercraft (jet skis)
- A card is required for a PWC. Ages 12 to 15 above 10 hp need an accompanying cardholder, who must be 18 or older for a PWC.1
- Minimum age to operate
- Children 11 and under may not operate a motorboat. Ages 12 to 15 may run 10 hp or less alone. Must be 12 to get a card.1
- Card and course cost
- A new card costs $20 by mail. Replacement card costs $16. Course cost not listed.1
- Cards from other states
- Visitors need an Oregon card or a card from a state that issues cards for NASBLA approved courses.1
- Exemptions
- Exempt: USCG Boat Operator License holders, commercial fishermen with license, adults supervised by a cardholder, renters completing a rental safety checklist.1
The rules are set by the Oregon State Marine Board.
Sources
- Boating Education Cards, Oregon State Marine Board, checked 1 November 2026
Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.