Boating license rules in Pennsylvania
All personal watercraft operators need a Boating Safety Education Certificate, as do those born on or after January 1, 1982 operating boats over 25 horsepower.1
The details
- Engine size covered
- Motors greater than 25 horsepower1
- Personal watercraft (jet skis)
- All personal watercraft operators, like a jet ski, must have a Boating Safety Education Certificate.1
- Card and course cost
- Permanent Boating Safety Education Certificate fee of $10. Online course fees include the certificate. Some in-person courses have fees.1
- Cards from other states
- Out-of-state boaters must have a certificate issued for a course approved by NASBLA.1
The official pages we read do not say: minimum age to operate, exemptions. Ask the agency.
The rules are set by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Sources
- Apply for a Boating Safety Education Certificate and Course, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, checked 1 November 2026
Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.