Boating license rules in Rhode Island
Anyone born after January 1, 1986 operating a boat with a motor over 10hp, and every personal watercraft operator regardless of age, needs a boating safety certificate.1
The details
- Engine size covered
- Motor greater than 10hp1
- Personal watercraft (jet skis)
- PWC operators need a Rhode Island boating safety certificate. A Coast Guard license or out-of-state boating license does not qualify you to operate a PWC.1
- Minimum age to operate
- A child needs a certificate to operate alone, or may operate supervised by a person 18 or older who meets education requirements.1
- Card and course cost
- There is no fee for the exam. Online study courses are paid but no amount is listed.1
- Cards from other states
- Non-residents on non-PWC vessels must meet home state requirements. Those operating in RI over 90 days a year need the RI certificate.1
- Exemptions
- Exempt: USCG commercial vessel operator license holders, current USCG master, mate or pilot license holders, and boats with motors of 10 hp or less.1
The rules are set by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
Sources
- Boating Safety Certification, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, checked 1 November 2026
Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.