Boater Card Rules

All states

Boating license rules in South Dakota

No education card requirement was found. Statute bars owners from letting anyone under 12 run a motorboat over six horsepower unless someone 18 or older is along.1

The details

Engine size covered
Motor of more than six horsepower1
Minimum age to operate
Under 12 may not operate a motorboat over six horsepower unless accompanied by a person at least 18.1
Exemptions
The under 12 rule does not apply to personal watercraft as defined in 42-8-2.1

The official pages we read do not say: personal watercraft (jet skis), card and course cost, cards from other states. Ask the agency.

The rules are set by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.

Sources

  1. SDCL 42-8-69 Age requirement for driving certain motorboats, South Dakota Legislature, checked 1 November 2026

Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.