Boating license rules in Virginia
All PWC operators age 14 and older and all operators, regardless of age, of motorboats with a 10 hp or greater engine must complete boating safety education.1
The details
- Engine size covered
- 10 hp or greater engine1
- Personal watercraft (jet skis)
- No person under the age of 14 may operate a PWC. Operators 14 and 15 must show proof of an approved course. The challenge exam does not qualify.1
- Minimum age to operate
- 14 for personal watercraft. The page does not state a motorboat minimum age.1
- Cards from other states
- Operators of boats registered in another state are exempt if they meet the education requirements of their state of residency.1
- Exemptions
- Exempt: NASBLA course card holders, USCG Master, Captain or Mate license holders, registered commercial fishermen, qualified military boat operators, compliant out-of-state boats.1
The official pages we read do not say: card and course cost. Ask the agency.
The rules are set by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Sources
- Do I Need to Take A Boating Safety Course?, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, checked 1 November 2026
Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.