Boating license rules in Wisconsin
Operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1989 need Wisconsin boating safety certification or out-of-state equivalent certification to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft.1
The details
- Personal watercraft (jet skis)
- No one under 12 may operate a PWC and no one under 16 may rent one. Ages 12 and up need a course. Adult supervision is not a substitute.1
- Minimum age to operate
- A person younger than 10 may not operate a motorboat. Ages 10 and 11 need a qualifying adult. Ages 12 to 15 need an adult or a course.1
- Card and course cost
- $10 for a traditional classroom. $50.95 to $60.95 for internet courses.1
- Cards from other states
- Out-of-state equivalent certification is accepted.1
- Exemptions
- There are no age requirements for operating a boat that is not equipped with a motor.1
The official pages we read do not say: engine size covered. Ask the agency.
The rules are set by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Sources
- Safety Education, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, checked 1 November 2026
Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.