Boating Education Requirement by State (2026)
A 50-state comparison of education requirement.
Boating regulations are summarized on your device - nothing is uploadedThis table aggregates the education requirement across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Select any state to open its full seven-dimension summary.
| State | Education requirement |
|---|---|
| Alabama | NASBLA course if born after 1978 |
| Alaska | No statewide course |
| Arizona | No statewide course |
| Arkansas | NASBLA course if born after 1989 |
| California | California boating card if born after 1999 |
| Colorado | No statewide course |
| Connecticut | Certificate if born after 1981 |
| Delaware | NASBLA course if born after 1978 |
| District of Columbia | No district course |
| Florida | Boating safety ID if born after 1987 |
| Georgia | NASBLA course if born after 1997 |
| Hawaii | No statewide course |
| Idaho | No statewide course |
| Illinois | NASBLA course if born after 1997 |
| Indiana | Certificate if born after 1981 |
| Iowa | No statewide course |
| Kansas | No statewide course |
| Kentucky | NASBLA course if born after 1991 |
| Louisiana | NASBLA course if born after 1988 |
| Maine | Certificate if born after 1999 |
| Maryland | Certificate if born after 1978 |
| Massachusetts | Certificate if born after 1997 |
| Michigan | Certificate if born after 1978 |
| Minnesota | Certificate if born after 1987 |
| Mississippi | NASBLA course if born after 1980 |
| Missouri | NASBLA course if born after 1984 |
| Montana | No statewide course |
| Nebraska | No statewide course |
| Nevada | NASBLA course if born after 1983 |
| New Hampshire | Certificate if born after 1999 |
| New Jersey | Certificate if born after 1988 |
| New Mexico | No statewide course |
| New York | Certificate if born after 1993 |
| North Carolina | Certificate if born after 1981 |
| North Dakota | No statewide course |
| Ohio | Certificate if born after 1981 |
| Oklahoma | NASBLA course if born after 1983 |
| Oregon | Certificate if born after 2001 |
| Pennsylvania | Certificate if born after 1999 |
| Rhode Island | Certificate if born after 1993 |
| South Carolina | Certificate if born after 1997 |
| South Dakota | No statewide course |
| Tennessee | NASBLA course if born after 1989 |
| Texas | Certificate if born after 1993 |
| Utah | Certificate if born after 1999 |
| Vermont | Certificate if born after 1997 |
| Virginia | Certificate if born after 1989 |
| Washington | Certificate if born after 1999 |
| West Virginia | NASBLA course if born after 1991 |
| Wisconsin | Certificate if born after 1989 |
| Wyoming | No statewide course |
Values are examples compiled for quick reference. Confirm the current rule with the state natural resources or wildlife agency before you boat.
All states
Alabama Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Alaska Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Arizona Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Arkansas Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)California Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Colorado Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Connecticut Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Delaware Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)District of Columbia Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Florida Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Georgia Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Hawaii Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Idaho Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Illinois Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Indiana Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Iowa Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Kansas Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Kentucky Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Louisiana Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Maine Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Maryland Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Massachusetts Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Michigan Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Minnesota Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Mississippi Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Missouri Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Montana Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Nebraska Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Nevada Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)New Hampshire Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)New Jersey Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)New Mexico Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)New York Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)North Carolina Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)North Dakota Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Ohio Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Oklahoma Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Oregon Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Pennsylvania Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Rhode Island Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)South Carolina Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)South Dakota Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Tennessee Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Texas Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Utah Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Vermont Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Virginia Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Washington Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)West Virginia Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Wisconsin Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Wyoming Boating Laws: Age, Life Jackets, BAC and Registration (2026)Boating Laws by State (2026)Boating Age by State (2026)Life Jacket Laws by State (2026)Boating Education Requirement by State (2026)Boating BAC Laws by State (2026)Boat Registration Laws by State (2026)Boat Insurance Laws by State (2026)Personal Watercraft Laws by State (2026)