New Jersey Boating Education Law
For more information on the boating laws in the state of New Jersey visit: www.njsp.org/maritime/
- New Jersey has adopted a mandatory boater education program in an effort to reduce the risk of life, injury and property damage associated with the use of recreational boats, and to provide the boaters with the maximum safe use of the state’s waterways.
- New Jersey has strict mandatory age and education requirements in order to operate certain recreational vessels. Schedule for Completion of Mandatory Boating Safety Course:
- All persons who wish to operate a power vessel must possess a Boating Safety Certificate by June 1, 2009.
- Online boating safety courses and certificates obtained from online courses, such as the one offered by the BoatU.S. Foundation, are NOT recognized by the state of New Jersey, New Jersey State Police and on-water enforcement officers. You must take a proctored class room course and exam approved by the New Jersey State Police in order to receive an official New Jersey boating safety certificate.
- Note - New Jersey law will permit boaters to take advantage of a "Test Out" Option until May 31, 2009. Certain course providers will offer an exam-only session to students that have not attended a physical, classroom course. However, some course providers do require students to review online course materials and provide proof of completion before attending the exam-only session. For more information contact your course provider or reference the course listings available through the BoatUS Courseline.
- Out-of-state residents in New Jersey for less than 90 days with a certificate issued by their home state or country; OR written proof of completion of a substantially similar course to the NJ-approved course will satisfy the education requirements.
- The BoatU.S. Online Boating Safety Course does not meet this state’s boating education requirements.
- Visit www.njsp.org/maritime/index.html for more information
We provide this information as a service and strive to keep this website up to date. Please let us know of any inconsistencies by bringing them to our attention at once at onlinecourse@boatus.com. Resources for these pages include state statutes, state web pages and state approved boating guides. BoatU.S. is not responsible for any misinterpretation of the law or any change in the law that is not adequately reflected in these pages. Damages as a result of failing to abide by stated law shall not be the responsibility of BoatU.S., BoatU.S. Foundation or its employees.
