For more information on the boating laws in the state of Rhode Island visit: www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/manserv/hfb/index.htm
- Are supervised onboard by a person 18 years or older who has passed an approved boater education course.
- Hold a valid commercial vessel operator's license.
- Are not a resident of Rhode Island and meet the requirements of their state of residence.
- Have been a resident of Rhode Island for 60 days or less.
- Are operating a rented vessel and have successfully completed the requirements for renters (renters of vessels powered by a motor of more than 10hp must watch an instructional video and pass a written examination prior to operation).
All persons born on or after January 1, 1986 are legally required to pass an approved boater education course before they may legally operate any vessel powered by a motor of more than 10hp. Anyone operating a personal watercraft, regardless of age must have passed an approved boater education course
| For a boater education course to qualify for the mandatory Rhode Island education requirement, the course must be classroom-based with a proctored exam and be approved by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. The BoatU.S. Online Course does not meet this requirement! |
Operators that are required to have passed a course, must carry on board their certificate of completion. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will issue certificates of completion to boaters passing approved courses.
Operators are exempted from the above Education Requirements if they:
| Remember, the DEM requires that tests be proctored. Therefore, the BoatU.S. Online Course is suitable for practice only. No state boating card will be issued for completion of an online course. Questions used in this course may be different than used in a Rhode Island Official Challenge Examination. |
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.
