Texas Boating Education Law
For more information on the boating laws in the state of Texas visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/boat/
- Texas has a mandatory education law for certain boaters. All boaters born after August 31, 1984, and under the age of 18 must complete a TPWD approved course and be certified with the TPWD to operate:
- Any vessel over 10 horse power
- Any windblown vessel over 14 feet
- All personal watercraft
- Exemptions for those born after August 31, 1984 include:
- Operators 18 years of age or older
- Operating your motorcraft on private waters
- Boaters who are accompanied by a person 18 or older who is exempt from mandatory education
- Boaters who are residents of another state that have passed a TPWD approved course in another state
- Not all non-proctored courses (including the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety Course) are accepted for certification. Persons of the required mandatory education age must carry a photographic ID card and a boater education certification card issued by the TPWD while boating.
- The BoatU.S. Online Boating Safety Course does not meet this state’s boating education requirements.
- Visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/boat/ for more information or contact the state boating education office at (800)792-1112
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.
