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Program

Washington

The BoatUS Foundation's Online Course is the only FREE Online Boating Safety Course approved by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

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approved boating safety course

Recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard, approved by NASBLA and your state boating license agency.


How To Get Started:

First, Click Education Requirements above to verify state requirements and then click Certificate/Card Info to learn what options are available for your state.

For a brief tutorial and getting familiar with our new system click here.


Education Requirements:


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Age Requirements:

All boat operators, unless specified below in exemption, are required to have a Washington State issued Boater Education Card indicating that a boating safety education class or equivalency exam has been successfully completed by the card holder.

Exemption:

  • persons who have a U.S Coast Guard vessel operator's license
  • persons visiting Washington State.
  • All boat operators born before 1/1/1955 will not be required to have a boat operator education card.


Age/Horsepower Requirements:

To operate a motor driven boat of 15 horsepower or greater, a person must be at least 12 years of age or older and complete a boating safety course that is accepted by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. No person under 12 years of age can operate a motorboat of 15 or more horsepower.

Persons who do not have a boater education card and are 12 years of age or up can operate a vessel with more that 15 HP if accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a person 16 years of age who has a boater education card.


Other Information:

Operators who are required to have a boating education card and want to rent a vessel, must present the card to livery (rental) operators. If the person, required to have a boating education card, does not have a boating education card, the livery operator must complete an operation and safety checklist with the vessel renter prior to the renter being allowed to use the vessel on the water.


How Do I Get My Washington Certificate?


a card

1. After you complete the course you will be issued a printable copy of your certificate that you can print yourself and use immediately for the next 60 days.

2. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission requires that you purchase a safe boating card for $10.00. The card can be purchased by filling out the Washington State form and enclosing it with a copy of your certificate and a check. The card will be mailed in 3-4 weeks.


Complete the Course in Three Easy Steps:

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Enroll yourself in a Boating Safety Course from the Course Catalog

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Study and pass the FREE Boating Safety Course.

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Print out your certificate of completion yourself for free


Get Started Today! Start Now →

Course Information:


4 - 8 Hours

Estimated Course Time

6 Lessons

Each Contains a 10 Question Quiz

Final Exam

60 Questions Pulled Randomly

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Complete the Course at Your Own Pace

Choose when and where to take your course.
In our new online learning system, take it on any device with an internet connection and automatically have your progress saved when the window is closed.*

*You must be registed in our new system at courses.boatus.org and not have previously registered or started at elearning.boatus.org.


Get Started Now →

Online Course Video:



Testimonials


  • Great course, and so much more convenient than going at night for several nights... Keep up the great work, and see you on the water.

    Gene
  • Thank you so much! This was a great course and I learned so much. Hope you have a great weekend!

    Lindsay
  • Thank you. The information that you gave me allowed me to complete the course. Your assistance was very much appreciated.

    D. White
  • Thank you so much! You folks are so kind. Good luck with the updates and have safe boating fun this summer!

    Brennan