BOATER SAFETY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Operators 21 years of age and under
Anyone 21 years of age and under who operates a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must pass an approved boater safety course and have in his/her possession photographic identification and a boater safety identification card issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Mandatory Violator Education
Florida law requires that anyone convicted of two non-criminal boating safety infractions within a 12-month period, must enroll in, attend, and successfully complete a NASBLA/state approved classroom boater education course. Correspondence or on-line course applications do not meet these requirements. A violator's privilege to operate a vessel in Florida is suspended until proof of course completion is filed with FWC.
Any person convicted of a boating infraction which resulted in a reportable boating accident or convicted of any criminal boating violation must complete a NASBLA/State of Florida approved classroom boating safety course and also complete an approved safe boating course for violators. Violator courses require approximately 4 hours to complete and may be taken through an online State of Florida course. A violator's privilege to operate a vessel in Florida is suspended until proof of course completion for both courses is filed with FWC.
Florida Boater Card
To receive your Florida Boater Card, submit a letter with your name, date of birth, return address, phone number and proof of completion of your boating certificate to:
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Division of Law Enforcement Boating Safety Section
620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
For more information, contact the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement at (850) 488-5600. There is no cost for the card and it is good for a lifetime.
Remember, if you are required to have a FL Boater Card you must also carry official photo identification.
Exemptions
The law does provide for some exemptions to the boating education requirements. The following are exempted from the requirements of boater education:
- A person is exempt from the education requirement if there is a person on board who is not affected by this law or is at least 18 years of age and holds a boater education I.D. card. This person must be attendant to and take responsibility for the safe operation of the vessel.
- Persons licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a master of a vessel.
- Persons operating on a private lake or pond.
- Persons accompanied in a vessel by a person exempt or if there is a person on board who is not affected by this law or is at least 18 years of age and holds a boater education I.D. card. This person must be attendant to and take responsibility for the safe operation of the vessel.
- Persons operating a recently purchased vessel within the first 90 days following purchase provided that a bill of sale is carried onboard.
- Persons who are nonresident and have proof of completion of a NASBLA approved course from another state.
YOUNG OPERATORS
NOTE: As of January 1, 2010, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 must meet the requirements of this section.
Age Restrictions
- Boaters 21 years of age and under must have a Boater Safety Identification Card and photo identification to operate a boat of 10 hp or greater (see Education section).
- A person must be at least 14 years old to operate a Personal Watercraft.
- A person must be at least 18 years old rent a PWC. All persons who rent a PWC must receive instruction in the safe handling of a PWC. The renter must give the owner a "written statement attesting to same".
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