Florida Boating License Overview

Basic Boating Education

How to Boat Smart—Florida is the official boating safety course of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Taking this safe boating course will allow you to get your Florida boating license online.

	Study the Florida safe boating course material and take one or more Practice Tests—free of charge.
	Take the Florida Boating Exam. Pay $29.50—one time only, after you pass. When you pass, you will receive your permanent Florida Boating Safety Education I.D. Card by mail within 2-3 weeks.

Florida Mandatory Education for Violators

There are two types of education courses that may be required, depending on the type of boating violation.

Requirement # 1: You must enroll in, attend, and successfully complete (at your own expense) an approved classroom boating safety course. This course must be completed following the date of the violation which triggered the education requirement. Upon completion of this course, a certification of successful completion must be submitted within 90 days to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Records Section.

Requirement # 2: You must enroll in and successfully complete (at your own expense) an approved safe boating course for violators. This course is in addition to Requirement #1 above. The course is only available online at www.boat-ed.com/FloridaViolator.

Under Florida law:

• Two-non-criminal infractions within 12 months = Requirement # 1 above
• Any criminal boating violation or any infraction resulting in a boating accident = Requirements # 1 and # 2 above

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What's the difference between a boating license and a boating safety education certificate? What it's called depends on your state, but it represents the same thing—proof of completion of an approved boater education course. Most boaters don't know the exact name of the official certification for their state, so they commonly refer to it as a boating license. Passing the Florida boating safety course may make you eligible for a discount on your boat or PWC insurance. Send a copy of your boater safety certificate to your agent and start saving!