Official Florida Boater Safety Course

To earn your Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card, often called a Florida boating license, you must complete an approved boating safety course and pass the final exam. After passing, you can print a temporary certificate that is valid for 90 days while your permanent card is issued.

Yes. The Florida Boat-Ed course is approved and accepted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Florida boating laws require anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, to carry a Boating Safety Education ID Card when operating a vessel with 10 horsepower or more. All vessels must have U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for each passenger, and children under 6 years old must wear them at all times.

The total cost for the Florida Boat-Ed course is $54.95.

There is no minimum age requirement to take the online course. However, Florida law requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, operating a qualifying vessel to carry a Boating Safety Education ID Card. No one under the age of 14 years may operate a personal watercraft (PWC) on Florida waters at any time.

Operating without the required Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card may result in fines and penalties. Boaters should carry proof of certification when required and be prepared to show it during enforcement checks.

Yes, in certain cases. In Florida, required boaters must carry a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card. This is commonly referred to as a “boating license.”

Most students complete the Florida boating safety course in 3 to 4 hours. The course is self-paced, your progress is saved, and you can start and stop at any time.

No. You do not have to be a Florida resident to take the online Florida Boat-Ed course.

Yes. Florida Boating Safety Education ID Cards that meet National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) requirements are recognized nationwide through reciprocity.

If you fail a unit quiz, you’ll restudy the unit and retake the quiz until you pass. You must score at least 70% on unit quizzes and at least 80% on the final exam, with unlimited attempts to pass.

Your permanent Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card will be emailed within 1 to 4 days after completing all certification requirements. If you selected to receive a physical copy, it will arrive within 3 to 4 weeks.

To replace a lost, destroyed, or damaged Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card, you can order a duplicate by calling 850-488-5600 or emailing [email protected].