1. Study & Pass the Illinois Boater Safety Course

   Study the free online course material. After completing the course, you’ll take the Illinois boating license final exam. (If you don’t pass on the first try, don’t worry. Keep taking the exam for free until you pass.)

2. Pay and Print Your Temporary Certificate

   After passing and paying the $29.50 course fee, you’ll instantly print out a temporary certificate, which is your temporary operating permit to operate legally on Illinois waters while you wait for your permanent card to arrive.

3. Receive Your Boater Education Card in the Mail

   Your lifetime Illinois Boater Education Card will arrive by mail in 8-10 business days. (Use your Boater Education Card to get on the water immediately after passing the course and until your permanent card arrives.)

   Ready? Start the Course Today →

Quick Links

Boating Basics Instruction

The Boat Illinois Course features easy to understand boating safety instructions and hundreds of detailed illustrations to help you improve your boating skills and become a better, more prepared skipper.

This online boating safety course is based on the Boat Illinois - A Course on Responsible Boating manual that was developed and printed by Boat Ed specifically for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for use in classroom instruction.

Boat Ed is the only boating safety education course and exam provider that develops print materials on behalf of state government boating and boater safety agencies.

• This is the same course that is used by Illinois Department of Natural Resources for classroom instruction.
• Boat Ed is the only boating safety course provider that develops print materials on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Comprehensive Boater Education Content

This Illinois boater education course covers a range of topics-from safety instructions to boat handling to reading the weather-and preparing you for a variety of situations you could find yourself in while on the water.

Whether or not you are required to complete Illinois’s boat safety course requirement, all boaters have a responsibility to learn about boat operation, communications, navigation, and life- saving techniques before taking to the water.

Because educated boaters are safer boaters, completing this Illinois-approved online course can also earn you a discount on your boat and PWC insurance.

• Learn the rules of the water to have a safe and enjoyable day boating in Illinois.
• 
  Free boat safety exam training material recognized by Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Video Instruction

The Illinois online boating license study guide and course features context-based video instruction to enhance your retention and motivation as you watch live-action video of boat and PWC operators, preparing and using good judgment when planning an outing or reacting to unexpected changes.

• Sample course instructional video “Casting Off”
• Sample course instructional video “Capsizing, Swamping, or Falling Overboard”

Interactive Animations

Learning in this Illinois boater safety course is reinforced by the use of interactive animations that help students understand safe boating skills such as casting off and docking, understanding traffic laws on the water, dealing with emergencies, and more.

• Sample course instructional animation “Tying Knots”
• Sample course instructional animation “Personal Watercraft Overtaking”

It’s Official and Approved!

This online boater education course is approved by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard as an approved online boating license course.

It’s the Law!

Illinois law enforcement officers patrol the waterways to make your boating experience safe and pleasant. Cooperate with them by following the Illinois boating laws and guidelines in this course.

It’s Fast & Easy!

With this boater course, you’ll be on the water with a temporary boater education certificate in a few hours, and you can complete the online course at your own pace on a desktop computer or on any mobile smartphone or tablet.

It’s Made in the USA!

This Illinois boat license safety course is proudly made in Dallas, Texas, USA, and our servers and data storage facilities are located within the U.S.A. Recreational boating is truly one of America’s favorite pastimes and a freedom we all should continue to enjoy.