Frequently Asked Questions About the Massachusetts Boating Safety Certificate

What is the Massachusetts boating safety certificate?

• The Massachusetts boating safety certificate is proof that a boater has demonstrated basic boating knowledge by passing an approved boating safety course and exam.

Do I have to get a Massachusetts boating safety certificate (Massachusetts boater's license)?

• Youth ages 12 through 15 must get the certificate to legally operate a motorboat without adult supervision.
• Youth between the ages of 16 and 17 must get the certificate to legally operate a personal watercraft.

What is the minimum age to obtain a Massachusetts boating safety certificate?

• A person must be at least 12 years of age to be issued a Boating Safety Certificate. A person at least 10 years of age may complete an approved boating safety course but will not be issued a Boating Safety Certificate until he or she turns 12 years old.

How do I get my Massachusetts boating safety certificate (Massachusetts boater's license)?

• The Environmental Police, as well as various organizations and businesses, offer state and nationally approved courses throughout the Commonwealth. Call us or go to our website to see our schedule and link to the course schedules of other approved providers. It’s important to contact other states to determine exactly what certification they will accept.

What are the minimum age and boater education requirements to operate a personal watercraft or motorboat on Massachusetts waters?

• Massachusetts's boating safety education requirements and laws about operating a boat or PWC are explained in detail on the Who May Operate a Vessel page.

What's the difference between a boating license and a boating safety certificate? What it's called depends on the state you are in, but it represents essentially the same thing—proof of completion of an approved boater education course. In Massachusetts, the proof that a boater has taken and passed an approved boating course is a card or certificate issued by the Massachusetts Environmental Police. Most boaters don't know the exact name of the official proof of boating safety certification for their state, so they commonly refer to it as a boating license.