North Carolina boating course
The North Carolina boater safety certification card (commonly known as the North Carolina boating license) is proof that a boater has successfully completed a boating safety course.
A person 14 or 15 years old may operate a PWC only if he or she has on his or her person identification showing proof of age and a boating certification card showing proof of passing a boating safety course approved by NASBLA and accepted by the Wildlife Resources Commission. OR he or she is accompanied on board the PWC by a person who is at least 18 years old and who is in compliance with the requirements for operating a vessel. Those younger than 14 years may not legally operate a PWC.
Even if not required by law to get the North Carolina boating license, many boaters take the boat safety course in order to save on their PWC or boat insurance.
Do your part to make boating in North Carolina a safe, enjoyable pastime! Become an educated, responsible boater by completing the Boat North Carolina course and practice what you learn.
You’re at the right place, because the Boat North Carolina online safe boating course is the official course developed specifically for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. All the required safe boating course material to get your boater safety certification card is available for free online. Please visit our North Carolina safe boating course introductory page to find out about the boater exam process.
A person younger than 26 years old may operate a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or greater on North Carolina waters only if he or she passes an approved boating safety course or is supervised.
A person younger than 14 years old may not operate a PWC legally.
A person 14 or 15 years old may operate a PWC only if:
It is unlawful for the owner of a PWC to knowingly allow a person under the age of 16 to operate a PWC unless they meet the above requirements.
It is unlawful for a person who has temporary or permanent responsibility for a person under the age of 16 to knowingly allow that person to operate a PWC unless they meet the above requirements.
A personal watercraft livery (rental agency) must give instructions on safe PWC operation before allowing anyone to operate a leased PWC.
All boat-ed content has been developed in conjunction with the state boating safety agencies responsible for boater education, and is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), and is recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard.
