What Is the Minimum Age to Get a Louisiana Boating License?
The minimum age to get a Louisiana boating license (also called a Louisiana Boater Education Card) is 16 to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) such as a Jet Ski. For motorboats, Louisiana ties the education requirement to your birth date rather than a single minimum age.
Anyone born after January 1, 1984, who operates a motorboat with a motor of more than 10 horsepower must complete an LDWF-approved boating safety course and carry a Louisiana Boater Education Card.
Keep reading to learn the minimum age requirements, who needs a card, and how to get one.
What Is the Minimum Age to Operate a Boat in Louisiana?
Louisiana law does not set a minimum age to operate a motorboat.
The education requirement is tied to birth date: anyone born after January 1, 1984, who operates a motorboat with a motor of more than 10 horsepower must hold a Louisiana Boater Education Card or be accompanied onboard by someone 18 or older who holds a card (if required).
For personal watercraft, a hard age minimum applies. No one under 16 may operate a PWC in Louisiana under any circumstances. The onboard adult supervision exception that applies to motorboats does not apply to PWCs. Operators must be at least 16 and hold a valid card.
Who Needs a Louisiana Boating License?
Do you need a boating license in Louisiana this season?
Anyone born after January 1, 1984, who operates a motorboat with a motor of more than 10 horsepower on Louisiana waters must carry a Louisiana Boater Education Card, issued by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). The card must be in the operator's possession at all times while on the water.
Louisiana also offers a free boater education endorsement that can be added to your driver's license at the Office of Motor Vehicles when you renew, allowing you to use your driver's license in place of carrying a separate card.
For a full overview of our Louisiana boating laws and regulations resource, visit the Boat-Ed Louisiana boating law page.
Louisiana Boating Age Requirements by Vessel Type
Louisiana's boating regulations set different requirements based on vessel type and birth date. The table below breaks down who can operate what and under what conditions.
Requirements by Age and Vessel Type (Louisiana Boating) | |||
| Operator Age | Vessel Type | Can Operate? | Conditions |
| Any age, born on or before 1/1/1984 | Motorboat (over 10 HP) | Yes | No card required |
| Any age, born after 1/1/1984 | Motorboat (over 10 HP) | Yes | Must carry a Louisiana Boater Education Card or be accompanied by a qualifying adult 18+ who holds a card if required |
| Under 16 | PWC | No | Not permitted under any circumstances — supervision exception does not apply |
| 16+, born after 1/1/1984 | PWC | Yes | Must carry a Louisiana Boater Education Card |
| 16+, born on or before 1/1/1984 | PWC | Yes | No card required |
| Any age | Motorboat (10 HP or less) | Yes | No card required |
| Any age | Non-motorized vessel | Yes | No card required |
Exemptions from the Louisiana Boating Education Requirement
Certain operators are exempt from the Louisiana Boater Education Card requirement. The table below summarizes the most common exemptions.
Louisiana Boater Card Exemptions | |
| Exemption | Details |
| Born on/before 1/1/1984 | Operators born on or before January 1, 1984, are not required to hold a card for motorboat operation |
| Supervised motorboat operation | Operators born after 1/1/1984 who have not yet completed a course may operate a motorboat over 10 HP if accompanied by someone 18 or older who holds a card (if required). This exception does not apply to PWC. |
| USCG license holders | Operators licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a captain to operate a vessel |
| Rental livery exemption | Persons 18 or older renting from a state-approved livery who complete the required safety instruction and video (valid for 48 hours only) |
| Non-motorized vessels | Operators of kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and other non-motorized watercraft |
How to Get Your Louisiana Boater Education Card
Follow these steps to get your boating license in Louisiana.
- Meet the minimum age requirement. You must be at least 10 years old to take the Louisiana boating safety course. To operate a PWC, you must be at least 16. For motorboats, the education requirement applies if you were born after January 1, 1984, and operate a vessel with a motor of more than 10 horsepower.
- Complete an approved boating safety course. Enroll in an LDWF-approved course, such as the Boat-Ed Louisiana course. The course is available online and can be completed at your own pace on any device. LDWF also offers a free in-person course typically completed in 6 to 8 hours.
- Pass the final exam. You must pass the state-required exam to earn your Louisiana Boater Education Card.
- Receive your card. After passing, you can print a temporary certificate to use on the water right away. Your permanent Louisiana Boater Education Card is valid for life. You may also add a boater education endorsement to your driver's license for free at the LDWF boater education page when you renew at the Office of Motor Vehicles.
- Carry your card on the water. Louisiana law requires you to have your Boater Education Card in your possession anytime you operate a qualifying vessel. If you have a boater education endorsement on your driver's license, carrying your driver's license satisfies this requirement.
Does Louisiana Accept Out-of-State Boating Cards?
Yes. Louisiana recognizes NASBLA-approved boating safety certificates from other states and provinces, as well as Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Cards (PCOC). Non-residents born after January 1, 1984, who hold a valid NASBLA-approved card from their home state may operate a motorboat over 10 HP on Louisiana waters without obtaining a separate Louisiana card.
The same age and PWC restrictions apply to out-of-state operators. No one under 16 may operate a PWC on Louisiana waters regardless of home-state rules.
Start Your Louisiana Boater Safety Course Today
Getting your Louisiana Boater Education Card is straightforward. The Boat-Ed Louisiana course is approved by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and is available entirely online on any device at your own pace.
After passing the final exam, you can print a temporary certificate and get on the water right away.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the minimum age to get a boating license in Louisiana?
A: Louisiana does not set a single minimum age for all boating. The minimum age to operate a PWC is 16, with no exceptions. For motorboats over 10 horsepower, there is no minimum age, but anyone born after January 1, 1984, must hold a Louisiana Boater Education Card or be accompanied by a qualifying adult.
Q: What is the minimum age to operate a boat in Louisiana?
A: Louisiana does not set a minimum age to operate a motorboat. However, anyone born after January 1, 1984, who operates a motorboat with a motor of more than 10 horsepower must carry a Louisiana Boater Education Card or be accompanied onboard by a person 18 or older who holds a card if required.
Q: What is the minimum age to operate a Jet Ski in Louisiana?
A: The minimum age to operate a personal watercraft (PWC), including Jet Skis and WaveRunners, in Louisiana is 16. No one under 16 may operate a PWC under any circumstances. The supervised adult exception that applies to motorboats does not apply to PWCs. Operators must be at least 16 and hold a valid Louisiana Boater Education Card if born after January 1, 1984.
Q: Can someone under 16 operate a motorboat in Louisiana?
A: There is no minimum age to operate a motorboat in Louisiana. However, operators born after January 1, 1984, who have not completed a boating safety course may operate a motorboat over 10 HP only if accompanied onboard by someone 18 or older who holds a card if required by their birth date. This exception does not apply to PWCs. You must be 16 and older to operate a PWC.
Q: Do I need a Louisiana card if I was born on or before January 1, 1984?
A: No. Operators born on or before January 1, 1984, are exempt from Louisiana's boating education requirement for motorboats. However, the PWC age minimum of 16 applies to all operators regardless of birth date.
Q: Do I need a Louisiana card if I already have one from another state?
A: Louisiana recognizes valid NASBLA-approved boating safety certificates from other states and provinces. If your certificate meets NASBLA standards, you are not required to obtain a separate Louisiana Boater Education Card. The same age restrictions (including the 16-and-older PWC rule) apply to all operators on Louisiana waters.
Q: How much does the Louisiana boating safety course cost?
A: The Boat-Ed Louisiana course fee is $44.95. LDWF also offers a free in-person course. Course fees across approved providers generally range from $30 to $80.
Q: Does the Louisiana Boater Education Card expire?
A: No. The Louisiana Boater Education Card is valid for life once issued. You do not need to renew it or retake the course.
Q: Is the Louisiana Boater Education Card the same as a boating license?
A: Louisiana does not issue a traditional boating license. The Boater Education Card serves the same purpose. It is proof that you have completed an approved boating safety course and are authorized to operate qualifying vessels on Louisiana waters. Louisiana also allows you to add a free boater education endorsement to your driver's license, which can be carried in place of a separate card.
