What Is the Minimum Age to Get a Michigan Boating License?
The minimum age to get a Michigan boating license (also called a Michigan Boating Safety Certificate) is 12 to independently operate a motorboat with a motor of more than 6 horsepower. The minimum age to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) is 14.
Michigan also ties the education requirement to your birth date. Anyone born on or after July 1, 1996, must hold a Michigan Boating Safety Certificate to operate a motorboat with a motor of more than 6 horsepower. A separate birth-date cutoff applies to PWC operators. Anyone born after December 31, 1978, must hold a certificate to operate a PWC.
Keep reading to learn the minimum age requirements, who needs a certificate, and how to get one.
What Is the Minimum Age to Operate a Boat in Michigan?
Michigan law sets different minimum ages and restrictions based on horsepower. No one under 12 may operate a motorboat with a motor of more than 35 horsepower under any circumstances.
Children under 12 may operate a motorboat with a motor of 6 horsepower or less without restrictions. They may also operate a motorboat with a motor of more than 6 horsepower up to 35 horsepower, but only if they hold a valid Boating Safety Certificate and are directly supervised onboard by someone who is at least 16 years old.
For personal watercraft, a hard age minimum applies. No one under 14 may operate a PWC under any circumstances. Operators ages 14 and 15 may operate a PWC only if they hold a Boating Safety Certificate and are accompanied onboard by (or operating within 100 feet of) a parent, legal guardian, or designated adult who is at least 21 years old.
Who Needs a Michigan Boating License?
Do you need a boating license in Michigan this season?
Anyone born on or after July 1, 1996, who operates a motorboat with a motor of more than 6 horsepower must hold a Michigan Boating Safety Certificate. Anyone born after December 31, 1978, who operates a PWC must also hold a certificate.
Operators born before July 1, 1996, are exempt from the certificate requirement for motorboats. Operators born on or before December 31, 1978, are exempt from the certificate requirement for PWCs. For a full overview of Michigan's boating laws and regulations, visit the Boat-Ed Michigan boating law page.
Michigan Boating Age Requirements by Vessel Type
Michigan's boating regulations include detailed age and horsepower-based requirements. The table below breaks down who can operate what and under what conditions.
Requirements by Age and Vessel Type (Michigan Boating) | |||
| Operator Age | Vessel Type | Can Operate? | Conditions |
| Under 12 | Motorboat (6 HP or less) | Yes | No restrictions |
| Under 12 | Motorboat (6–35 HP) | Supervised only | Must hold a certificate and be supervised by someone 16+ |
| Under 12 | Motorboat (over 35 HP) | No | Not permitted under any circumstances |
| 12–15 | Motorboat (any HP) | Yes | Must hold a certificate OR be supervised by someone 16+ |
| 16+ (born on or after 7/1/1996) | Motorboat (over 6 HP) | Yes | Must hold a Michigan Boating Safety Certificate |
| 16+ (born before 7/1/1996) | Motorboat (any HP) | Yes | No certificate required |
| Under 14 | PWC | No | Not permitted under any circumstances |
| 14–15 | PWC | Yes | Must hold a certificate and be accompanied by/within 100 feet of a parent, guardian, or designated adult 21+ |
| 16+ (born after 12/31/1978) | PWC | Yes | Must hold a Michigan Boating Safety Certificate |
| Any age (born on or before 12/31/1978) | PWC | Yes | No certificate required |
Exemptions from the Michigan Boating Education Requirement
Certain operators are exempt from the Michigan Boating Safety Certificate requirement. The table below summarizes the most common exemptions.
Michigan Boating Certificate Exemptions | |
| Exemption | Details |
| Born before 7/1/1996 | Operators born before July 1, 1996, are not required to hold a certificate for motorboat operation |
| Born on or before 12/31/1978 | Operators born on or before December 31, 1978, are not required to hold a certificate for PWC operation |
| Motors 6 HP or less | Any operator of a motorboat with a motor of 6 horsepower or less is not required to hold a certificate |
| Out-of-state visitors | Operators who hold a valid NASBLA-approved boating education card from another state or province |
| Non-motorized vessels | Operators of kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and other non-motorized watercraft |
How to Get Your Michigan Boating Safety Certificate
Follow these steps to get your boating license in Michigan.
- Meet the minimum age requirement. There is no minimum age to take the Michigan boating safety course. However, you must be at least 12 to independently operate a motorboat, and at least 14 to operate a PWC.
- Complete an approved boating safety course. Enroll in a Michigan Department of Natural Resources–approved course, such as the Boat-Ed Michigan course. The course is available online and can be completed at your own pace on any device.
- Pass the final exam. You must pass the state-required exam after completing the boater safety course to earn your Michigan Boating Safety Certificate. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass the unit quizzes.
- Receive your certificate. After passing, you can print a temporary certificate to use on the water right away. Your permanent Michigan Boating Safety Certificate will arrive by mail and is valid for life.
- Carry your certificate on the water. Michigan law requires you to have your Boating Safety Certificate with you anytime you operate a qualifying vessel and present it to law enforcement upon request.
Does Michigan Accept Out-of-State Boating Cards?
Yes. Michigan recognizes boating education cards from other states and provinces that meet NASBLA standards, as well as Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Cards (PCOC). Operators who hold a valid NASBLA-approved out-of-state certificate are not required to obtain a separate Michigan Boating Safety Certificate.
Note that Michigan's reciprocity is not automatic for all scenarios. The same age and horsepower restrictions that apply to Michigan residents also apply to out-of-state visitors operating on Michigan waters.
Start Your Michigan Boater Safety Course Today
Getting your Michigan Boating Safety Certificate is straightforward. The Boat-Ed Michigan course is approved by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 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
Q: What is the minimum age to get a boating license in Michigan?
A: The minimum age to get a Michigan Boating Safety Certificate is 12, which is also the minimum age to independently operate a motorboat with a motor of more than 6 horsepower. The minimum age to operate a PWC is 14.
Q: What is the minimum age to operate a boat in Michigan?
A: Children under 12 may operate a motorboat with a motor of 6 horsepower or less without restrictions. They may also operate a motorboat with a motor of 6 to 35 horsepower only with a certificate and direct supervision by someone 16 or older. No one under 12 may operate a motorboat with a motor of more than 35 horsepower under any circumstances.
Q: What is the minimum age to operate a Jet Ski in Michigan?
A: The minimum age to operate a personal watercraft (PWC), including Jet Skis and WaveRunners, in Michigan is 14. No one under 14 may operate a PWC under any circumstances. Operators ages 14 and 15 must hold a certificate and be accompanied by or within 100 feet of a parent, guardian, or designated adult who is at least 21 years old.
Q: Do I need a certificate if I was born before July 1, 1996?
A: For motorboat operation, no. Operators born before July 1, 1996, are exempt from the Michigan certificate requirement for motorboats. However, if you were born after December 31, 1978, and operate a PWC, you are still required to hold a certificate.
Q: What is the 35 HP rule for young boaters in Michigan?
A: No one under 12 years of age may operate a motorboat with a motor of more than 35 horsepower under any circumstances in Michigan, even with adult supervision. Children under 12 who operate a motorboat with a motor of 6 to 35 horsepower must hold a certificate and be directly supervised by someone who is at least 16 years old.
Q: Can a 14- or 15-year-old operate a Jet Ski in Michigan?
A: Yes, with strict requirements. Operators ages 14 and 15 must hold a valid Michigan Boating Safety Certificate and be accompanied by (or operating within 100 feet of) a parent, legal guardian, or a person at least 21 years old who has been designated by the parent or guardian.
Q: How much does the Michigan boating safety course cost?
A: Course fees across approved providers generally range from $30 to $80. The Boat-Ed course fee is $29.50.
Q: Does the Michigan Boating Safety Certificate expire?
A: No. The Michigan Boating Safety Certificate is valid for life once issued. You do not need to renew it or retake the course.
Q: Is the Michigan Boating Safety Certificate the same as a boating license?
A: Michigan does not issue a traditional boating license. The Boating Safety Certificate serves the same purpose. It's your proof that you have completed an approved boating safety course and are authorized to operate qualifying vessels on Michigan waterways.
