What Is the Minimum Age to Get a Mississippi Boating License?
The minimum age to get a Mississippi boating license (also called a Mississippi Boater Education Certificate) is 10 to take the required boating safety course and become certified. Mississippi also ties the education requirement to your birth date: anyone born after June 30, 1980, must complete an approved boating safety course and carry proof of completion to operate a motorized vessel or PWC on state waters legally.
Operators under 12 may operate a motorized vessel only when accompanied on board by a person who is at least 21 years old.
Keep reading to learn the minimum age requirements, who needs a certificate, and how to get a Mississippi boating license.
What Is the Minimum Age to Operate a Boat in Mississippi?
Mississippi law does not set a hard minimum age for motorboat operation, but it imposes a strict supervision requirement for younger operators. Any person under 12 years of age must be accompanied on board by someone who is at least 21 years old in order to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft (PWC).
There is no minimum age exception that allows unsupervised operation for children under 12. The adult supervisor must be physically present onboard at all times.
The minimum age to obtain a boater education certification through the MDWFP in-person course is 10 years old.
Who Needs a Mississippi Boating License?
Do you need a boating license in Mississippi this season? Anyone born after June 30, 1980, who operates a motorized vessel or PWC on Mississippi's public waterways must complete an approved boating safety course and carry a Mississippi Boater Education Certificate at all times while operating.
Unlike most states, Mississippi has no horsepower threshold. The education requirement applies to all motorized vessels regardless of engine size. The certificate must be carried onboard and available for inspection by a law enforcement officer at all times.
For a full overview of our Mississippi boating laws and regulations resource, visit the Boat-Ed Mississippi boating law page.
Mississippi Boating Age Requirements by Vessel Type
Mississippi's boating education requirements apply to all motorized vessels and PWCs regardless of horsepower. The table below breaks down who can operate what and under what conditions.
Requirements by Age and Vessel Type (Mississippi Boating) | |||
| Operator Age | Vessel Type | Can Operate? | Conditions |
| Under 10 | Any motorized vessel or PWC | No | Below minimum age for course certification (not permitted independently) |
| Under 12 | Any motorized vessel or PWC | Supervised only | Must be accompanied onboard by an adult who is at least 21 years old |
| 12+, born on or before 6/30/1980 | Any motorized vessel or PWC | Yes | No certificate required |
| 12+, born after 6/30/1980 | Any motorized vessel or PWC | Yes | Must carry a Mississippi Boater Education Certificate |
| Any age | Non-motorized vessel | Yes | No certificate required |
Exemptions from the Mississippi Boating Education Requirement
Certain operators are exempt from the Mississippi Boater Education Certificate requirement. The table below summarizes the most common exemptions.
Mississippi Boating Certificate Exemptions | |
| Exemption | Details |
| Born on/before 6/30/1980 | Operators born on or before June 30, 1980, are not required to hold a certificate |
| Non-motorized vessels | Operators of kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, rowboats, and other non-motorized watercraft |
| USCG license holders | Anyone holding a valid U.S. Coast Guard vessel operator's license |
| Out-of-state visitors | Non-residents who hold a valid NASBLA-approved boating safety certificate from their home state. Note that not all online courses are accepted. Visitors should verify their certificate is accepted by MDWFP before operating |
How to Get Your Mississippi Boater Education Certificate
Follow these steps to get your boating license in Mississippi.
- Meet the minimum age requirement. You must be at least 10 years old to obtain boater education certification through the MDWFP in-person course. Operators under 12 may not operate a motorized vessel without a person at least 21 years old onboard.
- Complete an approved boating safety course. Enroll in an MDWFP-approved course, such as the Boat-Ed Mississippi course. The course is available online and can be completed at your own pace on any device. MDWFP also offers free in-person courses at locations across the state, which include six hours of classroom instruction and a written exam.
- Pass the final exam. You must pass the state-required exam to earn your Mississippi Boater Education Certificate.
- Receive your certificate. After passing the online course, you can print a temporary certificate to use on the water right away. Your permanent Mississippi Boater Education Certificate will arrive by mail. You may also obtain a duplicate card online or by mail for a $3 fee if your original is lost.
- Carry your certificate on the water. Mississippi law requires you to have your Boater Education Certificate in your possession anytime you operate a motorized vessel on public waterways. For free in-person course locations along the Gulf Coast, visit the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources boat and water safety page.
Does Mississippi Accept Out-of-State Boating Cards?
Yes, with an important condition.
Mississippi generally accepts valid NASBLA-approved boating safety certificates from other states, but not all online course certificates are automatically accepted. MDWFP recommends that out-of-state visitors verify that their certificate is accepted by Mississippi before operating on state waters.
If your home state does not require boating education or your certificate is not NASBLA-approved, you must complete an MDWFP-approved course before operating on Mississippi's public waterways. The same age and supervision requirements that apply to Mississippi residents also apply to out-of-state visitors.
Start Your Mississippi Boater Safety Course Today
Getting your Mississippi Boater Education Certificate is straightforward. The Boat-Ed Mississippi course is approved by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks 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 Mississippi?
A: The minimum age to obtain a Mississippi Boater Education Certificate is 10, which is the minimum age to take the MDWFP in-person course. Anyone born after June 30, 1980, must hold a certificate to operate any motorized vessel on Mississippi's public waterways. Operators under 12 may only operate when accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old.
Q: What is the minimum age to operate a boat in Mississippi?
A: There is no hard minimum age to operate a motorboat in Mississippi, but any person under 12 must be accompanied on board by someone who is at least 21 years old. Operators born after June 30, 1980, must also carry a valid Mississippi Boater Education Certificate.
Q: What is the minimum age to operate a Jet Ski in Mississippi?
A: The same rules that apply to motorboats apply to personal watercraft (PWC) in Mississippi. Operators under 12 must be accompanied onboard by someone at least 21 years old. Anyone born after June 30, 1980, must hold a valid Mississippi Boater Education Certificate to operate a PWC.
Q: Does Mississippi have a horsepower threshold for the education requirement?
A: No. Unlike most states, Mississippi's boating education requirement applies to all motorized vessels regardless of engine size or horsepower. If you were born after June 30, 1980, you must hold a certificate to legally operate any motorized vessel on Mississippi's public waterways.
Q: Does the supervision requirement apply to PWCs as well as motorboats?
A: Yes. The requirement that operators under 12 be accompanied onboard by someone at least 21 years old applies to both motorboats and personal watercraft.
Q: Do I need a Mississippi certificate if I already have one from another state?
A: Mississippi generally accepts NASBLA-approved certificates from other states. However, not all online course certificates are automatically accepted. MDWFP recommends verifying that your certificate is accepted by Mississippi before you operate on state waters. If your home state has no education requirement, you must complete an MDWFP-approved course before boating in Mississippi.
Q: How much does the Mississippi boating safety course cost?
A: The Boat-Ed Mississippi course fee is $44.95. MDWFP also offers free in-person courses at locations across the state. Course fees across approved online providers generally range from $30 to $80.
Q: Does the Mississippi Boater Education Certificate expire?
A: No. The Mississippi Boater Education Certificate is valid for life once issued. You do not need to renew it or retake the course.
Q: Is the Mississippi Boater Education Certificate the same as a boating license?
A: Mississippi does not issue a traditional boating license. The Boater Education Certificate serves the same purpose. It is proof that you have completed an approved boating safety course and are authorized to operate a motorized vessel on Mississippi's public waterways.
