What Is the Minimum Age to Get a Missouri Boating License?
The minimum age to get a Missouri boating license (also called a Missouri Boating Safety Education Card) is 14 to independently operate a motorboat or personal watercraft (PWC) on Missouri waters. Missouri also ties the education requirement to your birth date. Anyone born after January 1, 1984, must hold a Missouri Boating Safety Education Card to operate a motorized vessel on the lakes of the state.
Operators under 14 may operate only when directly supervised onboard by a parent, guardian, or another person who is at least 16 years old.
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 Missouri?
Missouri law sets 14 as the minimum age to independently operate a motorboat or PWC. No person under 14 may operate a motorized vessel unless under the direct onboard supervision of a parent, guardian, or another person who is at least 16 years old.
This minimum age applies to both motorboats and personal watercraft. For PWC operation, the same rule applies: no one under 14 may operate alone, but a child under 14 may operate a PWC if a person at least 16 years old is aboard.
Who Needs a Missouri Boating License?
Do you need a boating license in Missouri this season?
Anyone born after January 1, 1984, who operates a motorized vessel on the lakes of the state must carry a Missouri Boating Safety Education Card, issued by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Water Patrol Division. The card must be on the vessel and available for inspection at all times while operating.
Note that Missouri's education requirement applies specifically to lakes of the state — not rivers and streams. However, the minimum age requirement of 14 applies to all Missouri waters. Operators born on or before January 1, 1984, are exempt from the education requirement.
For a full overview of Missouri's boating laws and regulations, visit the Boat-Ed Missouri boating law page.
Missouri Boating Age Requirements by Vessel Type
Missouri's boating regulations set requirements based on age and birth date. The table below breaks down who can operate what and under what conditions.
Requirements by Age and Vessel Type (Missouri Boating) | |||
| Operator Age | Vessel Type | Can Operate? | Conditions |
| Under 14 | Motorboat or PWC | Supervised only | Must be under direct onboard supervision of a parent, guardian, or person 16+ |
| 14+ (born on or before 1/1/1984) | Motorboat or PWC | Yes | No card required |
| 14+ (born after 1/1/1984) | Motorboat or PWC (on lakes) | Yes | Must carry a Missouri Boating Safety Education Card |
| Any Age | Non-motorized vessel | Yes | No card required |
Exemptions from the Missouri Boating Education Requirement
Certain operators are exempt from the Missouri Boating Safety Education Card requirement. The table below summarizes the most common exemptions.
Missouri Boater Card Exemptions | |
| Exemption | Details |
| Born on or before 1/1/1984 | Operators born on or before January 1, 1984, are not required to hold a card |
| Out-of-state visitors | Non-residents who hold a valid NASBLA-approved boating safety certificate from their home state |
| Rivers and streams | Missouri's education requirement applies to lakes of the state only; operating on rivers and streams does not require the card (age restrictions still apply) |
| Private lakes and ponds | Operators on private lakes or ponds not classified as waters of the state are exempt |
| USCG license holders | Anyone who holds a valid U.S. Coast Guard master's, mate's, or operator's license |
| Sanctioned events | Operators participating in a regatta or event approved by the Water Patrol Division |
| Military personnel | Anyone currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, reserves, or the Missouri National Guard, and their spouses |
How to Get Your Missouri Boating Safety Education Card
Follow these steps to get your boating license in Missouri.
- Meet the minimum age requirement. You must be at least 14 years old to independently operate a motorboat or PWC in Missouri. There is no minimum age to take the Missouri boating safety course.
- Complete an approved boating safety course. Enroll in a Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Patrol Division–approved course, such as the Boat-Ed Missouri 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 Missouri Boating Safety Education Card.
- Apply for your card and pay the fee. After passing, submit your course completion to the MSHP Water Patrol Division and pay the $15 card fee. You can print a temporary boating license immediately after passing and use it on the water right away.
- Carry your card on the water. Missouri law requires you to have your Boating Safety Education Card on the vessel anytime you operate a motorized vessel on a Missouri lake and make it available for inspection upon request.
Does Missouri Accept Out-of-State Boating Cards?
Yes. Non-residents who hold a valid NASBLA-approved boating safety certificate from their home state are exempt from the Missouri education requirement. You must carry proof of your out-of-state certificate on the vessel while operating on Missouri lakes.
Missouri recognizes NASBLA-approved certificates from all states and provinces, as well as Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Cards (PCOC). If your home state does not require boating education or you do not hold a certificate, you must obtain a Missouri Boating Safety Education Card before operating on Missouri lakes.
Start Your Missouri Boater Safety Course Today
Getting your Missouri Boating Safety Education Card is straightforward. The Boat-Ed Missouri course is approved by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Patrol Division 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 Missouri?
A: The minimum age to independently operate a motorboat or PWC in Missouri is 14. Anyone born after January 1, 1984, who operates a motorized vessel on Missouri lakes must also hold a Missouri Boating Safety Education Card.
Q: What is the minimum age to operate a boat in Missouri?
A: The minimum age to independently operate a motorboat in Missouri is 14. Operators under 14 may operate only when directly supervised onboard by a parent, guardian, or another person who is at least 16 years old.
Q: What is the minimum age to operate a Jet Ski in Missouri?
A: The minimum age to independently operate a personal watercraft (PWC), including Jet Skis and WaveRunners, in Missouri is 14. Operators under 14 may operate a PWC only if a person who is at least 16 years old is aboard the PWC.
Q: Does the Missouri education requirement apply on rivers and streams?
A: No. Missouri's Boating Safety Education Card requirement applies specifically to the lakes of the state. Operating on rivers and streams does not require the card. However, Missouri's minimum age requirement of 14 to operate independently applies to all Missouri waters, including rivers and streams.
Q: Do I need a Missouri card if I was born on or before January 1, 1984?
A: No. Operators born on or before January 1, 1984, are exempt from Missouri's boating education requirement. However, all operators (regardless of birth year) must be at least 14 to operate a motorized vessel independently on Missouri waters.
Q: Do I need a Missouri card if I already have one from another state?
A: Non-residents who hold a valid NASBLA-approved boating safety certificate from their home state are exempt from the Missouri education requirement. You must carry proof of your certificate on the vessel. If your home state does not require boating education, you must obtain a Missouri Boating Safety Education Card.
Q: How much does the Missouri boating safety course cost?
A: The MSHP Water Patrol Division charges a $15 fee for the Boating Safety Education Card. Course fees across approved providers generally range from $30 to $80. There is no fee for classroom courses conducted by MSHP marine troopers. The cost to take the course through Boat-Ed is $34.95.
Q: Does the Missouri Boating Safety Education Card expire?
A: No. The Missouri Boating Safety Education Card is valid for life once issued. You do not need to renew it or retake the course.
Q: Is the Missouri Boating Safety Education Card the same as a boating license?
A: Missouri does not issue a traditional boating license. The Boating Safety Education Card serves the same purpose. It's proof that you have completed an approved boating safety course and are authorized to operate a motorized vessel on Missouri lakes.
