Boating License (175)

Family fishing from boat, do I need a license to fish from a boat concept.

Do You Need a Boating License to Fish?

If you plan to fish from a motorized vessel, you'll typically need a boater education card. Most states require it, and it's separate from your fishing license. While the fishing license is specifically to allow you to catch fish, the boater education card is more…

Woman wears life jacket and drives boat, how long does it take to get a boating license concept.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Boating License?

Most people get their boating license in 3–8 hours of online course time, plus 2–4 weeks for the physical card to arrive. You can print a temporary card the moment you pass the final exam, and that temporary card is valid for legal operation in most…

Man smiles and holds boater card, boating license boat rental requirement concept.

Do You Need a Boating License to Rent a Boat?

If you're planning to rent a motorized boat in the US, you'll generally be required to have a boater education card. That's true even if you're not a boat owner yourself, as most rental companies have a boating license boat rental requirement. The simplest way…

Woman in life jacket holds boater card, boating license vs boater education card concept.

Boating License vs Boater Education Card: What's the Difference?

Most US states don't issue boating licenses the same way they issue driver's licenses. What most people call a boating license is usually a boating safety certificate or boater education card. This credential proves you've completed an approved boating course. Generally, the card doesn't expire…