by Chris Riley Updated on May 16, 2022. In nauticalknowhow Boat Safe is a community supported site. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we have confidence in all recommended products. Nearly every state now requires boaters to have some form of formal boat safety education. This typically comes in the form of a test administered by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators or NASBLA. The regulations can vary widely from state to state so make sure you check your local laws to ensure you are in compliance. Upon completion of your boat safety test, which can take up to several hours, you will received a card indicating that you have completed the requirements. The Coast Guard or other officials can and will ask to see this card to prove the course has been completed. In some states if you cannot produce this card you can face fines that reach into the hundreds of dollars. As you’ll see, these courses are required for adults and children alike with very few exceptions. When traveling between states most states will allow you to use your out-of-state certification if you wish to boat in their waters. Again, you must have documentation on you to show as proof when asked. And always check the regulations as this reciprocity, which is the term used to indicate the allowance of one state’s certification in another state, is not always guaranteed. Several states require you to take a course in that state before boating, in particular when using personal watercraft. When in doubt, check with the governing body of the state in which you plan to go boating. You can find contact information here. Remember that, in many states, children are required to have certification but they may also be required to have adult supervision as well. Again, this can vary widely based on state and the ages of those involved so make sure you’re checking ahead of time to avoid any potential hassles. Keep an eye on dates as well. Some states are implementing laws in stages that won’t fully take effect until the year 2025 or later. As each year passes, the details of the laws regarding who requires certification may change. Typically this pushes back the age of those required to be certified with the ultimate goal being every boater on the water requiring proof they have completed the education course by the end of the given timeframe. Basically that means if you don’t require complete of the boat safety education course today in New York State, for instance, you may require it by this time next year.
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