Boating License Requirements in North Dakota
In North Dakota, a boater education card is required only for operators ages 12 to 15 who operate a motorboat or personal watercraft with more than 10 horsepower without adult supervision. Operators age 16 and older are exempt from the requirement. The credential accepted is completion of a Department-approved Boat North Dakota course and the corresponding boater education card. Children under 12 may operate motorboats or PWCs exceeding 10 horsepower only when accompanied by a person age 18 or older.
Boating regulations and requirements are subject to change. Operators should verify the current requirements and course options directly on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's official website before operating a motorboat or PWC.
| Detail | As the state publishes it |
|---|---|
| Education card required? | Required for some operators |
| Who needs it | none (age-based): only operators ages 12-15 operating alone a motorboat/PWC over 10 hp; 16+ exempt |
| Minimum operating age | 12 (under 12 may operate motorboat/PWC over 10 hp only if accompanied by a person 18+); same for PWC |
| Accepted credential | Boat North Dakota course completion / boater education card (Department-approved course) |
| Reciprocity (other states' cards) | Verify on the official state agency page |
| Rental / livery rule | Vessels under 26 ft rented under 24 hrs may keep the certificate of number ashore but the rental agreement must be aboard; no separate operator-education exemption stated for renters |
| Fees | home-study paper manual + mail-in exam free; online course paid (provider-set); no state card fee |
| Administering agency | North Dakota Game and Fish Department |
Confirm before you operate. This is informational only, not legal advice. The official state boating-law agency page is the authoritative source for who needs a card and how to get it.
What a boater-education card proves
A boater-education card shows you’ve passed a NASBLA-approved safety course covering navigation rules, required equipment and emergencies — it is not a driver’s-license-style test of skill. Most states accept an approved card from any state, but who must carry one, and from what age, is set state by state. Check the rule below, then confirm it on the official state agency page before you head out.
Full requirements for North Dakota → · Course & fees → · How to get licensed →
Compiled from the official state source, cross-referenced against NASBLA, and verified June 2026. Always confirm the current rule on the official North Dakota Game and Fish Department page before you rely on it — boating law changes and some states are mid-rollout. How we compile this. Informational only, not legal advice.