How to Get a Boating License in Georgia
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1998 who operates a motorized vessel in Georgia is required to complete a boater-education course. The first step is to confirm whether an individual falls within this population based on their birth date and the type of vessel they intend to operate.
Once eligibility is confirmed, the operator should enroll in a course approved by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources that meets NASBLA (North American Association of Boating Law Administrators) standards. After completing the course and passing the required test, the operator receives a boater-education card. This card—or a boating endorsement on a Georgia driver's license or ID issued by the Department of Driver Services—must be carried while operating a motorized vessel.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division or Wildlife Resources Division, maintains the official list of accepted courses and current regulations. Operators should consult the state agency's website to confirm which courses are currently approved and to verify all applicable rules before enrolling in or taking a course.
- Confirm whether you're in the population this state covers (cutoff / age band).
- Take the accepted course: DNR-approved (NASBLA-approved) boater education course; proof carried as a card or as a boating endorsement on a Georgia driver's license/ID (DDS).
- Pass the test and receive your card or certificate.
- Carry it aboard whenever you operate, and confirm the current rule on the official state page.
Carry the card every time you operate
Once you’ve earned the card, keep it aboard whenever you operate — many states require you to show it on request, and a card from one state is usually honored in another. If you’ll boat across state lines, check each state’s rule, since the covered ages and accepted credentials differ. Always confirm the current requirement on the official state agency page.
Course & fees for Georgia → · Full requirements →
Compiled from the official state source, cross-referenced against NASBLA, and verified June 2026. Always confirm the current rule on the official Georgia DNR, Law Enforcement Division / Wildlife Resources Division page before you rely on it — boating law changes and some states are mid-rollout. How we compile this. Informational only, not legal advice.