How to Get a Boating License in Kansas
Kansas requires boaters born on or after January 1, 1989 to carry an approved boater education card. Those 21 and older are exempt from this requirement. The credential is a certificate of completion issued upon successful participation in a NASBLA-approved boater education course.
The process involves three main steps. First, individuals should confirm they fall within the affected population based on their birth date. Second, they must complete an accepted NASBLA-approved course offered through approved providers. Third, they must pass the course test and receive their certificate of completion. The completed certificate serves as proof of compliance and should be carried while operating a vessel in Kansas.
For the most current list of approved courses and full details on state regulations, individuals should consult the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks official website.
- Confirm whether you're in the population this state covers (cutoff / age band).
- Take the accepted course: KDWP-approved (NASBLA-approved) boater education certificate of completion.
- 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 Kansas → · Full requirements →
Compiled from the official state source, cross-referenced against NASBLA, and verified June 2026. Always confirm the current rule on the official Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP) page before you rely on it — boating law changes and some states are mid-rollout. How we compile this. Informational only, not legal advice.