How to Get a Boating License in Utah
Utah requires a boating safety education certificate for personal watercraft (PWC) operators between the ages of 12 and 17. Individuals in this age group should first confirm whether they fall within the covered population and understand any other applicable regulations by consulting the official Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation website.
Those who require certification must complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)-approved boating safety course. The Utah State Parks Boating Program maintains a current list of accepted courses on its official page. After completing an approved course, operators must pass the associated test to earn their Utah Boating Safety Education Certificate.
Once obtained, the certificate should be carried while operating a PWC. Individuals are encouraged to visit the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation's official website to verify the current course list, confirm eligibility requirements, and review any additional state regulations that may apply to boating activities.
- Confirm whether you're in the population this state covers (cutoff / age band).
- Take the accepted course: Utah Boating Safety Education Certificate (NASBLA-approved course).
- 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 Utah → · Full requirements →
Compiled from the official state source, cross-referenced against NASBLA, and verified June 2026. Always confirm the current rule on the official Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (Utah State Parks Boating Program) page before you rely on it — boating law changes and some states are mid-rollout. This state's row is currently medium-confidence (one or more fields await an official-page confirmation), so treat the details below as a starting point only. How we compile this. Informational only, not legal advice.