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Education card required: States in This Tier
Education card required
In the "Education card required" tier, a boater-education certificate or card is mandatory to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft. The requirement applies to operators within a defined population, which may include all boaters or only those born after a specific cutoff year. States and jurisdictions in this tier include Alabama, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
The specific age cutoff and scope of the requirement vary significantly by state and jurisdiction. Some states require certification for all operators regardless of age, while others mandate it only for younger boaters or first-time operators. Boaters must confirm the exact requirements and current rules for their state by consulting that state's official boating or natural resources agency website. This information is subject to change and should not be treated as legal advice.
| State | Who needs it | Min operating age | Credential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | none (age-based): all operators 12+ must hold a vessel operator license / boater-safety certification | 12 (licensed; 12-13 require a licensed adult 21+ aboard), 14 to operate unsupervised; same for PWC | Alabama Vessel Operator's License / ALEA-approved Boater Safety Certification (nonresidents: Nonresident Boater Safety Certification) |
| California | all operators regardless of age (full phase-in completed January 1, 2025) | 16 to operate a motorboat over 15 hp (incl. PWC) unsupervised; 12-15 may operate over 15 hp only if supervised aboard by someone 18+ | California Boater Card (lifetime; after a state-approved NASBLA boating-safety course/exam) |
| Connecticut | all operators (any age); a Safe Boating Certificate is required regardless of birth year | under 16 may operate a non-PWC vessel only under direct supervision of someone 18+ holding an SBC/CPWO; PWC by under-16 requires a person 18+ aboard holding a CPWO 2+ years | Safe Boating Certificate (SBC) for vessels; Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO) for PWC |
| District of Columbia | all operators of motorized vessels (no birth-year cutoff) | no fixed minimum; under-18 may operate a motorized vessel only under supervision of an adult 18+ who completed an approved course; PWC same | Boating Safety Certificate / boater education card recognized by NASBLA or USCG |
| Hawaii | none - applies to all operators of motorized vessels over 10 hp regardless of birth year | no statewide minimum for a motorboat (under-16 operators must hold the card and be directly supervised by a certified adult 21+); 15 minimum for a thrill craft (PWC) | DOBOR Boater Safety Education Card (BSEC); NASBLA-/state-approved course certificate |
| Kansas | born on or after January 1, 1989 (requirement does not apply to persons 21 or older) | 12 to operate a motorized vessel/PWC without direct, audible supervision; no one under 12 may operate unsupervised regardless of certification | KDWP-approved (NASBLA-approved) boater education certificate of completion |
| Louisiana | born after January 1, 1984 | 16 to operate a PWC; no separate motorboat minimum (operator born after 1/1/1984 must be certified or accompanied by a certified person 18+) | LDWF-approved (NASBLA-approved) boater education course card; free boater-education endorsement available on the LA driver's license |
| Maryland | born on or after July 1, 1972 | PWC: 16 (with certificate); motorboat: no statutory minimum but operator must hold the certificate if born on/after July 1 1972 | Maryland Certificate of Boating Safety Education (NASBLA-approved course); lifetime, non-revocable |
| Massachusetts | phasing in (Hanson-Milone Act): born after Jan 1 1989 by Apr 1 2026; born on/before Jan 1 1989 by Apr 1 2028 | motorboat: 12 (under 12 only if directly supervised by a competent person 18+); PWC: 16, no exceptions | Massachusetts Boater Safety Certificate (MEP-approved / NASBLA-accredited course); valid for life |
| Michigan | motorboat (over 6 hp): born on or after July 1 1996; PWC: born after Dec 31 1978 | motorboat: no minimum if 6 hp or under; PWC: 14 (no one under 14 may operate) | Michigan Boating Safety Certificate (DNR-approved / NASBLA course); valid for life |
| Mississippi | born after June 30, 1980 | under 12 must be accompanied by a person 21+ to operate a boat or PWC; minimum age 10 to take/certify | MDWFP-approved Boater Education Certificate (Mississippi Boating Basics) |
| Nebraska | born after December 31, 1985 | 14 (motorboat and PWC) | Nebraska Boater Education Certificate (NASBLA-approved course; exam pass >=75%); does not expire |
| New Jersey | none: all power-vessel and PWC operators (a boat safety certificate is required of all operators) | 16 to operate a power vessel or PWC | New Jersey Boat Safety Certificate (NASBLA-approved course); a separate NJ MVC boat license/ID is also required |
| New York | all motorized-vessel operators regardless of age (Brianna's Law fully phased in as of Jan 1, 2025) | 10 (motorboat, with adult supervision until 18 unless certified); PWC operators must be at least 14 and hold a certificate | New York State Boating Safety Certificate (NASBLA-approved course) |
| Texas | born on or after September 1, 1993 (motorboat over 15 hp, PWC, or wind-blown vessel over 14 ft) | 13 to operate alone a vessel over 15 hp / PWC / wind-blown vessel over 14 ft; under 13 prohibited on a PWC unless a person 18+ is aboard | TPWD-certified boater education course certificate (must carry valid photo ID) |
| Vermont verify | born after January 1, 1974 | education applies to operators 12+ born after Jan 1 1974; PWC minimum age verify | Vermont Certificate of Boating Education (Boat Vermont course, NASBLA-approved) |
| Virginia | all operators of motorboats 10 hp or greater (any age); all PWC operators 14+ | PWC: 14 (must also hold the certificate); motorboat minimum age verify | Virginia Boating Safety Education Certificate (NASBLA-approved); optional $10 Lifetime Boater Card |
| Washington | born after January 1, 1955, age 12+, operating a motor 15 hp or greater (incl. all PWC) | 12 to operate a 15+ hp motorboat; PWC operators must be 14 (state rule; verify) | Washington State Boater Education Card (state-approved course or equivalency exam) |
| West Virginia | born on or after December 31, 1986 | 15 to operate a motorboat or PWC alone; 12-15 may operate if a person over 18 is aboard | West Virginia Boating Safety Education Certificate (NASBLA-approved course) |
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Tiers are keyed to each state's published education-requirement rule, cross-referenced against NASBLA and verified June 2026. How we compile this. Confirm each state on its official agency page. Informational only, not legal advice.