Florida Safe Boating Course
CHAPTER 9: Boating Education Practices
9.1 IN FLORIDA
Anyone 21 years of age or younger, who wishes to operate a vessel of 10 horsepower or more (or a PWC for those who have reached their fourteenth birthday) must pass an approved boater safety course and have in his/her possession photographic identification and a boater safety identification card issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Please note the following considerations:
A person is exempt from this law if there is a person on board who is not affected by this law or is at least 18 years of age and holds a boater education identification card and is attendant to the safe operation of the vessel.
- Minors may become certified as there is no minimum certification age.
- No one under the age of 14 years old may operate a PWC.
- Boaters in Florida can operate a vessel on Florida waters without education restrictions if they are older than 21 years of age.
9.2 COURT ORDERED EDUCATION
Once the boat operator is involved in a boating infraction which results in:
- a reportable boating accident;
- a criminal boating violation; or
- two safety violations (non-criminal) within 12 months,
he or she must attend and successfully complete an approved boating safety course and provide proof of doing so to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (correspondence or internet courses do not meet this requirement). The offender will not be permitted to operate a vessel until such time as proof of course completion has been filed.
Florida Safe Boating Course