Virginia Boat Safety Course
CHAPTER 9: Boating Education Practices
9.1 IN VIRGINIA
People 14 and 15 years old in Virginia cannot operate a PWC unless they have proof of successful completion of a boating safety course that is approved by the National Association of safe boating law administrators (NASBLA). The Boater Education Card must be carried onboard while operating.
9.2 MANDATORY BOATER EDUCATIOIN
The state of Virginia has implemented a mandatory boater education program, which will require ALL boaters on Virginia waters to be certified. The legislation comes into effect on July 1, 2009 and will be phased in over 7-years time:
|
Date
|
Operators requiring certification:
|
|
July 1, 2009
|
PWC operators 20 years of age and younger
|
|
July 1, 2010
|
PWC operators 35 years of age and younger
|
|
July 1, 2011
|
PWC operators 50 years of age and younger and motorboat operators 20 years of age and younger
|
|
July 1, 2012
|
ALL PWC operators and motorboat operators 30 years of age and younger
|
|
July 1, 2013
|
Motorboat operators 40 years of age and younger
|
|
July 1, 2014
|
Motorboat operators 45 years of age and younger
|
|
July 1, 2015
|
Motorboat operators 50 years of age and younger
|
|
July 1, 2016
|
All motorboat operators, regardless of age
|
Virginia Boat Safety Course