Q. What is the "Washington State Boater Education Card"?
A.
The Boater Education Card is proof of competency
of completing a basic boating course and is authorized to operate a boat in Washington State.
The Boater Education Card is a lifetime card (no renewal necessary). The Boater Education Card must be carried with you whenever you are operating a powered watercraft to avoid high fines.
Q. Do I have to get the Washington State Boater Education Card?
A.
Yes. The 2005 Washington State Legislature passed a Mandatory Boater Education law that requires all boaters to be educated before operating a powered watercraft 15hp or greater. These safe boating regulations will be gradually phased in through the year 2015. (Please see the chart to the right to see when you need the card.)
Q. What is the minimum age to obtain the Washington State Boater Education Card?
A.
Children must be at least 12 years of age in order to take the Washington State exam and receive their Washington State Boater Education Card.
Q. What is the minimum age to operate a powered vessel (excluding Personal Watercrafts
- PWCs) in Washington State?
A.Children must be at least 12 years of age and have successfully completed a boating safety course, approved by the Washington Parks & Recreation Commission, in order to operate a powered vessel on Washington State waters.
Click here for more information.
Q. What is the minimum age to operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC) in Washington State?
A.
PWC operators in Washington State must be at least 14 years old. PWC operators must carry proof of successful completion of an Washington State Marine Board approved boating safety course on-board while operating.
Q. How do I get my Washington State Boater Education Card?
A.
The steps required to get your Washington State Boater Education Card are as follows:
There is also a one-time state fee of $10.00 to get your Boater Education Card which
we will process for you. Alternatively, you can send
your Certificate of Completion to The Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission with $10.00 and
the application form after you pass
your exam.
For a complete overview of the Washington State online boating exam process, please
visit our Online Exam Overview page.
Q. What if I don't pass the Washington State Boating Test?
A. No problem. At BoaterExam.com™, we have a Pay ony when you Pass policy.
There is no cost to retry the exam if you do not pass. You
will receive your score and be allowed to review any of your wrong answers. You
can then review the course material and take the exam again at no cost to you.
Q. How much does the exam cost?
A.
The cost of the exam is $29.95. There is also a
one-time state fee of $10.00 to get your Boater Education Card which
we will process for you. Alternatively, you
can send your Certificate of Completion to The Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission
with $10.00 and the application form after you pass your exam.
Q. What payment methods are accepted?
A. We accept payments by VISA, Mastercard, and PayPal.
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Q. Where do I get the application form to send to the state?
A.
You can download the application form here.
Q. What is the "Certificate of Completion"?
A.
The Certificate of Completion is a temporary proof of competency and proves that you took a boater education course and passed. This certificate is valid for 60 days from the date you take your exam and should should be carried with you when you boat until your permanent Boater Education Card arrives in the mail.
Q. When will I receive my Boater Education Card in the mail?
A.
Your card will arrive in 3-5 weeks from the date you take your exam.
Q. Do I have a time limit for the exam?
A.
No. The exam is not timed but inactive exams will be erased after 6 hours.
Q. Can I write the exam at any time? Day or Night?
A.
Yes. The exam is available to you at any time of the day, every day of the week.
Q. How many questions are on the exam?
A.
The exam consists of 75 multiple choice questions.
Q. What is the passing grade?
A.
The passing grade is 80%, or 60 correct answers out of 75 questions.
Q. Is anyone exempt from getting the Boater Education Card?
A.
Yes. The list of exemptions is as follows:
| Group
|
Exemption
|
| People born before 1/1/1955
|
No card needed.
|
| Operators of commercial fishing boats
|
When operating a recreational vessel must have valid commercial license or Boater Education Card.
|
| Operators with U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) marine operator license
|
When operating a recreational vessel must have valid USCG operator license or Boater Education Card.
|
| Operators of exempt vessels
|
When operating a recreational vessel must have Boater Education Card.
|
| Operators of rented, leased or chartered vessels
|
When operating a livery vessel, must have a copy of the Commission-approved educational checklist in lieu of Boater Education Card.
|
| An operator who is a resident of another state or country
|
Does not need card for first 60 consecutive days. After this must have Washington Boater Education Card.
|
| An operator who is a resident of another state or country who has a valid card from that state or country
|
Does not need card for first 60 consecutive days. After this must have Washington Boater Education Card.
|
| A person purchasing a vessel
|
For the first 60 days after purchasing a vessel, the bill of sale showing date of purchase is valid in lieu of a Washington Boating Education Card.
|
| A person not yet required to have a card
|
No card needed until date of phasing in.
|
Q. What are the technical requirements for the online boating test?
|
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
|
Browser |
Internet Explorer 5.5+ or
Mozilla Firefox 1.0+ |
Internet Explorer 7 or
Mozilla Firefox 2.0 |
|
Operating System |
Windows 98 or
Mac OS 9 |
Windows XP or
Mac OS X |
|
Screen Resolution |
800x600 |
1024x768 |
|
Internet Connection |
dial-up |
high-speed |