Washington State Boating Regulations
The Washington State Boater Education Card is proof that a boater has taken and passed an
approved boater education course. The Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission is gradually phasing-in the mandatory boater education requirement that has been law since 2005. Starting in 2008 all boaters 20 years old and
younger are required to have the Washington State Boater Education Card on board when the vessel is underway to satisfy the Washington State boating regulations. A new block of boaters will be added each year until 2015 when all boaters who are not exempt will be required to have the Boater Education Card.
Many boating fatalities occur because boaters aren't educated about boating safety. The Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission believes that an educated boater is a safer boater.
Where can I take my safe boating exam and get my Boater Education Card?
You can write your safe boating exam directly on the Internet at BoaterExam.com™.
Once you pass the exam your boater education card is mailed to
your home. In the meantime, you can print off a Certificate of Completion
that can be used as a temporary certificate to satisfy the Washington State boating
regulations until your permanent boater education card arrives.
Where can I get the boater safety education course material?
All the required safe boating training
material to get your boater education card is available
for free at BoaterExam.com™. Simply visit
our Washington State Safe Boating Course section
to gain access to the free training material. The Washington State
Safe Boating Course is accredited by the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission.
Where can I get more information about Washington State boating regulations and the Washington State Boater Education Card?
Answers to most of your questions about the Washington State Boater Education Card can
be found on our Frequently
Asked Questions page. You may also visit The Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission for additional information, or you can contact
us and we will be glad to answer any of your questions.
*The law applies to operators of motorboats with 15 horsepower or greater.