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Take your WASHINGTON Boater Exam® Online

Who needs to take the Washington boaters safety course?

All boaters must have a Washington State Boater Education Card to operate a motorized watercraft of 15 HP or more. BOATERexam.com® is a delegated provider for the Washington State Parks.

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Washington Boater Education Card
Washington State Parks

Approved by the

Washington State Parks

Boater Education Card is good for life

Good for life!

Get your official
Washington Boating Card

Complete the Washington Boaters Safety Course in
4 Easy Steps

Take your BOATERexam® course and be certified for life!

Step 1

est. 2–3 mins

Sign Up

Sign up for a Boaterexam® account, pay for the official course, and get started. It only takes a few minutes.

Step 2

est. 3–4 hrs

Study & Pass the Online Course

Take the course on desktop, tablet or mobile. We automatically save your progress so you can learn at your own pace.

Step 3

est. 1–5 mins

Print Your Temp Card Immediately

Pass the online exam and print your temporary boating certificate immediately.

Step 4

est. 0 mins

Go Boating!

Hit the water! You're all set to legally operate a boat.

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Washington Boater Education Card

Washington Boater Safety Course

In Washington, all boaters must successfully complete a boater safety course approved by the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission in order to operate a motorboat with greater than 15 hp. Boaters are required to carry the Washington State Boater Education Card as proof of boater education.



Boating Age Requirements

  • No person under the age of 12 can operate a motorized vessel of 15 horsepower or greater
  • No person under the age of 14 may operate a personal watercraft (PWC)
  • In order to rent a personal watercraft (PWC), a person must be at least 16 years of age

Personal Watercraft (PWC) Age Requirements

PWC operators in the state of Washington must be at least fourteen (14) years of age.

Mobile Optimized

Boating safety course on an iPad and iPhone

Study on Any Device

From laptop to mobile phone to tablet, choose when and where to take your boating course and get your Washington Boating Card.

Visual Exam Questions

person looking at screens of the illustrated boating safety course

Visual Exam Questions Help You Learn

We found out a long time ago that people learn best when they can see what they're learning. Shouldn't you be tested the same way? Every one of our exam questions is illustrated to help you get your boating licence.

Engaging Videos

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Hundreds of Engaging Videos

Our Washington boating course features hundreds of rich engaging boating videos and animations. That means you aren't just reading: You're watching, listening and learning.

Washington Approved Boating & Safety Course

Map of the United States

BOATERexam.com® is trusted by agencies across the United States to deliver the best of quality in boater safety. Our courses consistently receive the highest level of approval from agencies and from boaters.

This official Washington boating safety course is approved by the Washington State Parks.

Washington State Parks logo

Washington State Parks
PO Box 42650
Olympia, WA 98504
http://parks.state.wa.us/435/Boating

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WA Boating Regulations E-BookDownloadable Washington State Specific Boating
Rules and Regulations E-book!

Download them, print them, share them, save them to your mobile device! From registration to accident reporting to invasive species to law enforcement.

Everything state specific to Washington, in one neat & tidy little E-book. NOTE: Not a substitute for the online course. Download PDF Now!

Have a quick question about Washington boating regulations? A great first stop is our Washington State Boating Laws page where we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about state boating laws, like who needs a Boater Education Card.

Washington State Boating Rules and Regulations Ebook

Washington Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some common questions about safe boating rules & regulations.

Q.

How much does the boat safety course cost?

A.

The Washington Boater Safety Course fee is $39.95. There is an additional $10.00 state fee for processing your card. It includes unlimited attempts at the final exam.

Q.

What payment methods are accepted?

A.

We accept payments by VISA, Mastercard, AMEX, PayPal, and Prepaid vouchers.

Q.

What is the "Temporary Boater Education Card"?

A.

The Temporary Boater Education Card is a temporary proof of competency and proves that you took a boater education course and passed.

Q.

What is the Washington Boater Education Card?

A.

Washington Boater Education Card (also known as the Washington boating license or boaters license) is proof that you have met the mandatory boat safety education requirements for the State of Washington. The Washington Boater Education Card is good for life and does not need to be renewed.

Q.

I do not have a driver's license. Can I still get the Washington boater license?

A.

Yes. You are not required to have a state driver's license in order to obtain a Boater Education Card.

Q.

How can I get my Washington boating license?

A.

You can obtain your Washington Boater Education Card in 3 easy steps:

  1. Pay the one-time fee of $39.95 + $10.00 state fee – free unlimited retries of the final exam
  2. Study the Washington Boaters Safety Course, and pass the final exam
  3. Print your Temporary Boater Education Card. Your Washington Boater Education Card will be available for download from the Washington State Parks site.

This official Washington boaters safety course is approved by the Washington State Parks.

Q.

How long is the boat safety course and boater license good for?

A.

The boater license is good for life.

Q.

Is anyone exempt from obtaining the Washington boating license?

A.

Check out the Washington Boating Laws page to see if there are any exemptions from the boat safety education requirement.

Q.

Is there a time limit to complete the online course?

A.

You can take the online course at any time, day or night. However, courses must be completed within 90 days of payment at which time your access to the course will expire.

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.
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