Boating Education
Take a Safe Boating Course
To help ensure New York’s waterways remain safe and enjoyable, Brianna’s Law requires that all operators of motorized vessels, including personal watercraft (PWCs) (JetSki™, Wave Runner™, etc.) and specialty craft must complete a state-approved safe boating course. While operators of non-motorized boats, such as kayaks and canoes, are not required to take the course at this time, it is strongly encouraged.
This comprehensive course teaches the fundamental skills of safe boating operation and encourages common sense and courtesy to all who share the water. Topics covered include rules of the nautical road, required safety equipment, special boating-related activities, and more. This course has been approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators
(NASBLA), a national nonprofit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety.
Things to know
Courses are available both in the classroom and online so that you can choose the course that best fits your needs.
- Students must be at least 10 years of age to attend the course.
- The course requires a minimum of 8 hours of classroom instruction.
- Upon successful completion of the course, all students will be issued a temporary certificate that is valid for 90 days until your permanent certificate arrives in the mail.
- Safe Boating Certificates are good for life, but you must have the original, physical certificate on your person or on board while operating a motorized boat.
Classroom Courses
In-person courses are offered throughout the state by certified instructors. Please note that some instructors may charge an instructional fee. Some courses may be taught by volunteers and are free of charge. Course fees will be listed in the “About this Event” section of the class listing.
Fees paid to your in-person classroom instructor do not include the fee for a permanent certificate for students 18 years old and older. After successful completion of the course, you must purchase your certificate.
Register for a classroom course: New York Safe Boating Course
Online Courses
With an approved online course, learning is completed remotely, and successful completion of exams is required to advance through the course. Fees paid to the online provider include the cost of your permanent certificate issued by the provider. There are several online providers of "boating education," but only those listed below are approved and meet the State's requirements.
- Aceboater
- America's Boating Club (formerly known as US Power Squadron) Spanish online course available
- American Safety Council
- Boat-ED
- Boat U.S.
- BOATERexam
- BOATsmart
- BoatTests101 Disponible en español
- iLearnToBoat
- Drive A Boat USA
- New York Quick Boater Course
- Recademics
Frequently Asked Questions: Courses and Certificates
least 18 years old may rent and operate a motorized boat, including (PWCs) from a livery (boat rental, outfitter) without a certificate. Staff at the livery must provide basic instruction and safety information before you depart the dock. Persons under the age of 18 can only rent if they hold a safety certificate.
Yes, contact the online provider that issued your card. The same is true for lost Power Squadron and Coast Guard Auxiliary cards.
You can order a replacement certificate online for $10.00 at ilostmycard.com
No, temporary certificates cannot be replaced. You need to wait for your permanent certificate to arrive by mail.
No, you must have the original certificate on your person or on board the boat if you are the operator.
It takes approximately 90 days from your course completion date for your permanent certificate to arrive in the mail. Your temporary certificate is valid through those 90 days. If you are over 18 years of age, you must purchase your certificate from https://www.ilostmycard.com/ before it will be mailed to you. If you are within seven days of your temporary certificate’s expiration date and have not yet received your card, please contact us at boating@parks.ny.gov
A certificate issued prior to 2000 is only acceptable if you have the physical certificate and you were under 18 years of age when it was issued. All NY State safe boating certificates issued after 2000, regardless of age, are acceptable.
A safe boating certificate issued by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary is recognized as valid; you do not need any further documentation. The same is true of certificates issued by the US Power Squadron/America’s Boating Club.
No, but you must carry a copy of your Coast Guard license on you while boating recreationally
Yes, the NY State Safe Boating Certificate is nationally accredited and valid in other states and Canada. Please note that the Adventure License is not acceptable proof of a safe boating certificate outside of New York State.
An out-of-state boating safety certificate is only recognized in New York if it was issued from your current state of residence and the course was approved by the National Association of Boating Law AdministratorsNational Association of Boating Law Administrators. Look for the NASBLA logo on your certificate.
You must be at least 18 years of age, be able to demonstrate an ability to instruct, and have taken a New York State Parks classroom course. Prospective instructor certification process and application.
New York State Adventure License
Anyone successfully completing the New York Safe Boating Course or an approved online boating safety course may opt to have an anchor icon added to their driver's license, non-driver ID, or learner's permit to indicate completion of the course. There is a fee for this addition.
The Adventure License with an anchor icon is acceptable proof of a safe boating certificate, but only in New York State. The advantage to this program is that you will no longer need to carry your safe boating certificate with you when boating, provided you have your DMV credential with you.
The DMV Adventure License icons are only for lifetime issue certificates, such as the Safe Boating Course. It does not apply to boating experience in the military, USCG licenses, or commercial operator licenses.
If you would like a new driver's license issued immediately, the cost is $12.50. If you would like to wait until your next, regularly scheduled license renewal, there is no charge. There are several ways to apply:
If you took a New York State Parks Classroom Course:
- For credit card payments for your new DMV license: After receiving your boating safety certificate in the mail, go to the NYS Parks Adventure License.
- For other payment types: You must bring your boating safety certificate to a NY DMV office.
If you took an online safe boating course:
- You must log back into the online course vendor's website and click on the link they provide for the Adventure License.
If you took a classroom course through the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron or US Powerboating:
- You must bring your original certificate directly to any DMV office.
- You can also bring certificates from your online or New York State Parks classroom course to a NY DMV office.
Please visit DMV to add the anchor to your license.
Frequently Asked Questions: Adventure License Program
No, the icon can only be placed on licenses and ID's issued by the NYS DMV.
No, only safe boating certificates can be listed.
Yes, DMV charges a fee for this addition.
Yes.
Yes, first determine which recreational licenses you want added to your driver's license and select Opt-In Later to have them apply at your next renewal. Then wait a few days and select Opt-In now for your safe boating certificate, you will receive all icons at the same time.
Out-of-state boating certificates, U.S. Coast Guard licenses, boating experience in the military, and commercial operator licenses.
You must log into your account created with your online provider. For more information, click on the link below for your provider and follow the directions on the document that pops up. Alternatively, you can bring your printed certificate to any DMV office.
Check on the mailing status with DMV. NY State parks does not have access to DMV records.
To ensure compliance with Brianna’s Law when operating motorized vessels in NYS, you will need to maintain the permanent safe boating certificate issued by the entity which administered your course.
