California Boat Course

In California, boating law requires boaters to obtain and carry a California Boater Card (CBC) while operating a recreational motorized vessel within California waterways. This card is often called the ‘California boating license’. The CBC requirement is being phased in over 8 years as follows: January 1, 2018: Persons 20 years of age or younger January 1, 2019: Persons 25 years of age or younger January 1, 2020: Persons 35 years of age or younger January 1, 2021: Persons 40 years of age or younger January 1, 2022: Persons 45 years of age or younger January 1, 2023: Persons 50 years of age or younger January 1, 2024: Persons 60 years of age or younger January 1, 2025: All persons regardless of age

Yes, the minimum age to operate a boat is 16 years of age or older by a motor of 15 HP or more

In California, boating law requires boaters to obtain and carry a California Boater Card (CBC) while operating a recreational motorized vessel within California waterways. This card is often called the ‘California boating license’. The CBC requirement is being phased in over 8 years as follows: January 1, 2018: Persons 20 years of age or younger January 1, 2019: Persons 25 years of age or younger January 1, 2020: Persons 35 years of age or younger January 1, 2021: Persons 40 years of age or younger January 1, 2022: Persons 45 years of age or younger January 1, 2023: Persons 50 years of age or younger January 1, 2024: Persons 60 years of age or younger January 1, 2025: All persons regardless of age

No, there is no minimum age to take this course

The course takes a minimum of 3 hours

No, you can do it over one sitting or as many sittings as you would like

No, you do not need to be a resident of California to take this course

No, you did not fail the course and need to try again

You need to score 80% to pass chapter quizzes

60

You need to score 80% to pass the final online exam

There are quizzes at the end of each chapter in the boater education course

No, it is not an open book exam

Yes, you must pass the course before taking the exam

No, we do not the materials available offline

Yes, you must pass (the course and) the exam before you can drive a boat

Yes, the boater education course provides a foundation for other boating courses

While it is often called a "boating license" in California, it is called the California boater card

To obtain your California Boater Card, you will need to apply to the government's website at http://californiaboatercard.com/applynow/. You will be asked to provide your Certificate of Completion, as proof that you took an educational course. As mandated by the government, the California Department of Parks and Recreation's Division of Boating and Waterways charges $10 to register and mail your card, after completing the course with all accredited providers, including BoatTests101.com. Follow the steps, and you are all set!

You can print your temporary certificate from your dashboard after logging in

Once you pass and pay for the California boater course, you will be able to immediately print out the Certificate of Completion. This is your proof of online course completion. You can print the Certificate of Completion right then, and/or request that a PDF be emailed to you

The California boater card is good for your lifetime

No, if you took a boater education course in another state or in Canada, it will be recognized in California

No, you do not need to renew your boater education card. It is good for life

You can use your temporary certificate for 90 days to operate a personal watercraft, after which you are required to have your California boater card

You are required to have a California boater card if it is mandatory for your age and you are planning to operate a vessel with 15 horsepower or more.

No, you do not need a proof of competency to operate a non-powered watercraft

Your boater education from another state or Canada is proof of competency

Yes, your California boater card can be revokable and suspendable if laws are broken

Your card will be mailed within 60 days. If it is not delivered, please contact the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways

Yes, there is a penalty for not carrying your California boater card while boating

Yes, our California boater education course is approved by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways

Yes, our California boater education course is approved by NASBLA

For visting boaters, all US states, US territories, Canadian provinces, and Canadian territories will recognize boater eduation cards that meet NASBLA (National Association of State Boating Law Administrators) and Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Cards that meet Transport Canada's requirements

The phone # is 1-888-326-2822 and the mailing address is 1 Capitol Mall, Suite 500 Sacramento, California 95814

The California boater education course costs $34.95

Yes, our website is secure and it is safe to enter your credit card information

Customers can using debit and credit. We do not accept Bitcoin or other digital currencies at this time

No, there is no annual cost

The California boater course is valid for your lifetime from the time of registration and payment

Please email us your issue or concern and we will review on a customer-by-customer basis.

Yes, we have an affiliate program where we reward referrals. Below is the link for more information and to sign up: https://www.shareasale.com/shareasale.cfm?merchantID=57099

We offer referrals through our affiliate program (https://www.shareasale.com/shareasale.cfm?merchantID=57099). We may do promotions from time to time

You can re-print your temporary card after logging into your account, assuming you passed the course and exam

The Calfornia government is responsible for mailing and replacing the California Boater Card. Please visit CaliforniaBoaterCard.com where you will find their instructions and contact info

Select a course and click the "Sign Up!" button

On the Login screen, click "Lost Password?" and follow the steps

Please email [email protected] or call 1.888.885.8830

No, you will not lose your progress

You can login as many times as you would like

Yes, you can access the course on a mobile phone

Yes, you can access the course from a desktop, mobile phone or tablet

If you lose your internet connection, it will take you back to the point in the course you were currently at

Yes, the course will run on any web browser

You can take the exam on any computer that has an internet connection and a browser

There are no videos in the course

California does not accept reciprocity from other areas. If you are a California resident and have a boater card from outside of California, you will need to complete the California boating safety course, pass the corresponding exam, and then apply for your California Boater Card to operate on California waters via CaliforniaBoaterCard.com

California does not accept reciprocity from other areas. If you are a California resident and have a boater card from outside of California, you will need to complete the California boating safety course, pass the corresponding exam, and then apply for your California Boater Card to operate on California waters at CaliforniaBoaterCard.com

You cannot drive a boat without having a California Boater Card in California waters

California Division of Boating and Waterways

If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us directly at [email protected] or by phone @ 1.888.885.8830

Our hours of operation are 9am-midnight EST

We offer an official online boat course to get your boater card, which is accredited by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and the California Division of Boating and Waterways

Please email [email protected]