New York Boat Course
All boaters born on or after May 1, 1996 are required to complete an approved boater education course to operate a watercraft

Three steps to become a Licensed Boater


Complete Course
State-accredited online course for all ages

Pass The Online Exam
Unlimited re-tries

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Frequently Asked Questions

Course
Is it mandatory to complete a boat course in New York to drive a boat?
You must be 14 years of age or older and must pass a boating safety education course before you are allowed to operate a watercraft in New York.
Are there any age or operator restrictions for driving a boat in New York?
Persons at least 10 years old and born on or after May 1, 1996 may operate recreational boat other than PWC only if he or she:
Passed a boating safety course approved by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and has the State Boating Safety Certificate on board or is accompanied on board by a person 18 years of age or older who either has a State Boating Safety Certificate on board or is not required to have a certificate.
Person at least 14 years old may operate a PWC only if he or she:
Has passed a boating safety course approved by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and history Preservation and is carrying the State Boating Safety Certificate on board or is accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older who holds a State Boating Safety Certificate.
No Person under 14 years of age may operate PWC.
Are senior citizens exempt from obtaining their boater education card?
You must be 14 years of age or older and must pass a boating safety education course before you are allowed to operate a watercraft in New York.
Only the following are exempted in having a boating safety certificate:
Both U.S. and Canadian licensed commercial vessel operators,
State certified instructors,
Certified instructors of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Power Squadrons,
Police/peace officers, fire/rescue personnel and lifeguards acting pursuant to their assigned duties.
What is the minimum age to take this course?
The minimum age to take this course is 10 years old.
How long will it take to complete the New York boater education course?
The course takes a minimum of 3 hours
Do I have to complete the course in one sitting?
No, you can do it over one sitting or as many sittings as you would like
Do I need to be a resident of New York to take this course?
No, you do not need to be a resident of New York to take this course
I failed a chapter quiz. Did I fail the New York boater education course?
No, you did not fail the course and need to try again
What score do I need to pass chapter quizzes?
You need to score 76.00% to pass chapter quizzes
How many questions are there on the exam?
There are 60 questions on the final exam.
What score do I need to pass the final online exam?
You need to score 76.00% to pass the final online exam
Do you have practice questions before taking the official exam?
There are quizzes at the end of each chapter in the boater education course
Is it an open book exam?
No, it is not an open book exam
Do I have take the course before I write the exam?
Yes, you must pass the course before taking the exam
Do you have a soft copy of the materials so I can review it offline?
No, we do not the materials available offline
Is there a practical exam before I can start driving a boat or I just need the boater's education card?
Yes, you must pass (the course and) the exam before you can drive a boat
Does passing the boater education course give me a foundation to take other boating courses?
Yes, the boater education course provides a foundation for other boating courses
Certification
Is it a boating safety license?
No this is just a certificate that proves that you have taken a boating safety course and passed the exam.
How do I get my New York boater card after completing the course?
You can print the certificate after passing the exam and start boating. Your permanent card will be mailed within 2 to 3 weeks.
How do I get my temporary certificate of completion?
You can print your temporary certificate from your dashboard after logging in
What is the proof of online course completion?
Once you pass and pay for the New York 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.
How long is the validity of my New York boater education card?
The New York boater education card is good for your lifetime
Will boaters who have previously taken a boating safety course be required to take another course or test?
No, if you took a boater education course in another state or in Canada, it will be recognized in New York
Will I ever have to renew my New York education card?
No, you do not need to renew your boater education card. It is good for life
Does my temporary certificate allow me to operate any boat?
You can use your temporary certificate for [60 days] to operate a personal watercraft, after which you are required to have your New York boater education card
When do I need a boater education card?
Starting January 1, 2020. New York is implementing a phase-in-by-age law that will require a new age group to become certified per year which requires all motorized boat and PWC operators to pass a boater safety course and to have a New York boater card by January 1, 2025.
All motorized boat operators born on or after January 1, 1993 will be required to carry the New York boater card by January 1, 2020.
Do I need proof of competency to operate a non-powered watercraft?
No, you do not need a proof of competency to operate a non-powered watercraft
What is acceptable proof of competency for non-residents?
Your boater education from another state or Canada is proof of competency
Is my boater education card revokable or suspendable?
Yes, your boater education card can be revokable and suspendable if laws are broken
What if I still have not received my boater education card after the expected date of delivery?
Please email [email protected]
Will there be a penalty for those who have a New York boater education card, but do not carry it while boating?
Yes, there is a penalty for not carrying your New York boater education card while boating
Course Accreditation
Is your New York boater education course approved by the New York Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation?
Yes, our New York boater education course is approved by the New York Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Is your New York boater education course approved by NASBLA (National Association of State Boating Law Administrators)?
Yes, our New York boater education course is approved by NASBLA
Is the New York boater card accepted outside of the state?
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
How do I contact the New York Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation?
The phone # is 518-474-0456 and the mailing address is 625 Broadway, , Albany, New York 12207
Price & Billing
What does the New York boater education course cost?
The New York boater education course costs $29.99
Is it safe to enter my credit card information?
Yes, our website is secure and it is safe to enter your credit card information
What other payment options do you have aside from debit/credit card?
Customers can using debit and credit. We do not accept Bitcoin or other digital currencies at this time
Is there an annual cost for the card?
No, there is no annual cost
How does the automatic time extension feature work?
The New York boater course is valid for your lifetime from the time of registration and payment
What is your refund policy?
Please email us your issue or concern and we will review on a customer-by-customer basis.
Do you have an affiliate network program?
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
Do you offer referrals or any promotions?
We offer referrals through our affiliate program (https://www.shareasale.com/shareasale.cfm?merchantID=57099). We may do promotions from time to time
Replacement Documents
How do I replace my temporary New York online course completion document if I lost or damaged it?
You can re-print your temporary card after logging into your account, assuming you passed the course and exam
How do I replace my New York boater card if I lost or damaged it?
Please email [email protected]
Account
How do I sign up?
Select a course and click the "Sign Up!" button
What if I forget my password?
On the Login screen, click "Lost Password?" and follow the steps
How can I change my user information?
Please email [email protected] or call 1.888.885.8830
If I log out, do I lose my progress?
No, you will not lose your progress
How many times can I log in and out of the course?
You can login as many times as you would like
IT
Can I access the course on my mobile device?
Yes, you can access the course on a mobile phone
Can I do part of the course on desktop and part on mobile?
Yes, you can access the course from a desktop, mobile phone or tablet
What happens if I lose my internet connection while taking the exam?
If you lose your internet connection, it will take you back to the point in the course you were currently at
Will this course run on any web browser?
Yes, the course will run on any web browser
What are the system requirements in order to take the exam online?
You can take the exam on any computer that has an internet connection and a browser
What is required to play the videos in the course?
There are no videos in the course
Moving to New York
Do I need to pass a boating course when moving to New York from another state?
Yes, provided it was issued from your current state of residence, and the course was approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators. Look for the NASBLA logo on your certificate.
I have a boater card from another state. Will it be accepted in New York?
Yes as long as it meets the requirement set by NASBLA.
How long can I drive a boat in New York with my out of state boater card?
There are no limits on how long you can drive a boat with your out of state card as long as it is recognized and approved by NASBLA.
Where can I get more boating related information for moving to New York?
You can get more information by visiting New York State Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation (ny.gov).
General
I have a question that is not answered above. What do I do?
If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us directly at [email protected] or by phone @ 1.888.885.8830
What are your hours of operation?
Our hours of operation are 9am-midnight EST
Why should I choose BoatTests101.com?
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 New York Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Can I help to teach the boater education course?
Please email [email protected]
How can I apply to work at your company?
Please check out our job postings or email [email protected]