Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, must have a Boating Safety Education Identification Card to legally operate a boat in Florida. Below are a list of classroom and online options for taking an FWC-approved boater safety course.
Once you have successfully completed a boating safety course, learn how you get your Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card.
NOTE: Every person convicted of a criminal boating violation, noncriminal infraction resulting in a boating accident or two noncriminal infractions within a 12-month period is required to successfully complete mandatory violator education requirements.
The FWC offers a temporary course completion certificate for people who wish to operate a boat in Florida and do not have a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card. The temporary certificate is valid for up to 90 days from the day an individual completes the course and passes the exam. It is not a permanent replacement for the Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card. Learn how to obtain a temporary course completion certificate.
Florida Virtual School Outdoor Education Course: This course, which is the only one in the nation to combine hunting and boating safety, is free for Florida residents ages 12 to 18. It is designed to teach participants about outdoor skills and the benefits of outdoor activities while using proper safety procedures to experience wildlife and the outdoors. By meeting all the requirements of the Outdoor Education course, students will receive their Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card and be eligible to obtain a Florida Hunter Safety Certificate. Students who successfully complete the course can also earn a 0.5 credit for high school and meet public school requirements for taking an on-line and a physical education course.