How long will it take to complete the North Carolina boater education course?

All residents born on or after January 1, 1988 must have a North Carolina Boater Education Card to operate a motorized watercraft of 10 HP or more.

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Who needs to take a boating safety course in North Carolina?
3 easy steps to receive your boating certificate:
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There is no minimum age to take the course and you do not need to be a resident of the state. Pass the course and be certified for life!

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Persons age 14 years of age may not operate a PWC legally.

Persons 14 or 15 years of age may operate PWC only if:

He or she is being accompanied on board the PWC by a person who is at least 17 years old and who is in compliance with the requirements for operating a vessel or he or she has on his or her own ID and a boating certification card approved by NASBLA and accepted by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission or other boating safety education that is compliance with the state laws.

Anyone 16 years of age or older and born on or after January 1, 1988 may operate a PWC with motor of 10 horsepower or greater only if he or she is in compliance with the requirements in operating.

No, it is not an open book exam

What is the proof of online course completion?

Once you pass and pay for the North Carolina 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.

When do I need a boater education card?

North Carolina law requires any person born on or after January 1, 1988, who will be operating a vessel over 10 hp to pass a boater safety course and to carry a boater education card.

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Who needs to take a boating safety course in North Carolina?

To operate a motorboat with 10 horsepower or more, or a PWC in North Carolina, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, must carry a boating safety education certificate proving they have passed an approved boating safety education course.

It is illegal for anyone younger than aged 14 to operate a PWC in North Carolina.