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BoatUS Foundation: State Approved/Specific Boating Safety Courses (various states)

Free
w/ Certificate of Completion
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BoatUS.org is offering their BoatUS Foundation: State Approved Boating Safety Courses for Free when you enroll in your state specific Boating Safety Course Catalog, study and pass to receive your certificate of completion.

Thanks to community member CheapyDinglebop for finding this deal

Note, ensure that you sign up for your state specific boater ID (if required) before taking the course.

State/NASBA Approved Boating Safety Courses
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Original Post

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Edited August 1, 2023 at 07:27 PM by
I was tired of paying $10 for only a 3 month temporary boaters license in my state (FL) every time I wanted to rent a jetski and found out that this free safety course is all that is required for a lifetime license. They have every state available but I'm not sure about licensing requirements outside of this safety course. Note: Not necessary if born before 1988 in Florida.

The time limit on each slide is very frustrating but hey it's free..

https://www.boatus.org/free/

I think it takes around 4 to 6 hours but I did a module every couple days when I had time. The company asked for an optional donation.
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Created 08-01-2023 at 05:52 AM by CheapyDinglebop
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Community Wiki

Last Edited by MB1911 August 7, 2023 at 02:17 AM
These BoatUS courses get you NASBLA approved certificates.. And here is the "State Reciprocity" map.. https://www.nasbla.org/nasblamain...eciprocity
Basically, all states are green, except for Louisiana and Connecticut, and have full reciprocity. The link has more info.

I live in New Hampshire, but took the New York one because it did not have an in-person testing requirement like NH one does. The NY one was free, and I just put my NH address. I then paid $15 to get two lifetime plastic cards mailed to me. My wife did the same, but took the Florida one. So, now that I have my plastic NY certificate, I can use it in almost all states, including NH.


--


NASBLA reciprocity may not be all that's needed to operate in other States. Each State has different rules, and it's best to check directly with the State that you'll be operating in, for any requirements.


In the above example, NH accepts:
"A boating certificate issued by another State agency and NASBLA approved." https://www.nhsp.dos.nh.gov/our-s...-education


For New York State, since the BoatUS Foundation is the issuer of the certificate, rather than NYS, this one wouldn't be valid for NH.
The Florida one may be valid in NH, since that one is issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and is NASBLA approved.

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Featured Comments

True... but in this case I do think it's a little nuts that it's been legal to drive a boat/watercraft of any size and power without any kind of education/license in public waterways
Because EVERYTHING in California is MANDATORY...
What I learned in boating school isā€¦.

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Boss510
08-01-2023 at 10:00 PM.
08-01-2023 at 10:00 PM.
Quote from Lanmind :
Just as I've been saying, that my micro-generation is the greatest generation alive now. Those of us in the Oregon Trail Generation between the spoiled genX, and the emotional millennials; not required if born prior to 1988 proves it. Now they just need to amend it with "after 1977" as well.
Whats the micro-generation? Honest question. Never heard that term before.
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Last edited by Boss510 August 1, 2023 at 10:05 PM.

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Crazyheaven
08-02-2023 at 12:22 AM.
08-02-2023 at 12:22 AM.
Works in Ohio.
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ImShortyLong
08-02-2023 at 03:05 AM.
08-02-2023 at 03:05 AM.
Quote from WiseAppliance910 :
New York has a free option of getting an endorsement on your license when it is renewed.

If I take the course now, will the certificate be good when I renew my license in a few years?

It should be. It's a lifetime course. Mine went on my license. It's a little anchor emojiāš“
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Bojack2000
08-02-2023 at 04:02 AM.
08-02-2023 at 04:02 AM.
T Pain approves.
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clamburglar
08-02-2023 at 04:31 AM.
08-02-2023 at 04:31 AM.
No Illinois. Is there a state I can use instead? In other words, is there a course for a state that all the other states accept?
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tennis8363
08-02-2023 at 04:41 AM.
08-02-2023 at 04:41 AM.
FYI, no boater license required in Arizona.
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dusto2k3
08-02-2023 at 04:51 AM.
08-02-2023 at 04:51 AM.
Quote from ImShortyLong :
It should be. It's a lifetime course. Mine went on my license. It's a little anchor emojiāš“
What state?
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jonnydoo
08-02-2023 at 04:53 AM.
08-02-2023 at 04:53 AM.
Quote from drpedicle2 :
Of course NJ NOT ON. Guns boats. They are so backwards
lol yep.
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icefresh
08-02-2023 at 05:03 AM.
08-02-2023 at 05:03 AM.
Quote from clamburglar :
No Illinois. Is there a state I can use instead? In other words, is there a course for a state that all the other states accept?
I am wondering the same. Is there a state that has reciprocity with FL, MD, and VA?
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eboebo
08-02-2023 at 05:07 AM.
08-02-2023 at 05:07 AM.
This one time at boating camp............................
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jmcrafty
08-02-2023 at 05:09 AM.
08-02-2023 at 05:09 AM.
To take the course for California requires a Parks and Rec boater card application number. The fee is $10 for a lifetime card. That's through a separate agency from this course provider. However a boater education course is required to complete your application.

Also it says "As of January 1, 2022, the card is required for operators 45 years of age or younger." They really hate young people in this state.
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foefive
08-02-2023 at 05:19 AM.
08-02-2023 at 05:19 AM.
Of course, nothing for Michigan. We're only surrounded by the Great Lakes.
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Andrew9161
08-02-2023 at 06:28 AM.
08-02-2023 at 06:28 AM.
Quote from ImShortyLong :
It should be. It's a lifetime course. Mine went on my license. It's a little anchor emojiāš“
Me too. You can get a paper print out and then when you renew your license you get the cool anchor.
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OliverB4997
08-02-2023 at 06:39 AM.
08-02-2023 at 06:39 AM.
Don't end up on The Qualified Captain. Please learn how to drive a boat safely before getting behind the helm.
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