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

Free
w/ Certificate of Completion
+146 Deal Score
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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

Editor's Notes & Price Research

Written by
  • The BoatUS Foundation's Online course is the only free online boating safety course approved by your state/waterways
  • BoatUS Foundation is recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard, approved by NASBLA and your state boating agency
  • Please verify/check your state education + certificate/card info requirement
  • Estimated course time will be within 4-8 hours
Additional Notes
  • Some additional states (ex; Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont & Wisconsin) are not approved to satisfy your sates mandatory education requirements; they can be used as refresher or study guides for an in person class or proctored exam. They can also qualify you for a premium discount on your BoatUS insurance policy
  • Please refer to the forum thread for additional details - Discombobulated
Good Deal?

Original Post

Written by
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 is….

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tstarks
08-01-2023 at 07:01 AM.
08-01-2023 at 07:01 AM.
I did this with them last year, great organization IMO. Good stuff.
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jennybeans
08-01-2023 at 07:26 PM.
08-01-2023 at 07:26 PM.
What I learned in boating school is….
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LawrenceT6420
08-01-2023 at 07:43 PM.
08-01-2023 at 07:43 PM.
I did this with them last year and got my card. It's mandatory in California now
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adirondackman
08-01-2023 at 08:09 PM.
08-01-2023 at 08:09 PM.
Quote from LawrenceT6420 :
I did this with them last year and got my card. It's mandatory in California now
Because EVERYTHING in California is MANDATORY...
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trza
08-01-2023 at 08:24 PM.
08-01-2023 at 08:24 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.
Maryland goes back to 1972.
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SuperJew
08-01-2023 at 08:28 PM.
08-01-2023 at 08:28 PM.
Quote from adirondackman :
Because EVERYTHING in California is MANDATORY...
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
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Last edited by SuperJew August 1, 2023 at 08:30 PM.
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rileyman501
08-01-2023 at 08:36 PM.
08-01-2023 at 08:36 PM.
FYI it says some states are not approved when you go and check out.
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hdhova
08-01-2023 at 08:55 PM.
08-01-2023 at 08:55 PM.
Not every state. MA and UT are not included. Probably others but I didn't look too deeply.
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WiseAppliance910
08-01-2023 at 09:15 PM.
08-01-2023 at 09:15 PM.
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?
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trza
08-01-2023 at 09:54 PM.
08-01-2023 at 09:54 PM.
Quote from Lanmind :
"Merlin" doesn't count because they all talk funny.
That funny accent goes right up 95 into Philly and southern jersey. Must be the wooder.
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