Who needs a certificate of boating safety education?

Asked by: Jay Holtz

All PWC operators age 14 and older and all operators (regardless of age) of motorboats with a 10 hp or greater engine need to take a boating safety course. Once you complete the course, the course completion certificate or card that is provided by the course provider is what is required to operate a vessel.

Do you need a boating license in Virginia?

Virginia law requires all motorized watercraft operators to pass a boater safety course and to carry a boater education card. The term “boating license” refers to the “boater education card” that you receive after successfully completing a boater safety course.

How much is a Virginia boaters license?

You can obtain your Virginia Boating Safety Education Certificate in 3 easy steps: Pay the one-time fee of $34.95 – free unlimited retries of chapter quizzes. Study the Virginia Boating Safety Course, and pass the end-of-chapter quizzes.

How long does the Virginia boater safety course take?

You will need to complete all levels and pass a final exam to receive your temporary boater education certificate. If you choose to do the course in a single sitting, it should take around three hours. However, you have 90 days from the time of registration to complete it if you want to do so at your own pace.

How do you get a boating license in Virginia?

All PWC operators age 14 and older and all operators (regardless of age) of motorboats with a 10 hp or greater engine need to take a boating safety course. Once you complete the course, the course completion certificate or card that is provided by the course provider is what is required to operate a vessel.

How old do you have to be to drive a boat in VA?

For a personal watercraft, the minimum operator age continues to be age 16, except those 14 or 15 year olds who have completed and passed a course can operate. This has been the law since 1999 and has not changed.

Does a Virginia boating license work in all states?

Yes. All states that have mandatory boater education requirements will accept the your state’s Boater Education Card. Likewise your state will accept boating education cards that are issued by states that meet NASBLA requirements.

Which of the following vessels must be registered to operate legally on Virginia public waters?

All boats propelled by machinery, including gasoline, diesel and electric motors regardless of whether or not the machinery is the principal source of propulsion, and principally operated on Virginia waters must be registered and issued a Virginia Certificate of Number (Registration) by the DGIF.

What is the minimum age required to operate a PWC in Virginia?

16 years of age

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a PWC, or the owner or any person having control to authorize or knowingly permit a person to operate a PWC, unless the operator is at least 16 years of age.

What is a requirement for a vessel operating in a narrow channel?

The rules for operating in a narrow channel are found in the Collision Regulations. A vessel in a narrow channel must keep as far to the edge of the channel on the vessel’s starboard (right) side as is safe and practical.

When towed by a powerboat waterskiing and other tow sports must only take place during what hours in Virginia?

Water skiing behind a motorboat (or towing of people on other devices) is allowed only between one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

Does a boat pulling a skier have the right of way?

Quote: Right of Ways: Sailboats have the right-of-way. Skiers on the water have the right-of-way over all.

Do you have to wear a life jacket while water skiing?

CALIFORNIA: Boaters age 12 and younger on vessels of any length must wear PFDs. Or in an enclosed cabin or tethered to the mast of a sailboat . All water-skiers and PWC operators must wear them as well. That is unless competing in sanctioned races or exhibition.