Boating Safety Classes

An image of the boat safely poster, which shows a manatee near a propellor and asks boaters to navigate with care In October 1996, the Florida Boater Education Law went into effect. The law requires that anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 have a Boating Safety Education ID Card to legally operate a boat in Florida. You must take a course approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Coast Guard Auxiliary or Power Squadron classes are NASBLA approved and are offered throughout the state of Florida.

- To find a Coast Guard Auxiliary boating safety class in your area, go to cgaux.org.
- Information about Power Squadron boating safety courses can be obtained by going to usps.org.
- Save the Manatee Club offers a variety of free resources for boaters, including educational videos, manatee protection tips, and free materials that can be mailed, emailed, or downloaded.

Get more information about the Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card and Boating Courses.