Online Boating Safety Course and Boating License Test

No matter how much experience you have with boating, it is important to have the knowledge needed to keep your passengers, yourself, and your boat safe.

Get your state boating card and learn the skills you need to be safe while boating. Take the finest National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) recognized online boating safety course available, followed by a boating license test for boating certification*. By enrolling in the America's Boating Course, you will learn navigation rules, water sports safety, and other valuable boater safety skills.

Access to America’s Boating Course online course
Comprehensive full color downloadable course manual
Online Exam except where not permitted by certain states.

Learn the basics of boating at your own pace, at home or away, with the U.S. Coast Guard recognized America’s Boating Course.

Boating Course Chapters

Chapter 1

Getting Started - nautical terms
Required Safety Equipment-life jackets, fire ext.
Going Boating - fueling, casting off, underway

Chapter 2

Navigation Rules
Navigation Aids
Lights and Sound Signals
Government Regulations
State and Local Regulations

Chapter 3

Finding Your Way - nautical charts
Anchoring
Adverse Conditions and Emergencies
Communications Afloat

Chapter 4

Water Sports Safety - water skiing, hunting/fishing, paddling
Trailering
PWC Operation
Knits and Lines

Chapter 5 (Additional)

Featuring hands-on exercises using standard plotting tools. This chapter is presented in a classroom setting under the expert guidance of an experienced instructor. Classroom plotting exercises build skill and confidence for larger lakes and rivers and coastal waters.

Introduction to Navigation - how GPS works, nautical charts, digital charts.
Charts - what they convey and how to interpret the many symbols.
Digital Charting - an introduction to waypoint and route planning using the latest in computer software

Additional Courses

Boat Handling

Learn how to handle your boat in a variety of situations and become the skipper you want to be. Gain confidence in docking, underway, anchoring, and other seamanship skills.

Our new Boat Handling course is intended for newer recreational boaters who have completed a basic boating class (like America's Boating Course) and want to gain more knowledge, skill, and confidence to boat safely and have more fun in a variety of situations.

Learn More

Additional Courses

Marine Navigation

You won’t ever get lost or run aground when you know marine navigation, whether for short day trips or long multi-day cruises.

Learn the essentials of safe coastal and inland navigation using basic GPS in conjunction with charts and other marine data. The Marine Navigation course teaches you how to use the GPS along with traditional dead reckoning techniques for planning and laying out safe routes, as well as ensuring that you are on-course while underway.

Learn More

Additional Courses

Advanced Marine Navigation

Do you want to navigate unfamiliar waters in limited visibility or take an extended cruise with confidence? Learn to use manual navigation, radar, chart plotters, AIS, and other electronic tools in a variety of coastal tide, current, and wind conditions. Learn course planning, extended cruise navigation, hazard and collision avoidance, and navigational aids. Our experienced instructors and extensive knowledge base makes you a better captain.

Learn More