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Florida boater card: who needs one?
You need the card if you were born on or after January 1, 1988 and run a boat with a 10 hp motor or more. You can take the course online with an FWC-approved provider. The FWC is Florida's wildlife agency.
By State Cert GuideChecked against Florida Statutes 327.395.Report a mistake
The rule, fact by fact
- Who must have it
- Anyone born on or after Jan 1, 1988 who runs a boat with a 10 hp motor or more
- Verified. Florida Statutes 327.395(1) (opens state website) · checked Nov 12, 2026
- Exemptions
- Several. The statute lists themSuch as a Coast Guard master license or a private lake or pond.
- Verified. Florida Statutes 327.395(6) (opens state website) · checked Nov 12, 2026
- Minimum age
- [source pending]
- [source pending]
- Online course accepted
- Yes, from an FWC-approved provider. The FWC is Florida's wildlife agency
- Verified. Florida Statutes 327.395(10) (opens state website) · checked Nov 12, 2026
- Exam
- You pass the course exam to get the card. A 90-day temporary certificate has its own exam
- Verified. Florida Statutes 327.395(3) and (5) (opens state website) · checked Nov 12, 2026
- Cost
- Florida may charge $2 per cardProvider's claim: BoatUS says its course is free (BoatUS Foundation news release, Feb 4, 2026). Florida approval not confirmed.
- Verified. Florida Statutes 327.395(9) (opens state website) · checked Nov 12, 2026
- Valid for
- For life. A temporary certificate lasts 90 days
- Verified. Florida Statutes 327.395(5) (opens state website) · checked Nov 12, 2026
- Must carry on board
- Photo ID and your boating safety card, or the proof the statute lists
- Verified. Florida Statutes 327.395(2) (opens state website) · checked Nov 12, 2026
- Penalty
- A $100 noncriminal infractionCited only for not carrying it? Show a card valid that day and you are not convicted.
- Verified. Florida Statutes 327.395(7) (opens state website) and 327.73(1)(s) (opens state website) · checked Nov 12, 2026
How to get the card
Step 1. Check the two things the card depends on: your birth date and your engine size.
Step 2. Choose a course, and check that the FWC (Florida's wildlife agency) approved its provider before you pay.
Step 3. Finish the course and pass its exam. The FWC issues the card.
Step 4. When you run the boat, keep the card and a photo ID with you.
Courses
No course is listed yet. Before you pay for one, check that the FWC approved its provider.
Questions
Is the Florida boater course free?
We don't know yet. BoatUS says its course is free (BoatUS Foundation news release, Feb 4, 2026), but we haven't confirmed that the FWC approved it. Florida may charge $2 for the card itself.
Who needs a boater card in Florida?
Anyone born on or after Jan 1, 1988 who runs a boat with a motor of 10 horsepower or more, under Florida Statutes 327.395(1).
How long is the Florida boater card good for?
For life, under Florida Statutes 327.395(5). A temporary certificate lasts 90 days.
Changes to this page
- Page createdFirst check, against Florida Statutes 327.395 and 327.73 and a BoatUS release of Feb 4, 2026.
Who publishes this guide
State Cert Guide is an independent guide to what each state requires. If a fact on this page is wrong, tell us and we re-check it against the source.