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State Cert Guide

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Do I need a boater card to run a boat in Illinois?

Yes, if you were born on or after January 1, 1998 and run a motorboat over 10 horsepower, unless you're a minor with a parent, guardian or an adult they choose supervising you on board. Born before that date? You don't need one. No one under 10 may run a motorboat. The certificate is valid for life.

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The rule, fact by fact

Who needs it
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1998 who runs a motorboat over 10 horsepowerPersonal watercraft count. The certificate must be one the Illinois Department of Natural Resources accepts.
Verified. dnr.illinois.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Free option
The instructor-led course lists its cost as FreeIllinois lists the cost of its instructor-led course as free.
Same source and date as above
Cost
Online courses cost $34.95 to $59.95, depending on the courseThe state's page says online course fees vary by course, from $34.95 to $59.95.
Same source and date as above
Course hours
Typically 4 to 6 hours onlineThe state says an online course typically takes 4 to 6 hours. The length varies by student and by course.
Same source and date as above
Valid for
Valid for lifeOnce you earn it, Illinois says the certificate stays good for the rest of your life.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check your birth date and your boat. The rule covers anyone born on or after January 1, 1998 who runs a motorboat over 10 horsepower, personal watercraft included. From 10 up to 18, you can run one without it under the direct on-board supervision of a parent, guardian or an adult they designate. A child under 10 can't run a motorboat at all. If you were born before January 1, 1998, Illinois doesn't require the certificate, and you can stop here and pay nothing.

  2. Step 2. Start with the free option. Illinois teaches instructor-led courses in person with certified volunteer instructors, and you find a class on the state's class listings. To finish online instead, take an approved online course. The state says the fee varies by course, from $34.95 to $59.95.

  3. Step 3. Finish the course and pass the test. You must be at least 11 to take it. The in-person course is 8 or more hours, typically over 1 day, and its test has 60 multiple choice questions with an 80% passing score. An online course typically takes 4 to 6 hours.

  4. Step 4. When you pass an approved online course, you get your Illinois boating safety certificate entirely online. After the free class, an 11 year old who passes gets it by mail in the month of their 12th birthday. The certificate is valid for life. If the rule covers you, show your card to law enforcement when asked. Illinois Conservation Police Officers accept an electronic display of it. If you lose the card, search for your record and replace it online on the state's card search page.

Before you pay

Start with the free class if you can fit it in. Illinois lists its instructor-led course as free, and it's taught in person.

Compare online fees before you pay. The state gives a range, $34.95 to $59.95, and it varies by course.

Pick an approved online course, and ask the Department of Natural Resources before you pay one you don't recognize.

We haven't confirmed whether an online provider charges extra for the card, or how long you have to finish after you pay.

Already hold a certificate from another state? Illinois says it recognizes those, so you may not need to pay at all.

Questions

Does a Canadian or Coast Guard Auxiliary boater card count in Illinois?

Yes. Besides certificates from another state, the Department of Natural Resources recognizes boating safety certificates issued by a province of Canada, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadrons.

Do I need a certificate to supervise a young boater?

It depends on your birth date. A parent, guardian or designee born on or after January 1, 1998 needs a valid certificate to supervise a 10 to 17 year old who runs a motorboat over 10 horsepower.

Is the Illinois boater course easy for a child to read?

The state says the course curriculum and test are written at a 6th-grade reading level.

Can a child under 12 run the boat without an adult on board?

No. From 10 up to 12, a child can run a motorboat over 10 horsepower only under the direct on-board supervision of a parent, guardian or a person at least 18 that the parent or guardian designates.

Do I have to sign up for an Illinois boater class?

Yes, unless the class listing says otherwise. The state says registration is required for its instructor-led classes.

What to do next

Match your birth date and your boat to the Illinois rule first. If it names you, start with the free class on the state's class listings. Or read the course options on the state's boating education page. Ask the Department of Natural Resources which online courses it approves.

dnr.illinois.gov

Sources we read