Boating Safety Class Locator

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Virginia Boating Education Requirements

  • Personal Watercraft (PWC) operators, ages 14 & 15, must take and pass a boating safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and authorized by the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries (VDGIF).
  • No other Virginia boaters are yet required (see new boating education law) to show proof of passing a boating safety course, unless mandated by a court ruling. However, we encourage all other boaters to take a boating safety course.

NASBLA-approved/VDGIF-Authorized Courses

The following courses are NASBLA-approved and authorized by DGIF. Note: all boating courses authorized by VDGIF contain detailed information on the operation of Personal Watercraft.

Course Description Length
BS&S USCG Auxiliary "Boating Skills & Seamanship"
Topics Covered: Boat construction; boating vocabulary; boat handling; legal requirements; navigation rules & aids; piloting; marine engines; knots; basic sailing; trailering; weather; locks & dams; radiotelephone
6-13 lessons
BSC USCG Auxiliary's "Boating Safely" or U.S. Power Squadron's "Boat Smart"  
USPS U.S. Power Squadron's "Public Boating Course"
Topics Covered: Boat construction; boating vocabulary; boat handling; legal requirements; navigation rules & aids; piloting; marine engines; knots; basic sailing; trailering; weather; locks & dams; radiotelephone
7 lessons
Boat Virginia VDGIF "Boat Virginia"
Topics Covered: All about boats; legal requirements; navigation rules; preparation/trailering; accidents; weather; water sports.
6-9 hours
ABC America's Boating Course may be taught in the classroom or taken as a home study program. The final exam is proctored by a member of the USPS® or the USCG Auxiliary.  

Online Courses

Online courses (distance learning) listed on this site are NASBLA approved and are authorized by VDGIF for meeting boater education requirements. Although Virginia allows online testing, many other states do not. If you intend to operate your boat or PWC in another state that requires proof of boater education, you should consider taking a classroom course (all states accept a classroom course certificate).

Other Courses (not NASBLA-approved)

The following courses are NOT NASBLA approved and do not meet the requirements for operation of Personal Watercraft.

Course Description Length
S&S Sailing Course ("Sailing & Seamanship") 7-14 lessons
ACN/BCN USCG Auxiliary Advanced or Basic Coastal Navigation Courses. Pre-requisite: successful completion of Boating Skills & Seamanship or Sailing & Seamanship. 12 lessons & 8 lessons, respectively
GPS USCG Auxiliary Global Position System Navigation Course  
W&K USCG Auxiliary Water & Kids 1 hour

DGIF Boating Coordinators