Required Under Florida Statute 327.395 · Approved by FWC
State & Federal Approved
The American Boating Foundation offers individuals the opportunity to earn their Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boating license by learning the skills & techniques necessary to safely operate a boat. The course is designed for everyone who plans to operate a motorboat, sailboat, paddle craft or personal watercraft.
After successfully completing the online course & exam, you will receive your official FWC License with a searchable QR code linking your unique operator ID to the global database.
Pick your Florida course and check out in minutes. Create an account or sign in if you've taken a course with us before.
Study the material at your own pace on any device, then take the final exam as many times as you need to pass.
Get your official Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card, plus a printable course completion certificate that's valid for your first 90 days on the water.
Our curriculum is reviewed against the standards of every agency that governs boating safety on Florida waters.
A genuine preview of the Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card you'll receive. Same layout, same seal, same NASBLA standard. Valid for life under Fla. Stat. § 327.395(5).
Drag or hover the card to inspect
“A person born on or after January 1, 1988, may not operate a vessel powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater unless such person has in his or her possession aboard the vessel the documents required by subsection (2).”
Fla. Stat. § 327.395(1)1
If you were born on or after January 1, 1988, you need a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card to operate any vessel with a 10 horsepower or larger motor — including most personal watercraft.
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I initially signed up for another course, but it was so boring I couldn't handle it. I switched to this one and it was a night and day difference. Great high quality videos and learned a ton! Will definitely recommend to all my friends.
Took the course on a Saturday before heading out on Lake Okeechobee the next morning. The videos kept my attention and the practice tests had me ready for the real exam on the first try.
We took it as a family before our trip to Destin. My teenager finished it just as fast as I did. FWC-approved, no surprises, and the temporary certificate came through right away.
I needed certification fast for a fishing trip in Biscayne Bay. The material was thorough without being padded — I genuinely felt ready before I left the dock.
Been on Florida lakes for years and still picked up new things — especially the weather and right-of-way sections. The interactive videos make all the difference compared to a PDF.
Browse the most common questions about getting certified — or chat with Sal, our virtual assistant, for an instant answer any time.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 must have a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card to operate a vessel powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater on Florida waters (Fla. Stat. § 327.395).
No. Your progress is saved automatically — you can start on your desktop and finish on your phone, on your own schedule.
NASBLA (the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators) reviews and approves boating safety courses to ensure they meet nationally recognized standards. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission accepts our NASBLA-approved course for state certification.
No one under 14 years of age may operate a personal watercraft in Florida. If you would otherwise need the card, you may operate without it only when accompanied aboard by a person 18 or older who holds a Florida boating safety ID card (or is exempt) and who is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.
Yes. Florida law requires you to have your boating safety ID card and photographic identification in your possession aboard the vessel. For the first 90 days after you finish the course, your course completion certificate plus photo ID satisfies the requirement.
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