Tennessee · TWRA-approved
How Much Does a Tennessee Boating License Cost?
One course. One permit. A lifetime of days on the water.
- TWRA-approved
- NASBLA-certified
- 100% online, age 12+
- Unlimited exam retakes
The American Boating Foundation Tennessee boater safety course is $39.00, paid once. Separately, TWRA charges every boater a one-time $10 Boating Safety Exam Permit after you pass; that fee goes to the state, not to us. There is no renewal fee because the TWRA certificate never expires. That price includes the full online course, unlimited exam retakes, your printable certificate the moment you pass, and our handling of the TWRA record so your wallet card gets mailed.
Tennessee Boater Safety Course
$39.00one-time
- Full online course
- Unlimited exam retakes
- Certificate the moment you pass
- We report to TWRA
- Email support + Sal
What you pay
- ABF course —Paid to American Boating Foundation
- $39.00
- TWRA Boating Safety Exam Permit —Paid separately to TWRA after you pass. Not collected by us.
- $10.00
40
questions
80%
to pass
~3 hrs
to finish
Never
expires
What you're paying for
- The course. TWRA approves a handful of online providers. Each sets its own price; TWRA does not sell the course itself.
- The exam. Included with the course. Our retakes are unlimited and free.
- The TWRA permit. $10, paid once to TWRA on GoOutdoorsTennessee.com or at any license agent after you pass. Required with every provider, including the free one.
- The certificate. Printable immediately. TWRA mails the permanent card at no additional charge. Replacement card $5 from TWRA.
- Renewal. None. The Tennessee certificate does not expire.
Free vs. paid: what's the catch?
BoatUS Foundation offers a free Tennessee course. It is legitimate and TWRA-approved. The trade-offs people report: a longer, text-heavy format, timed sections you can't skip, and no support if something goes wrong with your record. Paid courses compete on speed, video, mobile experience and support. If your time is worth nothing, take the free course. If you want to be done this afternoon with a human to email when the card doesn't show up, that's what the fee buys.
Your next day on the water starts here.
Join the Tennessee boaters who certified with ABF this season
Comparison
| Our courseABF | Boat-Ed | BoatUS Foundation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course fee | $39.00 | About $35–$40 | Free |
| TWRA $10 permit | Required | Required | Required |
| TWRA-approved | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Format | Video-first, mobile, finish in one sitting | Text + animation, timed pages | Text, timed pages |
| Exam retakes | Unlimited, free | Included | Included |
| Certificate | Print immediately | Print immediately | Print immediately |
| Support | Email + Sal, our on-site assistant | Help center | Help center |
Hidden costs to avoid
- Paying twice. Some search ads sell "Tennessee boating license" bundles that are just the same course plus a study guide. You need one approved course. That's it.
- The ticket. Operating without a required certificate is a citation and a court date, which costs more than any course on this page.
- Buying the wrong state. If you boat in Tennessee and live in Tennessee, take the Tennessee course. If you're visiting, your home-state NASBLA card already works here.
Frequently asked questions
No provider can make it fully free: TWRA charges a one-time $10 Boating Safety Exam Permit to everyone. The course that earns it ranges from free to about $40 depending on the provider.
No. It never expires and there is no renewal.
Yes, $5. Any TWRA license agent or GoOutdoorsTennessee.com can reissue it. Your record is also visible in the TWRA On the Go app, which officers accept.
We partner with Tennessee boat dealers and marinas who offer the course to their customers; ask your dealer. Otherwise the price on this page is the price.
