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Boater Education Identification Card

boating license

Boating Safety ID Card Requirement

For anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, who will be operating a boat in Florida waters with an engine of ten (10) horsepower or more, the law requires them to complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a Florida Boating Safety ID Card. This card is not a boating license, it is a certification that the person named on the card has successfully completed the required boating safety course. The card does not expire. You can find information on how to obtain the card below.

How to get a Florida Boating Safety ID Card

After you have successfully completed an approved Florida boating safety course, please follow these steps:

  • Check with your course provider or instructor to see if they will automatically send a request to FWC to issue a card. Many online course providers, and some classroom providers, automatically submit a ID card request to FWC for all of their students who successfully complete an approved Florida course. (Because the course providers are not affiliated with FWC, they must send student information to FWC in order for a card to be issued.) If your course provider automatically sends a request to FWC for your card, you should receive that card within 2 to 3 weeks.
  • If the course provider or instructor is not going to submit the information for FWC to issue a card, you can do so using the course completion certificate you receive from the provider after you have passed the course. For online courses, make sure you can print a copy of this certificate from their website or that you can get an electronic copy. If you take a classroom course, make sure your instructor provides proof of completion. This proof can be a card or certificate, but in order for FWC to issue a boating safety ID card, the proof of completion must have the following information:
  1. Name of the Course
  2. Name of the student (with middle initial)
  3. Address of the student
  4. Date the course was completed

Most course completion cards/certificates will also have a statement (and logo) that says the course was approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).

Along with the copy of your proof of course completion, submit a request for a card by mail (to the address below) or by e-mail to [email protected] with your name, date of birth, return address, phone number and proof of completion of the course:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Division of Law Enforcement
Boating Safety Unit
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

Important Note: If you are taking the course to satisfy the mandatory violator requirements, you must make sure that you include a note or letter with your proof of course completion when you submit your request for a card.

For more information or to order a copy of the “How to Boat Smart” correspondence course, contact the FWC's Division of Law Enforcement at 850-488-5600, or email us.