How to get a Boating License in Mississippi?

How to Get Your Mississippi Boating License

Choose an Approved Boating Course

Choose a boater education course that is approved and accepted by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). Mississippi offers both in-person instruction and approved online course options.

Complete the Course and Final Exam

Complete all required lessons and pass the final exam. Mississippi boater education courses typically cover boating rules of the road, navigation markers, life jacket requirements, safe operation, and emergency procedures.

Receive Your License

After you successfully complete the course and exam, you’ll receive your Boater Education Certificate (boater education card). If you’re in the group required to have boater education, keep your proof of course completion available while operating a boat or PWC on Mississippi waters.

Course Options in Mississippi

Online Boater Education

Mississippi allows approved online boater education courses. Online options are convenient if you prefer to study at your own pace. Some approved online courses are free, while others may charge a fee depending on the provider.

In-Person Classes

MDWFP offers free, in-person boater education courses at locations across Mississippi. The state’s in-person course is taught by MDWFP officers and volunteers, includes about six hours of classroom instruction, requires pre-registration, and ends with a written exam.

• To earn certification through the state course, students must be at least 10 years old, attend all classroom hours, and pass the exam.

How to Verify Course Approval

• Confirm the course is listed as approved and accepted by MDWFP for Mississippi boater education.
• If you choose an online course, verify it’s on the MDWFP boater education page (or through MDWFP’s official education portal) before you enroll.
• If you’re boating in another state after getting certified, check that state’s rules as well—MDWFP notes that not every online course is accepted everywhere.

Approved Courses in Mississippi

• Mississippi Boating Basics (MDWFP In-Person Course)
• Mississippi Boating Basics (Online Course)
• BoatUS Foundation Online Boating Safety Course (MDWFP-approved)

Reciprocity for Visitors

Out-of-State Boater Education Cards Accepted in Mississippi

Mississippi may accept a valid boater education card issued by another state, but visitors should not assume every out-of-state or online completion certificate will automatically satisfy Mississippi’s requirements. If you’re visiting Mississippi and you were born after June 30, 1980, confirm that your document is accepted for Mississippi and carry it while operating.

Special Rules for Tourists and Seasonal Operators

Mississippi’s boater education requirement is not limited to residents. If you’re visiting:

• Plan to meet Mississippi’s boater education rules if you fall within the required group (based on birthdate) and you’ll operate a boat or PWC.
• Carry your proof of course completion while operating.
• If you’re renting a boat or PWC, the rental operator may require additional safety instructions or documentation before they release the vessel.

Boating License Requirements in Mississippi

Who Is Required to Hold a Boater Education Card

In Mississippi, any person born after June 30, 1980 must complete an approved boater education course before operating a boat in Mississippi. This requirement applies to operating boats and personal watercraft (PWCs) on Mississippi public waterways.

Age Requirements for Boating in Mississippi

Mississippi uses a combination of boater education rules and supervision requirements:

• Operators under 12 years old: MDWFP states that a person under 12 must be accompanied by a person 21 years old or older on board in order to operate.
• Boater education minimum age (state course): For the MDWFP in-person course, students must be at least 10 years old to earn certification.
• Born after June 30, 1980: You must complete an approved boater education course before operating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a boating license in Mississippi?

Mississippi does not issue a driver-style boating license, but it does require a Boater Education Certificate for certain operators. If you were born after June 30, 1980, you must complete an MDWFP-approved boater education course before you operate a boat or personal watercraft in Mississippi.

What is the minimum age to get a boating license in Mississippi?

For the MDWFP in-person course, you must be at least 10 years old to earn boater education certification. Mississippi also has an operating supervision rule: operators under 12 must have an adult 21 or older on board in order to operate.

How much does a boating license cost in Mississippi?

Costs depend on how you take the course:

• MDWFP in-person courses are offered free of charge.
• Online courses may be free or paid depending on the approved provider.
• If you lose your card, MDWFP lists a $3 fee for a duplicate boater education card.

Can you get your Mississippi boating license online?

Yes. Mississippi allows approved online boater education courses. Complete the approved course, pass the final exam, and keep your proof of completion available while operating on Mississippi waters.