In Virginia, there is no minimum legal age to operate a traditional motorboat, but there is a minimum age for personal watercraft (PWCs) and a strong focus on mandatory boating safety education. Anyone operating a motorboat with a motor of 10 horsepower or greater or any PWC must meet Virginia’s boating safety education requirement, and PWC operators must be at least 16 years old, or 14–15 with a boating safety certificate.
Minors may operate only within these rules and, in practice, are generally expected to do so under the direct supervision of a responsible adult who already meets Virginia’s education requirement.
Minimum Age to Operate a Boat in Virginia
General Boating Age Requirements
Virginia law separates traditional motorboats from personal watercraft:
- Motorboats (10 hp or greater):
- No minimum operator age in law for traditional motorboats.
- Boating safety education is mandatory for all operators of motorboats with engines of 10 horsepower or more, regardless of age.
- Smaller motors (under 10 hp) and non-motorized craft:
- No specific statewide minimum age is set by statute for low-horsepower or non-motorized vessels, but parents/guardians are responsible for safe supervision.
- Personal watercraft (PWC/jet skis):
- Under 14: May not operate a PWC in Virginia.
- Age 14–15: May operate a PWC only if they have completed an approved boating safety course and carry proof on board.
- Age 16 and older: May operate a PWC if they have met the boating safety education requirement and carry proof of completion.
Supervision and Adult-Onboard Requirements
While Virginia does not use a single “adult-on-board” rule to replace education requirements, supervision is still a key part of safe youth operation:
- Motorboats, 10 hp or greater:
- Because all operators of these boats must meet the education requirement, a child who has not completed the course is generally expected to operate only under the direct, on-board supervision of an adult who already has their boating safety card and can immediately take control.
- This supervision expectation is widely promoted in safety guidance and by rental operators, even though the statute itself focuses on education rather than age.
- PWCs:
- It is unlawful to allow anyone under 16 to operate a PWC unless the operator is 14 or 15 and has successfully completed an approved boating safety course and carries proof of completion.
- Simply having an adult nearby does not override these minimum age and education rules.
- Definition of “adult” in practice:
- Supervising adults are generally expected to be at least 18 years old, meet Virginia’s boating safety education requirement, and be in a position to take immediate control of the vessel.
Boating License or Education Requirements
Does Virginia Require a Boating Safety Course?
Yes. Virginia has a comprehensive boating safety education law:
- Who must be educated?
- All operators of motorboats with engines of 10 horsepower or greater, regardless of age.
- All PWC operators age 14 and older.
- What’s required?
- Operators must complete a state-approved boating safety course or an approved equivalency exam that meets Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) standards.
- After passing, they receive a boating safety education card to carry while operating.
- Minimum age to take a course:
- Virginia does not set a minimum age to attend an approved NASBLA-recognized course, though it can be challenging for children younger than about 12 to pass.
- Where to find courses:
- Available course options—classroom and online—are listed on the Virginia DWR website and may also be offered by approved providers such as Recademics and the BoatUS Foundation.
Age Exceptions and Grandfather Clauses
Virginia’s education law was phased in over several years, but that process is now complete. Today:
- No broad age “grandfather” exemption:
- All operators of motorboats with 10 hp or more, regardless of birth year, and all PWC operators age 14+ must meet the boating safety education requirement.
- Recognized equivalents: A person is considered in compliance if, for example, they:
- Hold a valid U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license, or
- Completed a NASBLA-approved course accepted by Virginia, or
- Operate under a valid temporary 90-day rental safety certificate issued by a livery, where permitted, or
- Are nonresidents who hold a recognized boater education card from another state that meets NASBLA standards.
- Law enforcement and certain official duties:
- Some law-enforcement and government operators may be exempt while operating in the course of official duties, as provided in Virginia statute.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Drive a Jet Ski (PWC) in Virginia?
Minimum Age to Operate a PWC
PWC (jet ski) rules in Virginia are stricter than for traditional boats:
- Under 14:
- It is illegal for anyone 13 or younger to operate a PWC in Virginia.
- Ages 14–15:
- May operate a PWC only if they have completed and passed an approved boating safety course and carry proof of education on board.
- Ages 16 and older:
- May operate a PWC if they have met Virginia’s boating safety education requirement (approved course or equivalent) and carry their card while operating.
- Horsepower:
- Because PWCs are powered craft by design, any PWC on Virginia waters is treated as a motorboat of 10 hp or greater, and the full education requirement applies to its operator.
Penalties for Violating Age Laws
Violating Virginia’s age and education rules for boat or PWC operation can lead to several types of penalties:
- Boating safety education violations:
- Failure to comply with the boating safety education requirement (for motorboats 10+ hp or PWCs) can result in a civil penalty.
- Courts may also order an operator to complete a boating safety course; failing to complete it within the required timeframe can lead to additional fines.
- PWC age violations:
- Authorizing or knowingly allowing someone who does not meet the PWC age and training requirements to operate a PWC is generally treated as a Class 4 misdemeanor, which can carry fines.
- Other boating offenses:
- Reckless operation, operating a boat or PWC under the influence (BUI), and other serious violations are subject to separate, stricter penalties, including higher fines, possible jail time, and suspension of boating privileges.
How to Get Certified to Drive a Boat in Virginia
Steps to Getting Your Boating License
In Virginia, your “boating license” is your boating safety education card. Here’s how to earn it:
- 1. Enroll in an approved boating safety course.
Choose a course approved by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and recognized by NASBLA. Options include classroom courses and state-approved online courses from providers such as Recademics and the BoatUS Foundation. - 2. Study Virginia-specific rules.
Learn about required equipment, navigation rules, speed and no-wake zones, age and education requirements, and special PWC regulations. - 3. Pass the final exam.
At the end of the course, you must pass an exam to demonstrate your understanding of boating laws and safe operation on Virginia waters. - 4. Receive your boating safety education card.
After passing, you’ll receive a wallet-sized card or certificate proving you’ve met the boating safety education requirement. Your completion may also be recorded in the Virginia DWR database. - 5. Carry your card while operating.
Whenever you operate a motorboat with 10+ hp or a PWC, you must carry proof that you’ve met the education requirement and present it to law enforcement on request.
Boating Safety Tips for Young Operators
- Always wear a life jacket.
Everyone on board should have a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket. Children under 13 must wear a life jacket whenever they are underway on most federal waters in Virginia, with limited exceptions for enclosed cabins or below deck. - Never operate without appropriate adult supervision.
Even when a youth meets the legal age and education requirements, an experienced, educated adult should be close at hand—especially in busy areas or on large lakes and rivers. - Learn navigation rules and right-of-way basics.
Young boaters should understand which vessel must give way, how to read buoys and markers, and how to maintain a proper lookout at all times. - Use age-appropriate boats and conditions.
Start young operators on smaller, less powerful boats in calm conditions, then gradually progress as skills improve and they demonstrate responsible behavior. - Take your boating safety course early.
Completing the course as soon as you are able prepares you for safe operation of motorboats and PWCs and ensures you are fully legal before you ever touch the helm. - Stay sober and alert.
Alcohol and drugs significantly increase the risk of accidents. Boating under the influence is illegal in Virginia and carries penalties similar to driving under the influence on the road.
Summary
In Virginia, the legal rules for operating a boat or PWC focus on boater education and age-specific PWC limits:
- Motorboats (10 hp or greater): There is no minimum operator age in law, but every operator must meet Virginia’s boating safety education requirement and carry proof of completion while operating.
- PWC (jet skis):
- 13 and younger: May not operate a PWC.
- 14–15: May operate a PWC only with an approved boating safety certificate carried on board.
- 16+: May operate a PWC if they have completed the required boating safety education and carry proof.
- Education requirement: All motorboat operators (10+ hp) and all PWC operators 14 and older must complete an approved boating safety course or equivalent and carry their card.
- Penalties: Violating Virginia’s boating safety education or PWC age rules can lead to fines and, in some cases, misdemeanor charges.
To stay safe and legal on Virginia’s waters, new boaters should complete an official boating safety course and keep their education card with them whenever they operate. Recademics, as an approved boating-education provider, can help you understand Virginia’s rules, complete your coursework, and become a confident, responsible boater on the Commonwealth’s rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.
