This guide explains how to obtain an Oregon boating license (officially known as the Boating Education Card), with step-by-step instructions, eligibility requirements, and approved boater education courses. Ready to start right away?
Getting a boating license in Oregon is straightforward and can be completed in three steps:
1. Take an Oregon State Marine Board–Approved Boater Education Course
Choose a course approved by the Oregon State Marine Board, offered online or in person by authorized providers.
2. Complete the Course and Pass the Exam
Finish the Oregon boating course and pass the final exam.
3. Receive Your Oregon Boating Education Card
After passing, you’ll receive your Oregon Boater Education Card, which must be carried while operating a motorboat.
The Oregon Boating License is officially called a Boating Education Card.
You need an Oregon boating license if you operate a motorboat with 10 horsepower or more on Oregon waters, regardless of age.
To get one, you must take an Oregon State Marine Board–approved boater safety course (such as Recademics). After completing the course and passing the final exam, you’ll receive your Boater Education Card.
You are required to carry your Boater Education Card while operating.
Oregon’s boater education program is administered by the Oregon State Marine Board.
In Oregon, what most people call a “boating license” is actually an Oregon Boating Education Card issued after you complete a state approved boating safety course. Oregon does not issue a traditional drivers license style credential for operating a boat, so the term “boating license” is not technically correct, but it is the common phrase people use to describe the requirement.
For clarity, the official name is the Oregon Boating Education Card, but because many Oregonians refer to it as a boating license, we will use that term throughout this article. Just keep in mind that they refer to the same thing in this context.
Select a boater education course approved by the Oregon State Marine Board. This is the best way to ensure the course meets Oregon’s legal requirements. The course website should clearly state that it is OSMB approved, display the NASBLA logo, and indicate compliance with Oregon boating laws. You can also confirm approved courses through the Oregon State Marine Board’s official boater education resources.
Recademics is an Oregon State Marine Board-approved course.
Complete all required lessons and pass the final exam. Approved Oregon courses cover boating safety content that complies with National Association of Boating Law Administrators standards and includes Oregon-specific laws, regulations, and safety requirements.
Once you finish the course, you must pass the final exam to demonstrate competency. The approved provider sets the exam format and scoring requirements, but all exams must meet Oregon State Marine Board and NASBLA standards.
After passing the exam, you will receive proof of certification. In Oregon, this typically includes:
Important: You must carry your Oregon Boating Education Card whenever you operate a motorboat with 10 horsepower or more on Oregon waters.
In Oregon, anyone who operates a motorboat with 10 horsepower or more, including most jet skis and other personal watercraft, must carry an Oregon Boating Education Card.
Use this interactive tool to discover if you need Oregon boater education. Answer the question below and press "check". You will see the answer and your next step if you need to get certified.
“A person may operate a motorboat with an engine greater than 10 horsepower if the person: (1)(a) Is at least 16 years of age; and (b) Obtains a boating safety education card pursuant to ORS 830.086; or (2) Is accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a person 16 years of age or older who has obtained a boating safety education card pursuant to ORS 830.086.”
In Oregon, the key trigger is operating a motorboat with an engine greater than 10 horsepower. For operators age 16+, this statute explains the “card or supervised” requirement.
Source: ORS 830.090 – Operation of motorboat by person 16 years of age or older
For special exemptions, out of state rules, rental operation, and other scenarios, see our in depth articles:
Do You Need a Boating License in Oregon?
In Oregon, you must be at least 16 years old to operate a motorboat or PWC and have the Oregon Boating Education card.
If you’re under 16 you must be directly supervised by someone 16 or older who has the boating card.
In addition to age and vessel type rules, Oregon has separate requirements that apply to rental operations, out-of-state boaters, supervision scenarios, and specific exemptions.
For a full breakdown of every situation and how the rules apply, see our in-depth guide:
“A person 16 years of age or older may operate a motorboat if the person has obtained a boating safety education card. A person under 16 years of age may operate a motorboat only if the person is accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a person 16 years of age or older who has obtained a boating safety education card.”
Oregon ties boat operation directly to both age and education. Operators age 16 or older must hold a valid Oregon Boater Education Card. Operators under 16 may only operate a motorboat when directly supervised by a qualified adult.
Source: ORS 830.090 – Operation of motorboat by persons under 16 years of age
In Oregon, you meet the state’s boating education requirement by completing an Oregon State Marine Board–approved and NASBLA-compliant boater safety course. Courses are available online and in person, giving you flexibility to choose what fits your schedule. Most people complete the course in about three to eight hours, depending on the provider and format.
Online courses are self-paced and convenient. After you pass, you will receive an Oregon Boating Education Card.
All approved online boating safety courses are reviewed and authorized by the Oregon State Marine Board, which maintains an official list of approved providers.
Recademics is an OSMB-Approved Provider >
Oregon also offers live, instructor-led boater education courses in addition to online options. These classes are often taught by certified instructors or volunteers and are held throughout the year at local facilities. Availability varies by location, and many in-person courses are free or low-cost. Upcoming classes can be found through the Oregon State Marine Board boater education resources.
Online Oregon boater safety courses typically charge a one-time fee of $30 to $60, depending on the provider. Oregon does not charge a separate state-issued fee for earning a Boating Education Card through an approved course.
| Provider | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Recademics | ★★★★★ 4.9 | $39.99 |
| BoaterExam | ★★★☆☆ 3.4 | $34.95 |
| Boat-Ed | ★★★★★ 4.8 | $44.95 |
| iLearnToBoat.com | ★★★★★ 4.7 | $59.95 |
*Last Updated 1/3/26
“The State Marine Board shall establish and implement a program to provide mandatory boating safety education.”
The Oregon State Marine Board is the state authority responsible for the mandatory boating safety education program and issuing/recognizing boating education cards and approving courses.
Source: ORS 830.082 – Mandatory boating safety education program
Depending on the vessel you operate, you must have a Boating Education Card to operate a boat on Oregon waterways. Certified boaters help keep Oregon waterways safe. When you complete the requirements for earning a boating license in Oregon, you also demonstrate that you have mastered the knowledge and operational skills needed to safely operate a vessel.
Boater education is one of the smartest decisions you can make before heading out on Oregon’s lakes, rivers, and coastal waterways. Studies show that boaters who complete an approved safety course are significantly less likely to be involved in accidents and are better prepared to handle emergencies.
When you understand how to read the water, anticipate hazards, and react calmly under pressure, you keep yourself, your crew, and fellow boaters safer. That means fewer collisions, fewer drownings, and way more confidence when you’re throttling up on a sunny afternoon. In short, educated boaters help make Oregon waterways safe AND FUN!
No, you do not need to renew the Oregon boating license. It is good for life!
Yes! The Oregon Boating License is recognized in all 50 states and Canada. This is known as reciprocity.
If you lose your boating license or it is stolen, contact the course provider who issued your license. As a fallback, you can contact the OSMB to obtain a new one. There may be replacement and processing fees.
In Oregon, there is no minimum age requirement to take a boating safety course.
The cost to obtain a boating license online in Oregon ranges from $40 to $60 plust a $20 fee issued by the Oregon State Marine Board.
Operating a boat in Oregon without meeting boater education requirements can result in enforcement action by the Oregon State Marine Board. These requirements are designed to promote safety and ensure that operators understand Oregon boating laws and navigation rules.
Written by Jake Waldrop
Jake Waldrop is a co-founder and senior leader at Recademics, a nationally recognized provider of outdoor recreation safety education. He leads the development of Recademics’ boating education curriculum and works with boating safety professionals, national standards bodies, and state agencies to ensure content is accredited, state-approved where required, and aligned with current guidance from NASBLA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and applicable state laws.
Reviewed for Accuracy (2026)
Reviewed in 2026 by the Recademics Boating Education Team for regulatory accuracy and alignment with current boating safety standards.
Oregon State Marine Board
Oregon Boater Education Overview
https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/boater-info/pages/boater-education.aspx
Mandatory Boater Education Requirements
https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/boater-info/pages/boater-education.aspx
Oregon Boater Education FAQs
https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/boater-info/pages/boater-education.aspx
Oregon Approved Boater Education Courses
https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/boater-info/pages/internet-courses.aspx
National Organizations
National Association of Boating Law Administrators
https://www.nasbla.org/
Recademics Resources
Oregon Boater Safety Course
https://recademics.com/boating/oregon/
