This guide explains how to get an Oregon boating license with step-by-step instructions, eligibility requirements, and approved boater education courses. Ready to start right away?
Take the Oregon Boater Safety Course >
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.
OSMB Approved Online Oregon Boater Safety Course
Take the official Oregon State Marine Board-approved online boater safety course to get certified and legally operate a motorboat on Oregon waters.
Do You Need a Boating License in Oregon?
Clear explanation of who needs an Oregon boating license based on vessel type, horsepower requirements, and Oregon boating education laws.
Do I Need a Boating License to Rent a Boat in Oregon?
Find out when renters must show an Oregon Boating Education Card to operate rental boats at marinas, lakes, and waterfront facilities.
Oregon Boating Age Requirements
Detailed breakdown of age rules for operating motorboats in Oregon, including how the Boater Education Card requirement applies regardless of age.
Jet Ski License Rules in Oregon
Oregon personal watercraft rules explained, including education requirements for operating a jet ski or other PWCs on Oregon waters.
Check whether you need boater education to operate a boat. You can use our helpful “Do You Need a Boating License?” tool above.
Take an Oregon State Marine Board-approved boater safety course.
Pass the final exam.
Print and carry your Oregon Boating Education Card on board your boat.
For a detailed step-by-step guide, view the video below.
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 boating license in Oregon, officially called a Boating Education Card, is required for anyone who operates a motorboat with 10 horsepower or more on Oregon public waters. This requirement applies regardless of age and includes personal watercraft such as jet skis. Oregon law also includes specific rules for out of state visitors, rental situations, and certain limited exemptions.
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, the ability to operate a boat depends primarily on vessel type and boater education, not on a single statewide minimum age.
For motorboats with 10 horsepower or more, Oregon does not set a minimum operating age. However, any operator, regardless of age, must carry a valid Oregon Boating Education Card when operating these vessels on Oregon waters.
Personal watercraft, such as jet skis, are different. In Oregon, you must be at least 16 years old to operate a personal watercraft, even if you have completed boater education.
Children below Oregon’s minimum age requirement for personal watercraft may not operate PWCs on their own, even with a Boating Education 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:
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 of $20 for earning a Boating Education Card through an approved course.
Recademics, 4.9 stars, $39.99
BoaterExam, 3.4 stars, $34.95
Boat Ed, 4.8 stars, $44.95
iLearnToBoat.com, 4.7 stars, $59.95
*Last Updated 1/3/26
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/
