Boating Safety Topics
For Technical Issues
Many of the documents on this page require Adobe Reader or Acrobat.
Click here to upgrade to the latest version of Adobe Reader
WHO NEEDS TO BE CERTIFIED:
- You were born after January 1, 1986
- You will be operating a Personal Watercraft (Jet Ski), regardless of age and regardless of residency
- If you are an Out-of-State Resident and operating a vessel (other than a Personal Watercraft-see above), you must meet the requirements of your home state in order to operate in Rhode Island Waters. For questions, contact DEM/Environmental Police 401-222-3070.
- Mandatory Boating Safety Education Information About the Law
HOW TO GET CERTIFIED
There are two methods for certification:
- You can take a classroom course offered by our state-approved course providers.
- You can study online using our state-approved online course which will then require you to pass a proctored exam.
CLASSROOM COURSES:
Please see links below to our state-approved classroom course providers. All courses must be a minimum of 8 hours and state and NASBLA approved.
- USCG Auxiliary - RI
- USCG Auxiliary - RI/MA/ME/NH
- Confident Captain/US Sailing-Powerboat Safety Courses
- U.S. Sailing-Basic Powerboat Safety Courses
- Boatwise, LLC
- US Power Squadron
- RI Boating Courses with Freedom Boat Club
ONLINE STUDY COURSE:
To receive certification via our online study course, you must complete the state-approved course by Boat-Ed. Once you have completed the course, you must pass a proctored exam. Information on this exam is provided below. Boaters can also request a home study course booklet by contacting DEM/Environmental Police at 401-222-3070.
- On-Line Boating Safety Study Course
- Learn more about the Required Proctored (Challenge) Exam
HOW TO GET REPLACEMENT BOATING CARD
BOATING AND ACCIDENT FORM
A boating accident report must be filled out by the owner/operator of any vessel that meets the following criteria:
- Loss of life or disappearance from a vessel.
- Injury to any person that requires medical treatment beyond ordinary first aid.
- Property damage in excess of $2,000.
- Complete loss of a vessel.
RI Boating Accident Report Form
BOATING SAFETY & GENERAL BOATING INFORMATION
- RI Requirements and Standards for Boats and Associated Equipment
- RI Handbook of Boating Laws & Responsibilities
- A Beginner’s Guide to Safer Paddling
- Online Paddlesport Safety Course
- Explore RI (Boat Access and Hiking Trails
- Discovering the Rhode Island Shoreline
- Marine pumpout information, with map
- List of State Boat Ramps
- Rhode Island Tide Charts
- Free NOAA Nautical Charts
- Preventing Boat Engine Pollution
- Stop Invasive Species Boat Ramp Sign
- GREAT Boaters Program
- Safe Harbor Policy
- Cold Water Survival Video
- Boating Safety Coloring Book for Kids
BOATING RELATED BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
- RI Pilotage Commission
- RI Derelict and Abandoned Vessel and Obstruction Removal Commission
- US Coast Guard's Boating Safety Website
- National Safe Boating Council
- National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)