Boating in NJ: NJ Boat Safety Certificate vs NJ Boat License

Learn the Difference between a Boat Safety Certificate and a Boat License Get your NJ Boat Safety Certificate Now and Be Ready for Summer!

To operate a powered vessel in the state of New Jersey, you are required to take a NJ State Police approved boating safety course and earn a NJ Boat Safety Certificate. “Powered vessel” includes all motorized vessels, such as boats, jet skis and crafts with electric trolling motors.

So, your first step to getting on the water is to take the NJ boat safety class to get your NJ BOAT SAFETY CERTIFICATE. Students can take the in-person class or they can take the class online with a NJSP approved course provider. The NJSP requires the in-person class to be 8 hours, is offered in one day, or two evenings, and includes the exam. The online NJSP approved course providers are www.BoaterExam.com, www.Boat-Ed.com, and www.AceBoater.com. Once the online class is completed, the student is required to take and pass the proctored exam.
See our class and exam schedule at www.BoatSafeUS.com

Once you have taken the exam, we will grade it right there and when you pass with a score of 80 or better, you will leave with a temporary boating safety certificate – so you can be on the water the same day!. Students will receive their NJSP issued card with the NASBLA endorsement in the mail a few weeks later. The advantage to the NJ boat safety certificate with the NASBLA endorsement is that you NJ boat safety certificate is valid in all US states. You will not need to retake the class in order to operate a boat in other states!

If you are boating on non-tidal waters, you will also need a NON-TIDAL BOAT LICENSE. This is a separate document from a boat safety certificate and is required for operation on non-tidal water (water where the tide does not change) in the State of New Jersey. The boat license is not a replacement for a boat safety certificate, it is an additional requirement. On non tidal waters in the State of New Jersey you need both, a boat safety certificate and a boat license.
To obtain a boat license, go to your nearest NJ Division of Motor Vehicle Commission Facility, bring your NJ Boat Safety Certificate and apply for a boat license - which is an endorsement on you NJ driver's license. Remember: With a tide = one card, without a tide = two cards.

Furthermore, children can take the class at 12 years old, and receive their certificate at age 13. There are two minimum ages, 13 years old for vessels powered by electric trolling motors, or vessels 12' or longer with less than 10 total HP. Operators of all other power vessels, including personal watercraft, must be at least 16 years old, this includes out-of-state residents. The MVC will issue a Non-Tidal Boat License card to students 16 and older that do not have a NJ driver’s license.

BOTTOM LINE:
NJ Boat Safety Certificate is required to operate all motorized vessels in NJ
NJ Non Tidal Boat License is required when operating that vessel on non-tidal waters

For more information and for Boating Safety classes that are NJ State Police Approved and NASBLA Certified, go to www.BoatSafeUS.com. Our instructors will provide you with a fun-filled and educational look at Boat Safety in New Jersey. All of our instructors at Boat Safe US, LLC are certified and approved to instruct by the NJ State Police Marine Division and our course is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).

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