Boating Home Study Course

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offers a home-study course on boating to help families comply with state law requiring youngsters 13 and 14 years old to have a motorboat operator’s certificate while piloting a motorboat without an adult on board.The law includes operation of all motorboats as well as personal watercraft, like a jet ski, with a motor greater than 10 horsepower. No one 12 or younger can operate a motorboat alone. An adult, 18 years or older, must be on board.There are no certification requirements for youth age 15 and older. FWP’s home study course, which is available at all FWP offices, consists of a 71-page safe-boating manual, a workbook and test, and a registration card. After completing the home study course, students return the test, workbook and registration card to the FWP Helena office.A motorboat operator’s certificate will be sent back to students with a passing score. The boat operator must carry the certificate whenever driving a motorboat or jet ski. Many other states also have such a program. Youth from other states and Canada, operating a motorboat in Montana, will need an operator’s certificate either from their home state or province, or from Montana.FWP’s course allows youth from Montana to operate a motorboat in other states with similar laws. In addition to the FWP home-study course, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliaries in Great Falls, Kalispell and Helena offer a one-day classroom course.