Operator Age and Education Requirements
The following operator age and boater education requirements apply to operation of vessels on Colorado’s public waters.
- A person under 14 years of age may not operate any motorboat or personal watercraft (PWC) on Colorado’s public waters.
- A person 14 or 15 years of age may operate a motorboat or PWC on Colorado’s public waters only if he or she:
- Has passed a boating safety course approved by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and...
- Has in his or her possession a Boating Safety Certificate issued by the boating safety course provider.
- A person 16 years of age or older may operate a motorboat or PWC on Colorado’s public waters.
- It is illegal to permit or knowingly allow a motorboat or PWC to be operated in violation of the age and boater education requirements above.
- It is illegal for a vessel livery to rent or lease a motorboat or PWC to any person who does not meet the age and boater education requirements above.
Operators required to have a Boating Safety Certificate must carry a wallet-sized certification card on board the vessel.
