Operator Age and Education Requirements

Motorboat and personal watercraft (PWC) operators must meet the following requirements to operate a vessel in Indiana.

All motorboat and PWC operators must have a valid vehicle driver’s license to operate on all Indiana public waters.
Motorboat operators who are 15 years of age may operate a motorboat or PWC until they become a licensed driver only if they complete a boater education course approved by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and have on board an ID card issued by the Indiana BMV. A person who has never been licensed by the BMV must complete an approved boater education course successfully and have on board an ID issued by the Indiana BMV to operate a motorboat legally.
No one under 15 years of age may legally operate a motorboat greater than 10 horsepower or a PWC.
If you operate your motorboat recklessly while intoxicated or break the PWC laws, you could have points assessed against your vehicle driver’s license.
On Indiana boundary waters, Indiana residents are required to have a driver’s license. Non-residents are not required to have a license unless operating in an embayment, river, or stream in Indiana.

Course Outline