Operator Age and Education Requirements
The following are the requirements for vessel operators on Virginia waters.
- No one under the age of 14 may operate a personal watercraft (PWC) in Virginia.
- All operators of PWC and all operators of motorboats with a motor of 10 hp or greater must meet the boating safety education requirement.
- An operator can comply with Virginia’s boating safety education requirement by:
- Passing a boating course that is approved by NASBLA and accepted by the Virginia DWR or…
- Passing an equivalency exam offered by Virginia DWR or…
- Holding a valid vessel operation license from the USCG, a marine certificate issued by the Canadian government, or a Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Card or…
- Holding a Virginia temporary operator’s certificate, marked T.O.C. on a new boat registration or…
- Providing documentation of serving or qualifying as a surface warfare officer or enlisted surface warfare specialist in the U.S. Navy or…
- Providing documentation of serving or qualifying as an Officer of the Deck Underway, boat coxswain, boat officer, boat operator, watercraft operator, or Marine Deck Officer in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Coast Guard, or U.S. Merchant Marine.
- Operators requiring boater safety education must carry their proof of compliance on board when operating a PWC or powerboat.
