If you are operating a powerboat or personal watercraft (Jet Ski, Wave Runner, etc.) on NJ waters, the answer is YES, you are required to possess proof of boating education. New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau regulations state that to operate a power vessel on the waters of this state, individuals need at least one of the following documents:
No. New Jersey Boat Safety Certificates do not have an expiration date and do not need to be renewed. If you or your child have taken a New Jersey boating safety course in the past and need to get a certificate issued, contact the NJSP Marine Services Bureau.
A New Jersey boat license is separate from a NJ Boat Safety Certificate. It is an endorsement issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and attached to the state-issued driver’s licenses or ID cards of residents aged 16 years and older. It is not a substitute for a Boat Safety Certificate but is an additional requirement for individuals that wish to boat on non-tidal waters in NJ (such as lakes, creeks, and rivers where there is no tide). The endorsement is only required for motor-powered vessels; non-powered vessels do not require the endorsement. Having a NJ Boat Safety Certificate is the first step in obtaining a boat license endorsement. If you are 16 years of age or older and wish to get a boating license endorsement added to your current NJ state-issued driving or ID credential, you must visit a NJ Motor Vehicle Commission facility and provide the following:
Below is a list of EXCEPTIONS to the non-tidal boat license requirement. A New Jersey boat license endorsement is not required if:
Yes. Because NJ boating licenses are issued as endorsements, they are subject to the expiration date displayed on the driver’s license or ID card they are attached to. When you renew your driver’s license or state-issued ID card, you must also renew the boating license endorsement. To do so, you can visit a Motor Vehicle Commission facility in person and do the following:
The minimum age to have a NJ Boating Safety Certificate issued is 13 years old, but there are restrictions until age 16. Thirteen to fifteen year-olds (13 to 15-year-olds) can only operate a vessel larger than 12 feet in length with no more than a 10-horsepower motor, or a vessel powered solely by electric. Also, Personal Watercraft (PWC/JetSki) operation is not permitted until 16 years of age. After age 16, all restrictions are lifted and no other action is required.
Out of state residents are not exempt from the education requirement listed above. The law states that an out of state resident who is at least 16 years of age and who will be in this state for less than 90 days may operate a power vessel on the waters of the State of New Jersey as long as they possess a boating safety certificate issued by their state of residence, or possess written proof of successfully completing a boat safety course approved by another state, NASBLA, or the United States Coast Guard.
No. The NJSP Marine Services Bureau can only issue a New Jersey Boat Safety Certificate for successfully completed New Jersey-approved courses. However, some boating safety courses taught in Pennsylvania and New York are approved as NJ safety courses. In this case, the instructor of the PA or NY course will provide their student with a NJSP application for a Boat Safety Certificate (S.P. 421) to serve as a temporary NJ Boat Safety Certificate and the NJ Marine Services Bureau will send the permanent certificate to the instructor for issuance to the student. A New Jersey Boat Safety Certificate will not be issued for any course that has not been specifically approved for the issuance of a New Jersey Boat Safety Certificate.
A person holding a current United States Coast Guard operator’s (captains) license, who is otherwise required to possess a Boat Safety Certificate, may operate a power vessel on the waters of New Jersey without having completed a boating safety course approved by the NJSP as long as they have their captains license in their possession while operating. The operator’s license cannot be converted to a New Jersey boating safety certificate.
A New Jersey boat registration is a requirement for almost all vessels operating on state waterways but there are a few exceptions. Vessels are registered by the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission. Generally, all boats must be registered except for:
Those being operated in New Jersey for less than 180 consecutive days
Yes, but you will receive a renewal notice by mail approximately three months prior to the expiration date. You can renew your boat registration online or in person.
If your New Jersey boat registration becomes lost or stolen, you must replace it as soon as possible. To do so, complete an Application for Duplicate Certificate of Ownership (form OS/SS-52) and submit it in person at a NJ Motor Vehicle Commission facility. This will maintain your boating operation privileges within the state.
Although it was previously a choice, the Test-Out-Option expired June 1, 2009 and is no longer available.
