Boat Safety Requirements in North Carolina

As of May 1, 2010 any person younger than 26 skippering a boat propelled by a motor of 10 or more horsepower on public waters must complete a boating safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), which oversees all state boating and watercraft regulations, gives you two boater safety class options: classroom or online.

Classroom Boaters Safety Courses

Completing this course usually involves about eight hours of classroom training. Depending on the instructor you may or may not be charged a course fee. You can take an NASBLA-approved course through the NCWRC, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, or the U.S. Power Squadron.   

You can search for an NCWRC class in your area, by county, on the NCWRC's website. If you harbor boaters safety questions, call (919) 707-0031.

Online Boaters Safety Courses

Before enrolling in an online boater safety class, double-check with the NCRWC that the course is state-sanctioned. Do not rely only on the course's claim it meets NASBLA approval. If you have a boater safety course completion certificate (also known as a boaters license) from a non-sanctioned program, it will not be recognized. You will then be required to re-enroll in another class.

Enrollment fees for these courses vary, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $40 dollars.

Boating Safety Course Curriculum

During the course you'll be taught how to safely operate boats.

The topics covered that will help you earn your boat license and safely navigate watercraft will include navigation rules, buoys and markers, vessel maintenance, anchoring, sound signals, navigation lights, alcohol and drugs, weather dangers, and much more.