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Massachusetts Boater Education
Does Massachusetts require a boating safety course or license? Here's who to check with.
Governing Agency
Boater education and boating safety requirements in Massachusetts are set by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries / MassWildlife. Most states require boaters born after a certain year (often 1986–1988, but this varies) to complete an approved boating safety course and carry a boater education card — requirements and age cutoffs differ by state, so don't assume your home state's rule applies here.
Find Massachusetts's current boater education requirement →Before you operate a boat in Massachusetts, check:
- Whether your birth year requires a boater education card in Massachusetts
- Whether out-of-state boater education cards are accepted, or if you need one issued specifically for Massachusetts
- Age minimums for operating a boat or personal watercraft unsupervised
- Whether rental boats or PWCs have separate requirements from owned vessels
Looking for a professional captain's license instead? That's a federal credential, not a state one.
Learn how captain's licenses work →Browse all 14 counties with boat ramps in Massachusetts on our Massachusetts ramp directory.