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New Mexico Boater Education
Does New Mexico require a boating safety course or license? Here's who to check with.
Governing Agency
Boater education and boating safety requirements in New Mexico are set by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. 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 New Mexico's current boater education requirement →Before you operate a boat in New Mexico, check:
- Whether your birth year requires a boater education card in New Mexico
- Whether out-of-state boater education cards are accepted, or if you need one issued specifically for New Mexico
- 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 20 counties with boat ramps in New Mexico on our New Mexico ramp directory.