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