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