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