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