State Course Information

Course Link: https://www.boat-ed.com/wisconsin/

Rules & regulations: https://www.boat-ed.com/wisconsin/boating_law/

Course Cost: The Wisconsin Boat Ed Course fee is $34.95 and a $1.00 state fee.

Who requires the course: You need education if you are at least 16 years old and born on or after Jan. 1, 1989, and will be operating a motorboat or PWC in Wisconsin.

Age Restriction: There is no minimum age to take this course.

Residency Requirement: You do not have to be a resident of Wisconsin to take this online course.

Format: Online Only & Timed (3-hour min.)

Course Time: On average it will take 4-6 hours to complete.

Course Time Limit: You have 90 days to complete the course.

Chapters: 6 Chapters in total.

Quizzes and/or Exams:

• Quizzes: Each quiz is 10 questions. If you fail a unit quiz, you must restudy the unit and take the quiz again until you pass. You must score at least 70% on the unit quizzes to pass.
• Exam: The Boating License Certification Exam is the 60 question exam you take at the end of the online course. You must score at least 80% on the exam to pass. You have unlimited attempts to pass the exam. If you don’t complete the exam in one session, don’t worry. When you log in later, you will be taken to the first unanswered question of the exam.

Post Course:

• Once you pass and pay for the online course, you will be able to immediately print out the Temporary Boating Safety Education Certificate. This is your proof of online course completion. You can print the Temporary Boating Safety Education Certificate right then, and/or request that a PDF be emailed to you. This certificate EXPIRES 90 days after course completion.
• The permanent Boating Safety Education Certificate will be available to print from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website after the first day of the next month.

Replacement Cards:

To replace a lost, destroyed, or damaged Boating Safety Education Certificate, go to https://gowild.wi.gov/lookupaccount. 

Wisconsin FAQ:

Do I have to complete the course all at once?

You may complete the course at your own pace. The course can be completed in one sitting or completed a little at a time over several days. All pay-up-front courses are available for 90 days from the time of registration and payment.

Is the Wisconsin Boat Ed Course approved by the Wisconsin Game and Fish Department?

The Wisconsin Boat Ed Course is approved and accepted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Is my Wisconsin Boating Course Certificate of Completion accepted elsewhere?

For visiting boaters, all states, territories, and provinces will recognize boating education cards that meet NASBLA requirements and Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Cards that meet Transport Canada’s requirements. (This is known as “reciprocity.”)