How to Get a Boating License in North Dakota
North Dakota requires boater education for a specific portion of the population. Individuals ages 12 to 15 who operate a motorboat or personal watercraft with more than 10 horsepower must complete an approved boater education course. Operators age 16 and older are exempt from this requirement.
To obtain the required boater education card, an eligible operator must complete a North Dakota Department-approved course that meets NASBLA (National Association of State Boating Law Administrators) standards. After completing the course, the operator takes a test; upon passing, they receive the boater education card. The card must be carried while operating a qualifying vessel.
For current information on approved courses, testing procedures, and all applicable regulations, eligible operators and their guardians should consult the official North Dakota Game and Fish Department website or contact the agency directly to confirm the most up-to-date requirements and course availability.
- Confirm whether you're in the population this state covers (cutoff / age band).
- Take the accepted course: Boat North Dakota course completion / boater education card (Department-approved course).
- Pass the test and receive your card or certificate.
- Carry it aboard whenever you operate, and confirm the current rule on the official state page.
Carry the card every time you operate
Once you’ve earned the card, keep it aboard whenever you operate — many states require you to show it on request, and a card from one state is usually honored in another. If you’ll boat across state lines, check each state’s rule, since the covered ages and accepted credentials differ. Always confirm the current requirement on the official state agency page.
Get your North Dakota boater-license checklist
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Course & fees for North Dakota → · Full requirements →
Planning to get out on the water?
Once you’ve sorted your boater-education card, SamBoat lists boats you can rent from local owners. Independent partner — an option to explore, not an endorsement, and never a substitute for your state’s requirement.
Rent a boat near you (SamBoat) →Compiled from the official state source, cross-referenced against NASBLA, and verified June 2026. Always confirm the current rule on the official North Dakota Game and Fish Department page before you rely on it — boating law changes and some states are mid-rollout. How we compile this. Informational only, not legal advice.